Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-03-20
bill went over to the morning hour of

bill went over to the morning hour of
Tuesday next.
Mr.. Albright introduced a bill to
amend the act of 1898, insregard to the
enrolment and licensing of vessels en-
ployed in the fishing and coast trade.
The house then, at so, went into a
committee of the whole, Mr.. Woodford
in the chair, on legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill.
An item of $58, 600 for the pay of the
capitol police gave rise to much dis
cussion. Finally, Mr.. Harmon offered
an amendment to reduce the appropria-
ton to $21, 900, provided that any disa-
bled soldier now on the capitol police
shall be retained. The amendment was
rejected-syes, %; nays, Ia.
The item of $4,000 for mileage of
members of the house having been
reached, Mr.. Smith [Penn.l offered an
amendment, combining the allowance
for mileage to actual travelling expenses.
Mr.. Parker Mo. made point of or
der that the amendment was not in or
der, as being in conflict with the exist
ing law, and the point was sustained by
the chairman.
Mr.. Albright offered a similar amend
ment which was also ruled out on like
point of order. An appeal was taken
but the decision was sustained by vote
of 129 to 20.
Mr.. Smith Pa. then moved to re-
duce the amount to twenty thousand
dollars, and sent to the clerks desk a
statement from the secretary of the
treasury showing that the amount of
mileage paid members of the forty
second congress was one hundred and
81
fifty-seven dollars, and the amount paid
at the present session, when only the
actual travelling expenses were allowed
was only twenty-three thousand four
hundred and seventy-six dollars. There
was an opportunity for the reformers to
save one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars for congress in that single item.
Mr.. Smiths amendment was rejected
by vote of 81 to 9z.
Mr.. Msllish then moved to strike o1t
the item for mileage, and remarked that
1t was time that this great American
swindle was abolished.
Mr.. Clymer sustained ths amend
ment.
Mr.. Tremaine submitted that they
were trifing with the valuable time OF
the house and country, and he therefore
adopted.
Mr.. Randall advocated the amend
ment. He proposed to fight the appro-
priation bill line by line.
Mr.. Mellish remarked that he would
attempt at every opportunity to stop
this stealing of one hundred end thirty
thousand dollars from the treasury.
Mr.. Parker Mo. asked Mr.. Mellish
whether he understood him to say that
members of the house were engaged in
stealing one hundred and thirty thou
sand dollars.
Mr.. Mellish repeated what he had al
ready said, that mileage Yves a great
American swindle. He did not believe
there was such q swindle perpstrated
under any other government.
Mr.. Parker repeated his question amid
good deal of noise and confusion, but
the chairman stated that the question,
in the form it was put, did not seem par
liamentary.
Mr.. Parker asked the opinion of the
chair as to whether Mr.. Mellish's re-
marks were parliamentary?
Mr.. Garfield (manifesfing impatience)
Let us have vote.
Mr.. Niblack moved to -educe the
amount one-half, and expressed the
opinion that ten cents mile was a just
and fair compensation for travelling ex-
penses.
Mr.. Mellish said he would modify his
language, and call mileage constructive
stealing, or legal stealing; but ne would
not withdraw his expression that it was
the great American swindle.
Mr.. Potter opposed Mr.. Niblaek's
amendment, because 1t did not reduce
the appropriation enough.
Mr.. Cox said they would never have
an end to this dissension unless they
stopped the cost, and he hoped the house
would do that to-day.
The discussion, which had been very
noisy and excited, here closed, and the
committee proceeded to vote On Mr.. Nib
lacks amendment. 1t was reiected-5S
to SO.
Mr.. Holman suggested, as measure
Of peace, an amendment repeating the
law allowing mileage, but point of
order was raised by Mr.. Parker Mo. !,
and the amendment was not received.
The committee then rose, after having
got through with only two pages of the
bill, and the house adjourned.