The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-11-16
MR.. CARLILE's EXPLANATION.

MIR. SPEAKER:-It Is always emoar-
RAISING to me to make personal ekplana,,
tions, and to those with whom l am well
acquainted it is unnecessary since Try
to so shape my conduct as to preserve my
character harmless against false cnarges'
A copy OF this mornings REGISTER, Just
handed me, contains two separate reler-
ences 10 me, which, unexplained, might
prejudice nv standing in this House.
The first charge is that my colleague, "Mr.
West a Democrat, drew mileage for 5O4
miles and Mr.. Carlile drew mileage for
$40 miles Does Mr.. Carlile live 33G
miles further from Charleston than Dir.
West?'
The discrepancy occurred in the fol-
lowing manner: In going to and re-
turning from Charleston to attend
the session of the Legislature of
1875, | was compelled, on account OF ice,
to travel in circuitous route to the then
Capital of the State, exceeding $40 miles;
but when asked by member of the Com
mittce on Elections and Privileges what
amount | claimed, my reply was; "mile-
age by the most direct route l alter
wards learned that | was allowed for
504 miles. Mr.. West then called upon
inc and stated that he claimed and was
allowed mileage for $40 miles travel, and
that he did not like to appear upon
the record as having received
more than myself, and that he would
consider it a favor if would permit him
to have the number of miles repo ted as
1 l.l D., N
correspond with the number claimed to
have been travelled by MIN. | answered
that since had necessarily Travelled ut
least that distance, had no objection
that my claim should be corrected ac-
cording to the fact, and especially If 1t
would favor him to do so. BY reference
to the journal of the House of Delegates
of January Is, 1875, pages s and ., | find
that the Committee on Elections and
Privileges reported that w. ID. Carllle
and Thomas j. West were each entitled
to mileage Tor $40 miles travel. Also
By reference to the Ledger kept by the
Sergeant .at Arms of the House, find
on page IA the following entry: "To w.
ID. Carlile Dr., to $40 miles mileage at 10
cents, sS4;" and on page 90, "To Thomas
j. West, DR.. by $40 miles mileage Ssh -
A warrant for that amount was presented
to me and cashed. A few days after
wards Mr.. West informed me that he
had only drawn mileage for 50i miles. |
expressed by surprise to him inasmuch rs
| had consented, at his request, to allow
him to have my claim for mileage
corrected so aS to conform with
his. He then said he would
go and get a warrant for
the $S4 to which he claimed he was
entitled. accompanied him, and heard
the Sergeant-at. Arms tell 1t was now too
late to change his check Tor mileage. 1t
is obvious 70 my mind nol0 that the OBJ
iect Mr.. West had in view was to prcju-
dice me in some way, il he could, IN the
ewes o! my constituents, and manutac-
ture political capital for himself. But If
ne thinks he will De able to succeed In
this undetermined manner, he does not
know the people OF Harrison county, n
well as | do. IHeH ~W not JON 'ctH lam
to stat me IN he dark. The constituency
| have the honor to represent are nelth-
er cowarls nor asSassins.
As to the second charge which is,
"that as n member of the committee in
vestlgating the finances OF the State, APP
pointed to sit during the recess OF the
Legislature | served five days and drew
paw for Lwcnty-one days | was sum-
moned BY the chairman Of the commit.
tee on its meeting in " Wheeling, to come
Immediately left my business at
home and came here in obedi.
ence to his command, and to discharge
the duties this House had imposed on me.
After remaining here for sever
al days, ascertained that the
character of the evidence beng
taken before the committee was OF kind
suggested by myself and with which |
was perfectly familiar. | then asked and
obtained permission for Il weeks absence.
Ny motive IN leaving was mainly to OBJ
tain authorities that my own library did
not contain, relating to the questions
that were likely to arise during the I'M
peachment trial which | suppose would
follow soon after the report made by the
investigating committee | made no
claim for per diem as n member of that
y
doubts as to whether we would receive
any pay for the same On the 9th inst.
| wa presented with warrant by Mr.
Snyder of Monongalia, who had it caShed
for me, and in counting it l found it was
eighty-four dollars. l gave it no thought,
inasmuch as other members of the eom-
mittee had from time to time been ex-
cused similarly to the members Of the
House who were excused this morning.
If Lam not entitled to it rs member OF
that committee, or if | am not entitled
to it rs "A matter Of right and equity, !
will be obliged to any member of this
House or to the Finance committee if
they will so advise me, and | will return
i, with pleasure, as they may direct.