New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-02-12
Constructive Mileage.
Correspondence of tBr crtsrtni.

OoElEbpoHpEUte pf I've GlfSfiNt,
BATON RoueE February . 1853
Constructive mileage in its worse and most outrageous
form, is being made Of as means by which mem
bers of the Legislature enabled to got few moro dol
lars out Of the Treasury Let state facts and
then the law upon the subject that your readers may
judge.
Mr.. Lacey representing in the Senate The parishes of
East Baton Rouge and Livingston, receives the snail
amount ofeghty dollars account Of his mileage also
does MIR Walker the Representative from that parish
Mr. Lacey resides within three hundrci yards OF the cup
ital and Mr. Walker believe about fifty Now for the
law.
The Constitution Of 1872 provides that members of the
General Assembly shall receive compensation for their
services four dollars day during the session Of The Le
gisature and fodr dollars day for the time they are
occupied in going to and from their respective houses
The Constitutions of 1916 and 1852 upon the sub
eet agree word for word with the article referred 70 in
the Constitution of 1872 To unsophisosed minds the
English Of this would be- that members should only be
entitled to the allowed them by the Constitution,
that is is fairly expressed four dollars lay for every
day their services given to the State But the members
of the Assembly who under the Constitution Of 1872
for the first time resolved that dollars should be allowed
them for zach twenty miles Of distance between their homes
and their respective Houses Now, admitting the copsu
tionality of this resolution it follows matter Of
that it only refers the session of the Legislature
which 1t concerned This point however # is tony
mind will not argue, but will admit at for the pun
Of this exposition that II was perfectly constitutions
al and that every subsequent act
ing under this resolution entitled to his mileage Bat
then, what mileage were they entitled 70 Why, tho
Of miles contained in the nearest mail be-
tween their homes ard their respective houses "
But Mr. Lacey lives almost under the shadow Of the walls
Of the capitol That is true says Mr. Lacey but repre-
sent the parish Of Livingston Well but tho county seat
of Livingston is more than forty miles from Baton
Rouge this would be eight dollars coming and eight DOL
lars going waking sixteen dollars in ALL which you would
be entitled admitting that the resolution 1872
the law of the land There Is doubt Of this any
one will say Well then, how do YOU say that he gets
eighty dollars for his mileage! Innocent questioner
that you are, you don't understand courtesy and
constructive mileage is understood by members
of the Legislature, and politicians generally, Mr. lacey,
it true resides within striking distance Of the Senate
chamber but by courteous construction OF his peers
he Is supposed, the bright morning when he
his journey towards tho capitol to be mounted
upon tho back Of construction and aro.teI over AL
sorts Of roads, from Springfield Jacksonville from
Madisonyin, this courteous construction surrounding
him still be Is steamed 10 jIluebrrg from Milne
burg he is dragged by locomotive to NeE0reaGs whUr
after refreshing himself his constructive journey he
is again steamed up the Mississippi Baton Rouge and
arriving putting and blowing from this immense mieage
as though it were nightmare, ha demands his eighty
dollars And Mr., Walker does likewise with this differ
enee that be performs at least part Of tine journey
Do the people know these things and will they submit
TO them Ii the pay Of members ia sma lot It b
augmented The Constitution gives them the right to f.
it at whatever may 10 them just. increase It
then twice our-iJd if you win but regard to
honesty and decent conscieneiousnes should keep them
from such hchng this 1t has been custom almost
immcmofial say they. Heron Secretary of State and
member Of thc late Convention who resided in Baton
Rouge received it Hereford received it who resided
there also. Admit it. Does this legaza it Does this
make it right
Is there no in either House who will look uto this
matter with the scrutiny deserves aud WORK reform
In il CueEle.