Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-11-15
Ulre 11ee 0tnas
BC3LING GyON3
FRIDAY MORNING. NOV. IS. 1851
THE MILEAGE.

we have observed that two CT three at
tempts have been made this Session at re-
foim by the introduction OF bills for ad-
justing tie mileage Of members. What the
condition Of the subject may be, in the
course OF proceedings, we do not know but
that there have been Gagrant abuses IN the
niloge business for some years, causing un-
lust drafts on the State Treasury, is noto-
rious, and thus far all ATTEMPTS to rectily
them have been fruitless. The reason Of this
lies IN certain amount Of real difficulty In
finding out what would be exactly the fair
thing in al cases, but more in the fact that
there are q good many members, who see
that they viii receive . fe,r more dollars IN
der continuance Of the old system than
they would under any improved one. This
being the case, they do not care to see why
Il cha ge should be made-at least not until
s pan for one perfectly tar for al shall he
Lit upon and so they give their votes fo'
the Naius guo, each one trying to satisfy
HE conscience by saying TO himself that ie
gets no ID II mileage this year than the
rnenber from tho same town got last ye-I
while at the same time hs hss 8 ene4king
E.eling oi contempt fOT himself as aeing no.
guic as hens. So he ehould he. The
result IS ihat good many hundred d.li-r
are paid out OF the Treasury for mileage
which ought not to be. The abuse opg6. 10
ts Tlrsed,cd.
A. to the difficulty Of settling what the
ruIa Of mileace aA-uld be, it viii disappear
aln st entirely If the ground on which
mileage should be ailo,o Z Ct al Is kept in
sight. The da y pay Of each member is for
the tine Ls occupies in the time he occupies
in TIE Legislative session, and for his Deces-
sary expense while there. Il is tde same tor
ne maa As tor an1s her. The nn'sags Is to
cover the necessary time and crPe'se Of GO
ing to and from the place ct legislation. -
hor simplicity s sake it is recRcrcd accord
ing 70 the mi.as Of Iravel, and that is well
enough # it is fairly done. ii there Is Il
d.r.ct route Of trav,l--one which q man
Soul1 naturally rake if arr'ou' 70 sare Tno-
nsy as well as time, when going on his
OWE business snd with . ether end but to
g,t to and iron the place ct meeting cheap
y sa- e--ely, that route plainly Is the one
OF which his mileage should be rCckoned.-
A man may chocgo to 50 BY another route
twice or Eve tir'cs as long ca that, because
being by railroad il is easier and pleasan'eT,
or because he will have chances TO see per-
eons on business OF pleasure by the way
Then let him meet the ertra erpsnss Of so
doing out of his own pocket, as Others do, To
pay him Tor il out Of the treasury Is no more
equitable than it would be to pay one mem
Der twice as much as another per day during
the Session, becaaso FOX his special comfort
be pays twice az much for his board as the
other does. As for those cases land we have
heard Of suoh) where men actually travel
to and fro by the shorter route, yet make
their account Of travel for mileage by the
longer one, we consider such operations nc
better than any others where mea get
money under false pretences. We would not
trust such men in any thing.
We hope the present Legislature will do
sway with the notorious abuses which have
been practcei on this allowance for mileage
Of late years and if any members cannot
muster wisdom and virtue enough to do this
so as 70 lessen their o,gn allowance for thi.
year, then let thcm make the act to tax,
eject after the first Of January next. In tha
way they ean cct oF from their successor
the temptation % dishonesty which they
Themselves ara ut quito strong enough t,
resist.