Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-28
CONGRESSIONAL MILEAGE
MEMBERS VERY CAREFUL OF
THEIR OWN PURSES.

OOuuts
WASHINGTON, June 26.--Congressmen
of every shade OF political opinion are as
a rule very eager to put themselves on
record as economically inclined as re-
CARDS the expenditure of public money.
A close examination of the sincerity Of
their professions would show in
nine cases out of ten that 1t is
genuine only when their own pockets
are not directly affected. Until within;
a few years the rate allowed army
officers when travelling in obedience to
orders has been 100. per mile, computed
according to the shortest route of travel.
This was afterwards reduced to &c., and
in the appropriation bill which passed
the House last month the rate was still
further reduced to 4c., and in addition
thereto to the cost OF transportation
actually paid, exclusive OF parlor or
sleeping ear fares, but IN no case is
the whole amount paid to exceed
Sc. per mile. This rate is large enough
to cover all ordinary expenses of travel
by railroad or steamboat. When travel
must be performed by stages on the from
tier, and when the actual cost is often
25c. per mile, the expense is covered by
the provisions OF the present law and
by those OF the army bill, still
pending in Congress. While Senators
and Representatives have discov-
cred the amount that will
cover the expense of army officers
when travelling under orders OF their
superiors, it is very singular that these
economical legislators haVenever applied
the discovery to their own expenditures
in coming to the,capital and returning to
their homes. The rate paid Senators
and Representatives for mileage Is 20
cents per mile, making 40 cents for the
round trip. This allowance was made
many years ago in the days ofcanal boats
and stage coaches, and when the amount
named was required to cover
the actual expense of travel. 1t costs
Congressman no more to travel than it
does an officer of the army, yet the latter
must be content with a maximum OF
cents per mile, while the statutes allow
Congressman 20 cents, Now for an ex-
ample Of how this discrimination works.
The distance between Washington and
New York is about 230 miles. For travel
ing that distance the Congressman is paid
S46, while the army officer is paid
SO 20 for mileage, being cents
per mile, and $6 90 for expense
OF travel, making in all S15 70 against the
SAG paid the Congressman. Take the case
OF a Congressman whose home is at Chi
cago. For the journey to Washington he
is paid, In the form of mileage, $lT0,
while the member wao comes from san
Francisco is paid $500, and like amount
for the return trip. The amount appro-
priated to defray the necessary travelling
expenses of the entire army is $3.50, 900.
To pay the mileage OF 76 Senators there
is annually appropriated $4,000, and for
members of the House OF Representatives
$110,640.
IN LOVE WITH A COUNT.
4 Washington society people ara inter-
ested Just now in the progress OF efforts
being made to prevent two hearts beating
as one. The lady on behalfof whom these
efforts are being made IS the grand
daughter Of John Marshall, the fourth
Chief Justice OF the United States. The
lady has ne wealth of her own, and in fact
holds q position in one OF the
government departments, but the
wealth and standing Of her
friends and relatives in this city have, as
already stated, enlisted the interest of So
oiety people in the case. The object Of her
affections is q young Russian Count, vino
is Just now pressing suit TO recover the
right to telephone patents, which ne
claims will make him several times a mil-
Iionaire il be is successful. he is hand
some man, but despite his,noble lineage
has a reputation which is decidedly shady.
This in measure, however,
may be attributable to the reckless indIs-
cretions of youth. This week there was
sreceived in the city duly authenticated
copies of the Police Court docket In New
York, showing that the elegant Count in
the fall Of 1883 was up before Police JUS
tice Kelley on the charge of stealing from
the wife OF a wealthy citizen number OF
articles Of jewelry, among them a dia-
rfn worth GD00 which "a
took to a jeweler and sold,
replacing the genuine diamond for
one OF paste and returning II to the owner.
He was then only Is years old, and had
been intimate with the woman, and on
threatening to tell her husband she let
him 20 without prosecuting him for the
theft. The District Attorney told the
young Russian 10 leave New York at
once and compelled him, as was the Gus
criminals, to enlist in the army.
He came to Washington and
was detailed for service in
the QuartermasteT's Department. One
night not long after he stole his Captains
gold watch, worth $500, and departed. 1t
Is said that be married the wealthy daugh-
ter OF New England mill owner and
went to Europe, where he lived like a
prince as long as the money lasted. While
meanor and spent four years in prison.
The friends OF the granddaughter OF John
Marshall think they have made a case
strong enough TO prevent the marriage.
MRS. wHTrNEY's SOCIAL sPLENDoR.
No lady has been more prominent In
w Washington society during the season
just closing than Mrs. Whitney, wife Of
the Secretary OF the Navy. Her enter
tainments have been the most expensive,
her dresses the most beautiful and her
Jewels the rarost in the city. Her con-
nectiOn with President Cleveland's we'd
ding has set everybody talking about
her, how she went shopping
with Miss Folsom the day before her
wedding, how she entertained President
Cleveland at her mansion on Fifth ave-
nue.. In New York. and how sne wore the
most beautiful dress at the reception.
Mrs. Whitney was not launched into her
present prominent position from OBJ
scuriiy. Her father ~ Senator Payne, Of
OHIO, one OF the weAlthisst men in tho
state, and since her childhood she
has been accustomed 10 every
thing that wealth could afford.
WHOM h0r husband was chosen by
Cabluet she was ~ once prepared N as
sumo the manifold and complicated social
duties Of a Cabinet Minister'S wife, and
her brother. VIM n worth about tlO.Ool,-
90, RaFo her ~ .n0h .0ao ~ begin her fret
aeaeDn with. hTg. WhiiBey's mansion ln
this oiiy Do funhisbee throughout With
exquisite tasirf foNards the cod
N me aeasop che inyiiod about