The daily union., 1852-12-24


alone IN bringing forward this bill. II will concern
those who remain here alter | gone. rise 10 call
The attention OF the Senate TO the bill for The pur
pose OF consulting them in order 10 learn whether they
are disposed to act upon H. and if to ask them 10 fix
some day for such consideration and action My posi-
ton is such IN reference 10 hsma,ter, that do not think
II my duty, nor will my feelings permit me- TO trouble the
Senate repeatedly upon this subject II senators do not
feel disposed TO act during the present session upon the
subject OF this bill. wish them to signify il now be-
do not propose to trouble Them hereafter upon the
subject II 1t IS their wish not TO upon it, III il be
their pleasure TO act upon il during this session. then
hope they will consent to take il up for the purpose OF
liking some day Tor It's consideration.
| A SENATOR. What day shall name
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD. | am entirely Indifferent as TO
acted upon some time or other think this is subject
OF some importance in reference 10 the feelings OF the
county. and have acted in pursuance OF what
ceved to be The popular sentiment upon this question
Ii the Senate are indsposed, however. TO act upon
II at this session. | would be pleased if they would
refuse upon that account to take up the bill. Blu,
will take il up, and then fix some day when they
will consider ii. When introduced the bill moved
to lay il upon the table because there COM
mittee--no standing commillee-to which this subject
properly belonged II was subject that needed no refer
ence laid the bill upon the table with the expectation
OF asking the privilege OF having taken up for conside
| ration when should deem ii most convenient. now
move that we take up that bill; and hope this will be
regarded test yole aud that gentlemen who are not
disposed 10 consider the bill during this session will vote
against taking up II they will but pursue that
will relieve from any further concerning the sub
jec therefore that the Senate take that bill from
the table, so that may consider II, or fix upon some
day when will do
The question being then taken, the motion agreed
to- and the bill was taken up and read through.
The Senate then, in committee OF the whole pro-
ceeded 10 consider Senate bill No 42l, being "a bill to
change the mode of compensating members of Con
gress."
| MIR. UNDERWOOD. As the bill is now up for con-
sideration, will take this opportunity to make brief
statement IN regard TO its provisions. My own opinion
is, that owing TO the change in the currency OF the
try and the change OF times since the year 1875 when
the present mode of conpensang members of Congress
was liked by land, the compensation allowed is not
an adequate one. compared with The salaries OF the other
officers o! this government. think there ought TO be
some increase, IN order to place members OF Congress
equal foong with the other officers of the
ment in that respect, have therefore, proposed raise
their compensation TO 1000 per annum
The compensation Tor the short session OF Con-
gress of three monlhs-usuay about 90 days-is S720
that the per diem allowance according the present
upon the sUbect-only S720 The per diem compensa.
ton Tor the long session OF Congress depends, every
gentleman knows, upon the duration of the session
II fucuaies according TO The duration oil the session !;
sometimes IL amounts TO 80 900 more, and sometimes
| it amounts 10 less than that We all know per-
fecily well that although allowed some lime after
the adjournment OF Congress AT the termination OF
short session before again meet here the December
following, yet the time thus allowed 10 a member, if he
be elected TO in The ensuing Congress, cannot
| be very proiitabiy employed. We all know that
services here interrupt most materially all the business
snsh III f' an hSN ~ in
crease OF The present allowance TO members Of Con-
gress. | have, therefore, proposed 10 allow them an
annual salary of 81 900.
have proposed in my bill tha, the mileage shall be
mated according a straight line between this Capt.
to and the residences OF members, whereas II is now
timated variously Sometimes we have India rubber
routes have II stated IN recent publication Tor
political purposes in a neghbonag State, engthening
and shortening them according TO the claims made by
members representing the district al various times Some
Zines charge Tor the wndlngs oil rivers, and some
times we do not There is no uniformity 10 the present
luaoan 1f Tha ing maj m n
the same footing. And there is another change pro-
pose to make. Instead OF allowing each OF Us 10
Judge in hls own case, propose according TO that good
old common law MAXIM that one shall be the Judge
in his case, that the mileage 10 be allowed shall be
asceransd by rule prescribed by disntees,ed person.
to-w the Secretary OF the Treasury; giving rule
lecled by disinleesed person, It must necessarily
suit that those objections which have been urged both
in the newspapers and in the country IN relation to the
mode OF allowing compensation for mileage will be OBJ
viaed hereafter The mileage allowed according TO my
plan will more than compensate any individual ior com
ing here and returning home every session OF Congress
II will more than compensate hint will great deal
more than compensate him And had an object in view
in accomplishing that My allowance OF mileage, which
will than compensate member for his actual travel
and loss of time spent in coming TO end returning from
the Capitol was designed by me 10 give advantage
10 those members living most remote from the Capitol
thought those members who can take advantage OF the
railroad facilities which furnished them within
striking distance you may say, OF Their homes, and
who perhaps two or three times during the session
visit their families, ought 10 consent that those who live
at greater distance especially tHOse VINO I'VE upon
Pachc coast should have some little advantage in conse
auence OF their position And therefore, was disposed 10
retain this mileage stands under the law-nerely
making the reform have ndicated-ior the benefit OF
distant members.
4 MIR BAYARD beg leave 10 say TO the honorable
senator that he has reduced by his bill the present
mileage Just half he has 20 cents mile whereas,
under the preseutlaw, it is 40 cents
/ Mir UNDERWOOD My friend from Delaware tMr.
BAFlRnl will find himself mistaken upon examining the
Ibill for do reduce The OF mileage at all
allow per mile for coming, and 20 cents for re-
turning, which makes 40 cents mile in all.
i Mir HALE beg leave TO say that II is now 40 cents
per mile for coming, and 40 cents for returning that
the honorable right IN saying that this bill re-
duces the mileage one bali
/ M UNDERWOOD Then, il was uniotentional
mistake my part, or, more probably mistake Of the
printer dld intend TO make any such reduction,
and II is 40 in the bill, then il IS mistake think,
however, upon examination, that the bill will be found
to be n conformity to the law now stands for that
| vas the object which had IN view in drawing il up.
As the law now IT, think gives 40 cents for the dou
bic distance. and that makes u 20 cents each way.
| SENATORS No, sir il ~ 40 cents each way.
/ Mr. UNDERWOOD. Then, tits a mistake. As I
have said my object been 10 make the mileage pre-
friend ogos the way tMr. BAYARDl will draw up an
anne ndment to correct the mistake will accept ii with a
great deal of pleasure My object is 10 have the mileage
as il ia under the present law.
j Mr. BAYhRD Then move 20 smerd the bill In
the 3h line oi the I'd section By striking out the word
twenty" and inserting the word "ferty," as that was
the intention Of The honorable senator from Kentucky,
/ lMr UNDERWOOD
Mr. UNDERWOOD. | hope ihsi amendment will be
agreed to by unanimous consent
No objection being made, the amendment was agreed