Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-28

and nays -
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. SEWARD. call for the reading Oh inc anol'o's
or will the mover state its effect ~. ,.
Mr. DICKINSON. The effect will be TO- leave 'n1 -"
precisely il is except that Senators Wan ~ ~,
ed constructive mileage The motion 70 70 s1Ao oI A
portion of the bill which makes further change IN me law
Mr. CHASE. II understood the chairman Oh inc COM
ittee correctly be stated before that the
to constructive mileage would be retained ns oo va
agreed to- The question that now 70 vote on tnen
& smpy shall the House provision, which limits the mileage
AZ 60 On The west side Of the Rocky Mountains, and to
SlO 900 on this side, be agreed to That Is SIMPLY the
M. DICKINSON There are perhaps two questions pre-
scented The first is ON striking the provision restricting
the amount of mileage this side, and ON
the other side Of Rocky Mouptains This the question
on which now ask the other have not raised, and
shall leave il to some other Senator do alude to the
shall any member of the Senate receive mileage for
any session that body which may be called within thirty
DAYS after adjournment Of both Houses Of Congress- unless
the for which such mileage charged has been actually
performed"
Misunderstanding on the subject, will read what y pro-
posed strike mr. W. then read the clause as moved
to be stricken out by Mr.. DICKINSON
Mr. BADGER I shall vote for this amendment sir
and after the question is taken whether the per
walls not, shall submit motion to strike out the RESIDUE
of the proviso The particular part OF the povso now pro-
posed be stricken out is which look upon as VICIOUS
in principle and wrong and injurious to consldeaDe num-
members
even if it were free from those objections is brought for
ward in manner Objectionable not to be entitled TO the
support and consideration of the Senate IN ne nrst place.
say that, it is vicious in principle 1t undertakes 70 esao
sh rule by which the mileage OF members OF congress
to be computed that has foundation in reason or IN justice
No member residing of the Rocky Mountains is to re-
ceve more than 81 900. and member residing west OF
them is to receive than $4,000 As II the difference
between the distances of members residing west
specvey, of this range Of mountains from the Capitol was
80 very nconsdeate amongst themselves that no larger
sum should be allowed to any of them living east OF that
range than 81 900! member may come here VINO, ac-
cordng to the existing of compensation shall be entitled
to 900, and he is to receive another may come here
who according to the existing rate OF compensation emu
tied So 500that the distance from bis residence shall
be than twice great the yet ne Is
titled receive than the $1,000 pray you sir
where the justice, reason, propey in such provision
that In my judgment there is none In the next place
proposed to estimate the distance upon totally iae
principle Of computation and utterly reconcliabe and
inconsistent with the subsequent part Of the Pov which is
not embraced by this notion but which will be embraced by
a motion shall submit to the Senate
Mr.. BERRIEN moved to strike out all of the proviso.
Mr.. BADGER. am sorry the motion did not embrace
the whole subject The proposition reads the mileage Of
Senator's Representatives and Delegates shall hereafter be
computed the route by which the mails are transported
Pray, why should the route by which mails transported be
selected any than the route pursued by the telegraph
wires No be assigned for it. 1t Is perfectly arb-
tay and the House Of Representatives might just as well
have taken any other imaginable rule Why should be
then there need Of the provision ALL for by the law
it stands restricted the usual road. pray you,
then, what has the mail do with the compensation Of
member If the mail could be transported between, two
points distance Of 200 miles, what possible relation,
what imaginable connexon there be between that fact
and the compensation Of member whose usual road Of travel
between these points should be 900 miles None in the
world But then, in the next place, those who framed this
proposition were entirely inconsistent with themselves, and
by the subsequent part Of the clause they have themselves
demonstrated the fIy Of the rule laid down in the first part
of it. The first part of declares have stated that the
mileage shall be computed according the usual road
of travel but by the distance Of the mail route, and then the
subsequent part Of the proposition is that in the circumstances
there mentioned member Of this body shall receive mile
age unless the travel for which such mileage is charged
has been actually performed Well, now, if he is to be
paid for actually performing the travel is it not undeniabe
that ne should be paid according the route travelled If the
mail route is to be selected if that is be the by
which his compensation is computed pray you, what have
to do with actual travel So that in any pon. of view
in which the matter be presented it IT, my mind
Just and unreasonable
will mention another consideration which to me is
OF yet higher moment have personal interest IN this
question-no more than any gentleman in the United States
who is not member Of Congress If capable, which
trust am not Of being influenced by any considerations
merely personal to myself and entirely irrespective of what is
due to Others should feel interest in this subject all
But here is proposed to strike down the mileage Of gentle
who belong to this House and the other that it
shall not exceed the sum Of thousand dollars. Well
what is the compensation given for The constitution says
tuition did intend that should for less than would
pay expenses while engaged in rendering those
services. Now, have very simple and easy mode OF
isng myself to what is just and right towards others.
is h to my pay and mileage added the largest
amount Of mileage which received by any member of this
body, which believe that paid the Senator from Texas
not now in his seat (Mr HoUsToN,) $4,000, should
still find myself at the end Of the session. several hundred
dollars behindhand in paying my expenses.
A SENATOR You must have been extravagant.
Mr.. BADGER No, sir, | am not exravagant; my
friend is mistaken Now if there any gentleman who is
member Of this body whose compensation, under the law
it exists, will enable him defay his expenses here
for will give consent to reduce that compensa-
ton below what is the least the constitution Of the United
States must have intended every member Of Congress should
have. But this is not stating the whole matter know
how it is myself my private professional business at
home utterly destroyed and gone, live to the seat
OF government and, matter of course gentlemen who
come here from distant districts and whose homes thou
sands OF miles from the Of government, must find that
effect produced them in equal degree myself.
Then have another mode of asceainng what is right and
proper towards others by putting myself in their place. Now,
would far rather attend session of Congress in Washing
ton, without cent Of mileage, than to attend at st.
Louis, Louisville any other of those attractive
places in The far West fthe mileage was 1000. It makes
vast difference to gentleman to be able to be WHERE
der extaordin circumstances, he command
ncation with his family transfer himself his home
and give his personal attention his business with the least
possible delay. Now, have heard great deal said, and
body else has heard il said throughout the county
Is the newspapers is talked the stump, and is said
sometimes the floor Of CoDgressabout the abuses the
outrages and the mpositons Of this Sir, do
admit the truth of these charges that the compensation