The Arkansas banner., 1850-03-05
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
 THGUrY.T1RsT CONGRESS.
wAsnsscrOS, Feb. |. 1880.

Jesss Sattsn; which was rsad twice referred to the Cosamar,es of hs Whole House, sSd ordered to be | printed.
 Mir Walden, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, mad. adverse repor, in the case eG Charies Ahea. sskisg for PonsiOa; which was | ordered io lie ol the table, and bs printed.
 On motion ofMr. LefaeF, the Committee on Ia. | valid Pensions vas discharged from the further consideration Ofthe memorial of Lott Davis aud it was referred to te Committee on Naval Affairs.
 MtEaeE OF MEMBLKs.
 Mir Sweetser. from the Committee on Mieage, 1 reported the foswing preamble and resolution;
 Whereas, the answers of members to the circular 1 addressed tS them by the chairman of the Commit tee on Mileage, askiag information Rs 10 the route by them travelled to tae seat of Government, aud the proha5fe- sstalce. indefinite; the committee hFving doubts b the rule they should adopt tn3 computing the mileage of members, ask the adop- ton of he following resoiuion:
 Resoiced, That kls Committee on Mileage be in- strncted to cemplle the mileagc of members upon the nearest mali nate upon which mail coaches or other convenient coHveyances run from the resi- denoe of menbe-s to tae seat of Government
 Mir Fitch ssi& that the present law wss well known to be exirssnety defective aud unjust In its operation; yet, while the law in force, be en- iertained no doubt of the proper doty of the com miItee As such toabts, however, were entertained. aud had been prese Ated 10 the committee, they had thought proper to direct the presentation of ths resolution. for the purpose of obtaining expres- sion from the houss It's adoption would place . construction upoH the law which the committee woald esteem bia6iHg. A refusal to adopt it would leave the committee no alternative taad ne not prepared 10 say majority desired aDy) than action undsr that construction placed upon it bY pre- cedent--the previous acton of ths House and com mitiee
 Mir JOHNSON, of Arkansas, said, as to the resolation which had ben reported he imagined th.Ha ks .iig af nfafnn hate The course parsued for great number of years was tho coarse which he presumed every gentleman here would be in favor ofcontinuing For one, he was not disposed to serve here for less sun than that which had been paid 10 those who had preceded him on this floor, did he belive that the gentle men, members of the House. received one solitary cent too niueh for their services; but there were ample evidences 10 show that those who had been here in former years, and hsd leit this scene, had gone home impoverished.
 lie moved 10 lay the resoation on the table, anu he hoped the vote would be regarded aa expres. sion Of the opinion Of the House in reference to the attempt in tais way to put construction on the 1w as 10 compute tht mileage of members by the shQrtest mail route.
 Mir Brown, of Indiana, appealed 10 the gentle man from Arkansss 10 withdraw the motion.
 Mr. JOHNSON Teplivt, that If be should with draw it, it would fairly give opportunity for indal- ging an extraordinary amount of Buncombe de- bate And as he had profoand contempt for everything ol that kind, especially when il la conflict with justice aud the rights of members, he was disposed 10 insist pen his motion.
 The Speaker Does tho gentleman from Ar kansas withdraw his moiion 10 lay on the table
 NIT. JOHNSON. l adhere to il.
 The resolution again red.
 And the question beiag the motion 10 lay on the table
 MT. Thompson. of Mississippi. said he desired to ask one question, which was perfectly in order:- Was the resolution intended to put a construction upoa the law which should be binding upon this House, and not upon the Senate2
 The Speaker iuterposed reminding the gentle man from Mississippi that debate not in order.
 Mir. thompson. desire to know whether lAe report Is in inc form of joint resoiniion2
 The Speaker. IL is not joint resolution
 Mir. sweetser asked the gentleman from A.san- to withdraw his motion
 Mr. JOHNSON replied that he had already de- cliaed 10 withdraw il for several gentlemen; and, without intending any discourtesy to the gentleman, he could not withdraw the motion
 Mr. Goodenow asked the yeas and nays. M 9 s s9ES-aa e. and 'ass aaS. for ~"'' '
 Te!lers were ordcred, and Messrs. Evans of more ihaa one fifth of the members present voting ia the affirmative.
 50 iiie yeas and nays were ordered
 MT Mclean, oi Kentucky. Inquired of ihe Chair what woala be the effect of tiie resoutonf If it were ad 'pted would il anonnt to aayIhing1
 he Speaker replied that the Chair could not answer the gentleman from Kentucky It would be proper question to address 10 the CotnInittes on Mileage
 he question was taken and decided in the neg ative-yeas 57. navy l32.
 When MT. Bo~iius name was called he said he would vote "ays' II permitted. But having paired oil he did not feel at liberty to voiel
 Ina .aJ l... d. s-- table.
 The question recurring on the adoption of the resolution
 MT. Gonpau moved the following amendment:
 Hat the Committee on Mieags be instructed 10 compute the mileage in accordance with the express language of the law, to wit: By the most usually travelled route from tho residence of members to the Capitol"
 The Speaker. Does the Chair understand the gentleman frpm Indiana 10 move 10 strike out the redort ot the Committee on Mileage, and insert in lieu thereof the propositian which he nlakes'
 Mfr Gormaa replied in the affirmative.
 MT Thompson. of Mississippi, called for the reading egain of the preamble
 he pr ,ambie was read.
 MT Ipge called for the reading of the resolution
 l ne resolution and amendment were read.
 Mr. Thompson, oi Mississippi said he thought the amendment unnecessary. for il merely eoafo, led 10 the existing law. He had called for the reading ot tue lhFsthOIe, because Ee had thought and sllit thought, thai the preamble vas a reflection upon every member o1 the floor He supposed that the reply ol every member 10 the Con,nlittee on Mile- age bad been, that he had traveied by he usual route from bIs residence to this city, snd that he had stated what the usual route was; for, whatever was thr usual Toa'e the mileage feconed by ii was ihe vested fight of the members. The law allowing mileage vested in the mrmbers Of each House their nsh' 10 pay II vas vested right; aud 10 law could be made which was retroactive in is eharsc- fer BIt he would not insist apou that point.
 Wh4l he did insist upou was. that the preamble should be stricken out. He wanted no reflection upon the members of this body, because n was a body Of honorable men. He did aol believe they would attempt 10 cheat deceive the Committee on Mileage. nor did he believe they would attempt to create confusion, order 10 gel their pay for one mile more thah they were entitled 10 under the law He would believe noting Of the kind unii 1t was proved upon some individual member. and h." cer- iaIniy woali not vote to cast an inputalion upon tlie neinbeIs ot this body sa masse
 But he had voted to lay ihe resolution the table foe aao,hes reason. He did object particularly to aft r.Ns sa