Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-02-07

MILEAGE IN CoNaRrss we stated, some time Since
the vote Of the Vermont members the proposition TO
lay on the table bill directing that the miles 20 due by
law at the next session Of Congress should be- paid
II now seems that The proposition, kindred one has
been put through the House by riro vote the de-
mand iur the yeas and nays not being seconded. The
law provides that the members u Congress shall be en-
titled to mileage twice each Congress to be- paid at the
commencement Of each regular session, The members
IN some way evadtd this law aud got the first mea1o AZ
the extra session, and they are now violating u TO get
the second the present time aud from this experience
is safe to say that they will violate It 50 far as To- take
the third mileage session How much better Is this
than swndling W. regret that Vermont couldn't have
shown clean record on this question -- Freeman.
The Freeman seems determined to find fault
with everything connected with the manage
ment Of the war and the action Of Congress.
Our military leaders ase altogether to slow to
suit his notions the Presidents to old iogy-
ish and isn't up to the demands Of the times,
but hears too much to the border State men
Congress is doing nothing which it should
do, but great deal which it should not do,
and certain Vermont members especially are
making for themselves aud their State a smutty
record. 1t is certainly great pity that the
editor Of the Freeman is not in the place Of
some one Of the Vermont members, that he
could set things to rights little.
But this question Of mileage is little over
stated by the freeman. In the Cougression-
al report Of Wednesday Of last week we find
the following:
The House passed the Legislative, Executive and Ju-
dirial Appropriation Bills. Among them are the follow
ing namely That nothing n This act shall prevent here
after reduction " salaries and that mileage now due
by law shall be paid soon certified by the presiding
officer Of each House. bat there shall he contraction
tor mileage beyond rhqf Is aiouea by rristg ilc,
" Miicuge for zach regular scssfoa 0Hiy'
Instead, then, Of violating the law as to
mileage and subiecting themselves to the
charge of "swindling," the members Of Con-
gross have re-enacted the laC previously passed,
and cut off the possibility Of their receiving
constructive mileage or any other than
mileage for each regular session" Those
members who have not yet drawn their mile
age for this session, either at the present
time or at the extra session in July last, are
to be paid according to law upon the certf-
cate of the presiding officer Of each House
and those who have already drawn mileage
for the present session, whether now or at
the extra session, have the law plainly defn-
ed to their understandings There appears
also TO have been great unanimity in the pas
sage Of this supplementary bill, according to
the Freeman "the demand for the yeas and
nays not being seconded" We can tod moth
ing in amy port which has reached us to
show that the yeas and nays were even called
for At any rate The bill was passed a. in
dicted by the above extract from the Com
grcssioual proceedings, and we can see noth-
ing in il to subject Vermont members or any
other members to the charge Of "swindling
The ntimaiion that "they will violate it (ihe
law so far as 20 take the third mileage next
session. is altogether an unjusiidable suppo-
sition, existing only 10 the prciudced mind
Of the editor Of the Freeman; and on this
supposition OF a case, he tries to fix the stigma
Of "sWndling on the members from Yer
mont by saying "we regret that Vermont
couldn't have shown a clean record on this
question "a record which he does not pre-
tend to have seen or TO know anything about.
Surely if all the estates" OF the editor Of the
Freeman are based on as dimsy foundation
and are as easily smashed as are his charges
against Vermont members for derehction Of
duty or this last supposable case Of swim
ding" the Congressional aesh-pots are yet a
great ways from his grasp.