The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-30

MIR. JOHNSON was again appealed to, but he
refused to withdraw his notion meaning no dis
courtesy 70 the gentleman who made the request.
The question was taken, and by yeas g. nays
1872, the House refused TO lay the resolution upon
Mr.. GoRMAN moved TO amend the resolution
that the COMMITTEES be instructed TO compute the
mileage in correspondence with the express Lam
guage of the law, to wit: "by the most usually
travelled route from the residence Of members to
the capitol"
The preamble to the resolution Of the committee
having been again read,
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi, said that the
resolution last offered was unnecessary, because
there was law on the subject. He thought that
the preamble was reflection upon every member
Of the House. The law gave them a vested right
to their pay, and no law can be made, by resolu-
ton, restrictive in its character. II is binding
equally on the members Of the Senate and the
House.
Mr.. CARTER offered an amendment, as fol-
lows:
Resolved. That the Committee on Mileage be,
and they are hereby, further instructed TO report
gress, SO far as the same relates to mileage and the
actual and necessary time and expenses involved
in travelling to and from the Capitol and other
wise to equalize the pay of members.
Mr.. G. said that he agreed with the gentleman
from Arkansas, that the members were not more
,
at least, portion Of them; but would gentlemen
say that they were not impressed with the truth
that, while members from Mississippi OR Texas
receive twenty-five hundred dollars mileage, gen.
tlemen from the State of New York or Virginia do
not receive one-tenth that amount The object 10
not to cut down the pay of members, but to equaze
the rewards of members according to equity. There
are as many distinctions in the amount Of mileage
40 In the number Of members; and this does not
grow out Of equity. The gentlemen Of Texas
occupy but eight or ten days in coming here, and
get hundred times more money than gentlemen
from New York and Ohio and, when they receipt
for twenty-tw hundred dollars, others receipt for
only four. There should not be this inequality be-
tween the pay Of members. So long as there is an
inequality, 80 long will there be agitation. When
the question is asked, what does the Texas member
do that he should get 80 mich pay! the answer
viii be, for travelling in steamboat on the Mis-
sissippi, and smoking his cigar.
Mr.. SWEETZER did not anticipate that any
gentleman would charge that the preamble was
a reflection upon any member. II was not for him
to point out the difference of opinion to the con-
struction Of the law. No man can doubtit.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi. Did not all the
members comply with the provision of the law--the
usually travelled route?
Mr.. FITCH. They did not
Mr.. SWEETZER pointed out few of the cx-
in cha rging, and said that the attention of
the country had been called to the abuse Of mileage
Mr.. ROOT said that this was most strange reso-
luton to come from a standing committee of the
House. II was nothing less than attempt to re-
peal standing law, which has been in existence
for thirty years. The members who frequently
absent themselves ought to have their per diem de-
Quoted. Gentlemen pair of for week, or day,
or tive weeks, with the understanding of double
furlough, and sometimes the House is without
their society for month and il generally happens
that these absentecs live nearest TO the Capital and
make most fuss about their mileage. He desired
that sufficient allowance should be made, to pay
reasonable compensation for the time that is, or
would be, necessarily employed by the most expedi
tious route.
MIR. BROWN, of Mississippi, objected to the pre-
amble. For himself, he answered the inquiry Of
the Chairman, as TO the number of miles be travel
led defniely he stated precisely the route which he
travelled. Why is it said that the members an
swered indefinitely? The Committee had no right
to make the inquiry. Tonvoid difficulty, the stand
ing committee created The Committee had
no right to complain If the members refused TO
swer. The members are entitled to be paid accord
ing to the law. Do not gentlemen know that the
usually travelled route is not the usually travelled
route!
MIR. FITCH having risen to make few remarks,
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, inquired of him
members of the Committee to the construction
of the law'
Mr.. FITCH replied, that the law was faulty, and
should be changed.
Mr.. GORMAN asked whether the resolution was
not introduced for the express purpose of avoiding
responsibility by the Committee and putting it on
the Housel
Mr.. FITCH. No such thing: hope you are
answered.
Mr.. GORMAN. Did you not state 20 TO mel
Mr.. FITCH. No: not any such thing but if
the proceedings of the Committee are to be gone
into fully, the House shall have them.
Mr.. GORMAN asked the gentleman to yield the
floor.
Mr.. FITCH declined to do 80, and said that he
entertained no doubt under the law. The Chair
man Of the Committee (Mr. SwEETzKR) expressed
doubt. and he (Mr. F. would not assume the re-
sponsibility Of deciding 10 allow mileage by the
nearest route, because this construction had
never been put upon the law. Had this been done,
the House might well charge the Committee with
curtailing what, under the law, they claim 10 be
the proper allowance. Some Of the members had
received their pay from the Sergeant alarms, on
the requsition Of the Speaker; and, therefore, IL
would not after this have been proper 10 alter the
arrangement as applicable to others. The gentle
man (Mr. SwErTzER) was told that he could get at
his purpose by bringing his resolution before the
House, with the other members Of the Committee,
committing themselves for or against IL. Thus much
for the charge of stunning responsibility. The pro-
per course IL 10 introduce a bill revolution 10
amend the law. II there be fault, IL IL in the
law, and not In those who draw their pay under IL.
Mr.. BURT offered an amendment, which was
read for information by the Clerk, but not with suf
hcient distinctness for us 10 understand precisely
what II was. IL was somewhat 20 the effect, we be-
lieve, that the committee report bill TO equslze
opinion, Il be too great He said that, heretofore
there had been harmless excitement on the sub
ject; and 20 he presumed there was on the resolu-
ton now emanating from the committee.
Mr.. CARTER accepted Mr.. BvsT's amendment
AZ a modification Of his own.
Mr. EvANS,'of Maryland, spoke OF the inequali-
~ Of pay. Some members received six thousand
dollars year, while members from Maryland,
Pennsylvania and Virginia received but seven hun
dred. He replied 10 the remarks Of Mr.. RooT, and
denied that those who live nearest 10 the seat Of
Government 60 home more frequently than others
This has been, in some degree, inculcsted in the
public mind. The fact is, that gentlemen who live
at a greater distance are often absent. Members
who stay away moro than month at the COM
mencement OF a session, receive FIVE thousand dol
lars during the year. There was, he repeated, a
gross inequality In the pay. Mileage was small
matter. He did not know who got too much, but
he knew who got too little. After some further
remarks, the honorable gentleman resumed his
scat.
On motion Of Mr.. RICHARDSON, and before the
question which had been discussed was disposed Of
the House proceeded the consideration OF the bu
sincss on the Speakers table.
The SPEAKER laid before the House message
from the President OF the United States, transmit
ting the annual report OF the director Of the mint
at Philadelphia, showing the operations Of tho
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