The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-14


anterior 10 The senators from California taking their seats
here members OF this body, TO fix the amount that we
and they are to receive. they by being admitted as mem
bers OF this body, now senators and the
effect OF this law, il is 10 alter the mode OF compensa
ton all by which they would have been paid il no
&c pos ao law Thsy as here a. senator's ss from Cali
forna admitted by the Senate take their seats, and
upon that admission they Immediately become entitled 70
all the privileges under the preexsng law which you and
every member OF the Senate entitled to Now con-
slider we have no power in reference 10 these senator's
and IN reference 70 the present to alter the law as
i now stands. Therefore. whatever may be the true
construction OF the law as il now stands, believe the
senators entitled be paid according to the provisions
Of that law and that the altering OF It wonld be an co
MI UNDERWOOD think there is good deal OF
force IN the remarks OF the senator from Maryland but
there was one inaccuracy. hold in my hand the law
regulating this subject, and will read IL: .A#
BE ii enacted SCI That. every Of Congress,
and every meeting Of the Senate In the of Congress-
alter 3D. day Of March, 1877 senator shall be ent
lied receive SO every day has attended, or shall
tend the Senate, and shall also be allowed vs. for every
from his place Of residence the of Congress- at the
commencement and end Of every such session and meet
due and payable at the time OF passing this act"
Now. rose for the purpose of saying that do think
that this is an actahough not OF the first importance,
yet is OF much consequence that the two houses OF
Congress ought really TO take it up and act upon IT, IN
der this law we have almost many various rules Tor
settling the accounts OF members as have members.
Some charge by river routes. some perhaps BY ocean
roates and some confne themselves The odfashoned
way OF charging by the nearest roadthe mail road from
their place Of residence to the seat OF government al
the time that this passed, steamboat routes Of travel
were scarcely known There was al that day no such
thing The members OF Congress from my State. be-
eye used to their horses and travel over the noun
that style The change the mode OF travel has
given rise to change in the mode OF compensation and
charges, and in that way receive very unequal sums
But s there = provlso 70 TINS statute h which nave Az,
Senate and think ought to receive some correction.
We have fixed upon the aoth OF this month as the day
of adjournment Adourning then, there will be but Two
months between the adjournment Of this session and the
commencement Of the next This provso after speaking
OF the allowances expressly says;
"Propided, atacays That senator shall be allowed
exceeding the OF xS day. from the end OF
such meeting the time OF his ing his seat in
another" *.
Does that apply to mileagei According to my con-
vesuction, il does.
"Propided also That senator shall receive for
going and RETURNING from The meeng Of the Senate on
the 4h of March ihan If this had passed"
think. taking the whole section together the proviso
relates the mileage we'll any other compensa-
ton. Those who passed this act evidently showed that
they intended to limit the compensation to sum mol TO
exceed the rate OF IS day for the whole The reason
why advance that position IL this The act was passed
subsequent 10 the passage OF the celebrated bill called
believe, the compensation BILL" which perhaps
changed the seats of members OF Congress
than any other act that was ever passed. | was
too young at that time to think Of seat in Con,
sation which Il produced in Kentucky If am not mis-
taken, my colleague, perhaps. the only survivor OF
the destruction which took place among members Of Con-
gess in that State growing out of the passage OF that
act This act which have just read was passed in
sequence of the passage OF that compensation BILL,
which limited the compensation OF members 81 500
annum, a salary in gross. ! may be mistaken but,
according my recollection, that the condition OF
things under which the passed. This act allowed IS
day during the services in Congress, and then provided
for the intermediate time that should be allowed
them if they had remained here all the time, receiving
their Ss a day.
/ have shown what the law is, and stated what be-
In hal ha fara nda nd
there different constructions and different charges
In consequence of these discrepancies the opinions OF
individuals to the rate OF compensation already
ceved it does to ought TO egsate upon the
subject, and fix rule for H. II the compensation is
too low, let us march up TO u but prospecyey and IN
reference succeeding Congresses give higher OF
compensation. believe there has been advance in
prices OF every kind since the passage OF that act OF 1918
and for one, am willing to legislae upon the subject,
in view OF the change that has taken place in prices.
think il ought TO be done in reference to the Senate.
| Mr.. DICKINSON. The civil and diplomatic appropri.
alton bill proposes some general radical reform in regard
10 this question OF mileage The whole subject will be
properly under discussion when that comes up We
pect to report at an early day and hope this bill will De
allowed to pass IN such form as will be acceptable TO the
majority OF the Senate, and be sent back 10 the House
They have 10 adjourn 10 morrow and is important that
this should return 70 them as soon as possible -
MT UNDERWOOD hope, then, that we will strike
and thus leave TO stand upon the general law placing
the senators and representatives from California upon the
ground those from the States and when the gen
u
endeayor to give uniform rule applicable TO all IL
that be satisfactory, will meet my appreciation al once,
| and then let this bill pass.
| Mr.. RUSK II the amendment is persevered in by the
senator from Missouri, shall for it. The real diff
ference between the mileage proposed by his amendment
and that by the travelled not very considerable
SUN. shall vote for this amendment, and then | shall
10 strike the whole matter out should do il upon
this PLAIN principle. would suggest 10 the honorable
senator from California MIR. Gwrsl TO withdraw his
ton strike out, because another motion will have 10
he made to strike out the provso The provso is about
California:
tives shah receive mileage than tho delegate
from Oregon"
| Now, take this view of the subject Here stands
the law OF the land, providing what shall be The mileage
OF members OF the Senate and House OF Representatives,
As individual is admitted here, and takes his
oath OF office, he is senator; and that law applies To
him, and you deprive him OF itat all As
member goes into the House OF Representatives, the
same thing applies TO him Ii is the law OF The land,
which authorizes him 10 charge much. and requires
you to pay IT. Can we repeal il | shall vote Tor the
amendment, because il nearly up the amount al
lowed by the law now and then shall to strike
out the whole matter
| Mr. GWIN. With that view Of the subject, | will
withdraw my motion TO strike out the last portion OF the
amendment Of the senator IRON Missouri
| Mr.. CLAY ] wish only 10 say or two words
believe, with other senator's that in consequence OF the
discrepancies and irregularities IN the mode'oi charging
mileage. il requires legislation There are irregular
ties in the matter amounting 10 abuses but untIl the
whole subject regulated by agenera change OF the law
do not think would he right apply particular rule
TO the senators who have just been admitted. con-
in the view Of the senator from Maryland that the