The Opelousas courier., 1882-02-11
The Mileage Grab.
The New Orleans City Item. in refer

ring to this scandalous matter, says:
There is no such expenditure as
mileage" permitted legally. When
the treasury was plundered under for
mer administrations for the payment of
mileage to legislators, the steal was
covered by a statute; but even then
the practice was denounced as disgrace
full and blot upon the records of
otherwise honorable men. To prevent
tis continuance the new Constitution
forbade mileage payments, and limit
ed the appropriation to actual travel
ing expenses.
ARTICLE 81. The members of the
General Assembly shall receive com
pensation not to exceed four dollars
per day during their attendance and
their actual traUeling expenses going
to and returning from the seat of gov
ernment; but in no instance shall more
than thirty dollars each way be al
lowed for travelling expenses.
1t is perfectly apparent from the
foregoing that any Representative or
Senator who accepted per diem while
not in attendance at the Legislature or
who took one dollar in excess of his
actnal travelling expenses, violated his
oath to support the constitution which
he had so solemnly sworn.
He should have made a voucher
showing his actual expenses, and it
should have been "a matter of pride, as
we'll as of honor, to have made his draft
upon the public treasury as small as
possible. No one who accepted free
ride on steamboat or a pass ever a
railway-not enc of the legislators who
went away on General Dodge's special
train of the New Orleans Pacific road
yesterday, can conscientiously exact
and keep from the State even a money
equivalent equal to the customary cost
of such a journey.
All of which we heartily endorse.
The New Orleans States very appropri-
ately refers to the matter as follows:
The amount. involved in this grab
may be comparatively small; but the
act of receiving it, however insignifi-
cant the amount, is menstrous in law
and morals; and, if it be retained. must
forever close the mouths of those who
received it in any cause of retrench-
IDeBt or referm must silence their de-
nuneiations of corruption and jobbery,
or associate their utterane&s with hy-
pocrisy and smother their efforts in
such lines with derision and ridicule.
The States of the Goth gives the fol-
| lowing list of those who received mile
age for the second extra session, and
| vouches for its correctneas9
Jas. r. Mcdowell, Madison.
VIM. Vincent, Calcasieu.
W. j. Yell, East Carroll.
T. J Butler, Bienville.
| Overton Cads, Lafayette.
Geo. Essex, St Charles.
B. Gardner, Assumption.
j. s. Billiu, Lafoarche.
Pierre Landry, Ascension.
Aug. Bulow, Assumption.
/ John Cayolle, st. John Baptist.
/ v. Dickerson. St. James.
B. T. billiard. Union.
j. p Hancy, East Feliciana.
C. Ives, Jackson.
Jno C. Lyons, St. Landry
Harry Mahoney, Plaquemines.
B. L Millaudon, St. Bernard.
T., W. McLeroy, Richland.
Hy. C. Newsom, ST. Helena.
A. L. Atkins, Claiborne.
Max Feazel, Lincoln.
Enos. Williama, Terrebonne.
Thos. A. Garrett, Ouachita.
G. Young, Iberia.
J. w. A. Verret, Tberville.
T. r. Vaughan, Caddo.
G.. w. Varnado, Washington
j. Talton, Webster.
| C. n. St. Clair, st. Mary.
s. Shaiffer. Tensas.
i L. Roche, jefferson.
s. s. Pearce, Avoyslles.
t. T. AIlain, Iberville.
T. G.. Davidson, Livingston.
Thos. M. Frazier. Lafsurche:
| NJ s. jackson, st. Mary.
r. E. jackson, Natchitoches.
| T. j. Nixon, Tangipahea.
i H. v. Mccain, Grant.
| j. Pollard, Terrebonns.
w. S. Pricbard, Catahoula.
| S. NJ. Robertson, East Baton Rouge
| A. Veorhies, ST. Martin.
/ E. E. Kidd, senator.
John Settuon, senator.
Richard Simmes, senator.
Jordon Stewart, senator.
Henry Demas, senator.
1t then adds:
Among those who received mileage
there are several who we're entitled t.
it, as they visited their homes and re
turned to attend the session.
These members were Robertson. 0
East Baton Rouge, BiIliu of Lafourche
Cade, of Lafayette. jackson and st
Clair, of st. Mary, Veorhies, of st
Martin, and, We believe, Allan, Q
Iberville.
We should recommend that thos
parties who received this illegal none,
return it promptly TO the Treasurer o
Fiscal Agent, and that those who drey
more than their necessary expenses re
turn the surplus.
And if the CoURIER's voice Ca reac
: them, we would most earnestly recom
mend the same thing.
/ We call the attention of cur reader
T to the advertisement of j. Monroe Tay
t lor. This house has been establishe
nearly 90 years, and their goods ar
celebrated for purity and strength. w
! would recommend trial of their Col
Medal brands to all who desire superio
Il