Oxford eagle., 1903-12-17
Notes and Comment
From the Nations Capital.
BY HINDMAN DOXEY.

section of the country need be
ashamed.
Williams came to congress some ten
years ago, and during the years OF his
service has gradually forged his way
to the front. He has been consistent.
persevering, and careful in all his
dealings since becoming a national
legislator, and the minority nominal
ton for the speakership of the house
of representatives demonstrates the
high esteem in which he is held by
his colleagues in congress.
The speaker of the house of repre-
sentatiyes, Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, or
Illinois, has recently announced the
appointment of the house committees
for the regular session of congress,
and in those assignments the Mis-
sissippi representatives were placed
upon the principal committees as fol-
lows:
Elections No bowers.
Elections No. BYRD.
Elections No. 3-McLain.
Coinage Weights and Measures
Gambler.
Rivers and Harbors-Humphrey
Merchant Marine and Fisheries
Spight.
Insular Affairs-Hill.
Pensions-McLain.
War Claims-Spight.
Ways and Means-William3.
The friends of Senator McLaurin. OF
Mississippi, recently started boom
for him for the ice-presidential NOM
ination on the Democratic ticket next
year. But l am of opinion that the
senator is very well satisfied with his
present berth in the senate, and with
a prospect of as many reflections as
he desires. McLaurin is close to the
hearts of the Mississippians, and his
ability is recognized in the United
States senate; but, while the vice.
presidency is an exalted Office. second
only to the presidency, it is a fact that
few presidents have ever attained
the goal. and the Office is regarded as
the Shell. ScUdtOl NhCIdulih WYNN
be amply able to fill the presidential
office if, in the event Of his nominal
tion and election to the yice-presi
dency, such a condition of affairs
should be brought about, but it is the
current comment here that he does
not desire the nomination and is per-
fectly satisfied to remain a senator OF
the United States from the State OF
Mississippi.
The extra session of congress
brought out very little discussion of
interest, there being but one question
before the congress-the Cuban mat
ter-and while the Democrats should
have liked the matter to have a wider
scope and more time for debate, they
had no recourse, but to submit to
the will of the majority. However,
the matter is not finally settled yet,
and they may have an opportunity to
SAY their say" later on.
One of the very interesting, and, l
might add, remunerative features OF
congressional life is that of travel
ing expenses At the opening of each
session of congress resolution IS
passed appropriating about $190,000
for travelling expenses (or mileage)
for men ers. AS in the case of the
extra session, which has just closed.
each member gets double appropria-
ton 1t is assumed that he will go
home after the extra session and re-
turn for the regular one, but whether
he goes home or not he is entitled to
and gets his little bunch of money at
the rate of 20 cents per mile each
way. The only cases on record where
congressman did not draw the extra
allowance were those of Richard p.
Bland, of Missouri, and VIM. s. Hol-
man, of Indiana The representatives
from our section of the country get
mileage for from 500 to 800 miles,
which is very small matter when
compared to those of the far West and
Northwest. The delegate from Hawaii
draws about $2,400. and If there
should-as there will in time-be a
delegate from the Philippines, his al
lowance would be in the neighborhood
Of $4,000 or $4,000, including his
salary of $4,000 per annum. When
California was first admitted into the
Union, in 1850, and sent two senators
and two representatives to the seat
of government, their individual mile
age amounted to $9,500 In those
days the allowance was 40 cents per
mile, and there being no railroads in
that section the trip had to be made
by steamboat around Cape Horn. The
introduction of railroad traffic how
ever, has greatly reduced all mileage
allowances, but the appropriation is
even now large enough to make the
average citizen wonder why things
are thus. especially since railroad fare
is only 3 cents mile and most of the
members travel on passes.
The director of the department of
archives and history Of the State of
Mississippi, Dunbar Rowland, was in
Washington recently for the purpose
of making investigations in the Off
cial archives of the various depart
ments. and especially to examine the
Mississippi Confederate rosters, which
are on file in the record and pension
division of the war department. At its
last session congress made provision
for the compilation and publication of
an official roster of officers and enlist
ed men of both armies. and every pos
sible effort is being made to make it
accurate and complete
He Lost Out.
They had been trotting in double
harness for only three short months