New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31
REJECT DOUBLE MILEAGE
HEROIC DEED OF HOUSE.
Vote against Paying Tra0eIing Er-
penses for T5co Sessions
IRON TIE rRIBUNE nuREAu.I

cal nartes had declared publicly and privael! that
they entitled to 1t under the law, they failed
4 20 express the courage of their convictions Fhen
tho final test came. That the keenest interest was
/ felt in the outcome was indicated by the unusually
| large number of members present Arguments for
and against the proposition received the cpsest
| attention. and the debate was occasionally nli-
vened by indulgence in personalities. So different
was the the floor of the House to-day
from that ordinarily presented that casual visitor
would have been led TO believe that the weightiest
| affairs Of state under consideration. Az
matter of, fact the proceedings were regarded as
OF the highest Importance from pecuniary point
of view, for they meant TO scores of representa-
tives something like 81 200 TO $500. and TO many
others $500 to 5000 All they had to do to reimburse
themselves for their travelling expenses DeWeep
| II so o'clock and Monday. December wHss
to authorize Uncle Sam to foot the Dill. The Sem
ate, too. interested to the extent of $4,000 in
the transaction. and waited anxously for the
nouncement that the House ha6 decided to stand
for the appropriation even though public opinion
had be dehed
Representative Tawney of Minnesota, was in the
chair. and him devolved the duty OF overruling
the point of order raised against the allowance of
mileage This ruling he prepared before the opening
of the session to-day. and when he took the chair
he armed with formidable typewriter docu-
ment covering the points at issue 1t was whispered
around the chamber in spirit of railery that had
Mr. Tawney been the bench his ruling would be
| open to criticism. nasmuch as he had apparently
prejudged the before all the testimony was in
and the arguments had been submitted
| Just soon, however. the decision was an
nounced Representative Underwood moved 10 strike
out the paragraph containing the mileage item, and
tellers were appointed. 1t then that the House
was stampeded like flock of frightened sheep. and
a veritable avalanche of humanity from both sides
| OF the chamber rushed down the aisles to vote
against the mileage proposition. No one could be
found who willing to stand pat on the policy
Of voting for the additional $4,000, and the count
stood 1877 to O.
1Ie-, oil with Tents
and members crowded 10 the front to join the
procession they waved their hands to their news
paper friends in a deprecatory manner signifying
that there nothing to do but captulate grace
fully.
THE DEBATE LONG AND LIVELY.
The House went into committee OF the whole
Immediately after converting with Mr.. Tawney,
of Minnesota, in the chair, and re slmed consid-
Grafton OF The Urgent Deficiency bill
Mr.. Fuller Of Illinois. proceeded to combat the
arguments OF Mr.. LAttlehed. Of Maine. on the
point of order raised by Mr.. Maddox. OF Georgia,
the paragraph providing second payment of
mileage to Senators and members. Mr. Fuller said
the question be determined whether this
was the seGond session OF the 6n IN nS
Der. He differed from MIR. Lttleheld in the con-
the November session ended noon on the day
fixed by the constitution for converting the Decem-
Der session. The latter. he said, is provided for
by the constitution All the business now was be
Mr.. Parker: OF New,JerseSy followed Mr. Fqlle5
went on in the November session until noon on
authority But the fact that there was a new
sanction for meeting on December did not inter,
that there nothing TO warrant the drawing OF
PERIOD while the Clock was striking L. lie said
the House had talked of horses and carriages used
point that it would be inconsistent to allow a fct
'S Mr idTngsto0 of Gsorgia called attention to
the fact that the House when II met on Deem
that it had assembled. Why was that done. no
nSTFee TINS rD MsS bs u @ e4ed to take
every pfecaution t reanrmns his contention how
ever that the House could not adjourn the Novem-
Der session WITHOUT a concurrent resolution -.
fact that the president OF the Senate had an
nounced the expiration OF the November session
and that when the House met December the
roll was called and the journal shows this TO be
Mr. Parker replied that the journal does not have
the force Of concurrent resolution but Mr.. Payne
Referring 10 the notice the President. Mr.
Parker said that was simply Informing the Pres!-
that particular day. but the session continued
Mr. smith. of New-Yorl asked n the adjourn
ment the Saturday preceding December was
nG Mr. ParRer replied ha sine dc
could not be taken without the concurrent action
OF the Senate.
CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION ARGUED.
Mr. Cooper of Wisconsin took issue with the
proposition that there is distinction between
sessions He asked II the two houses could have
adopted concurrent resolution on December D.
taking adjournment over the holidays, answer
ing that It would have been contrary to the
date of the constitution, which specifically pro-
vides that Congress shall meet at least once
year the first Monday in December Congress
in special session November by reason
OF tho call OF the President. and that session
ended he declared at noon on the first Monday
in December, the day fixed by the constitution for
| the assembling or Congress Mr.. Cooper said he
had made up his mind what he purposed doing in
no M Of mil left a
to do as his conscience dictated. Mr.. Cooper
speaking the distinction between sessions. said
! the constitution provides for extraordinary ses-
sions and If it did not provide for a regular SEES
sion Congress would be at the mercy of the Pres-
! dent
to the fact that the Senate had adjourned the No
vember sessG9 and that the s H0sg had not
| dent of tho Senate could not adjourn that body on
no objection was made his act became the act of
| the Senate.
POINT OF ORDER OVERRULED.
! Mr. Tawney then OVER lied the point of order
| The question turned, he said. whether this
! the second session a continuation. He held that
the session called by the President terminated De-
cember by constitutional limitation. and said It
! would be reasonable to say that because there
will be formal beginning Of tomorrow therefore
! Saturday will continue forever. contend that
the special session still continued He held this TO
| be a separate and distinct session, and that the
provision for mileage is in order.
Mr.. Underwood, of Ala bama. moved to strike out
the paragraph providing for mileage for Senators
and Representatives. He renewed his argument in
opposition 10 the payment Of mileage which he held
Mr.. Grosvenor Of Ohio, moved to amend the
mileage paragraph by providing that any mem
Der OF Congress who shall be entitled TO the mile
age appropriated in the bill, IL he SO desires, may
said he provided way by which any member who
does not feel that he can accept the money may
he said, as in his Judgment he should, then face