Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-08
SATURDAY, MARCH l, 1851.

Of the House Of Representatives Of the United States and
the delegates Of the Territories and repeating all other laws
on that subject"
Mr.. PEARCB. Mr. President, beg leave to detan the
Senate for about five minutes, while explain the motives
which led me I, introduce this bill. The compensation Of
members Of Congress- fxedby the act Of 1878 act
provided besde the ordinary per diem allowance for attend
upon the sessions Of the Senate and House Of RePesen-
tatives that Senator's should be allowed compensation at the
rate Of eight dollars every twenty miles, estimating the dis
by the usual route from their place OF residence to
the of Congress- the and end OF every
such session and meeting and the first section Of the act de-
cared that this should be the rule At every session Of Con-
gess and every meeting Of the Senate in the recess Of
Congress- after the third day Of March, 1917 For many years
no construction was given this act under witch member
ofhe Senate received in the way onesge, as
usually termed the called session OF the Senate upon the
commencement Of new Administration But in the year
s41 such obstruction was given that member Of
the House Of Representatives whose term had just expired
received his mileage upon being transferred to the Senate by
the appointment Of his State Legislature And in the year
s45 the Vic, President of the United States gave copsuc
ton to this ad and filed written opinion, drawn up with
great ability in which he gave it his decided conviction
that all members Of the Senate entitled to these allow
ances usually called mileage at the OF each
called session. every four years That construction was
repeated by the presiding officer Of the Senate some four
afterwards and upon being submitted 10 the consideration Of
the members Of the Senate most eminent jursts-and
will beg leave to say, eminent for their purity Of private
character observation-disclosures and strict inegyi,wss found
that thew entertained the opinion which had been de-
clared by the presiding officers Of the Senate. Under this
construction members received what has commonly been
called constructive mileage, though, think. this was no.
thing more nor lees than the compensation allowed by the law
OF Congress There members, however, who
ertaned doubt upon the NATTER and the opinion prevailed to
some extent in the country that If this construction of
the act were legitimate one, the effect Of the construction
was not in contemplation by the trainers Of the act. An
opinion also prevailed that this compensation out Of pro-
portion to that which allowed members Of the Senate
at the regular session Of Congress- there being
vices for these allowances which in large
while in others they very small.
In the other House, do speak of what has been
done this sessongea jealousy has prevailed upon this sub
iec They have attempted force the Senate to renquish
these legal allowances ,r such consider Them amend
put upon the appropriation bills and know that the
passage Of the appropriation bills has been endangered, and
may be endangered 10 consequence Of the different opinions
between the Senate and House. However unusy the re-
proach may have been thrown upon members Of the Senate
consequence of their accepting this mileage think Sena-
cannot be nsensbe to the proprey and necessity OF
due regard for their dgoiy and to the importance Of
avoiding any mputston however unjust, which may impair
their dignity diminish the confidence which the county has
hitherto reposed in the purity and dsnieresedness OF the
Senate satisfied that every member Of the Senate here
would dsdan construction which is merely applied to his
self n,ees,I satisfied that every member Of the Senate
desires not only that the Senate should be pure but that 1t
shall be set tree from the renoest suspicion Of any thing
that can throw stain upon hs reputation. trust there
fore that the Senate will not hesitate to take the Initiative
in this matter, and put beyond The possibility Of any cav
Whatever. and vndica,s their character from any reProsch
that may, justly unusy, this account be attached TO