Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-26
THE MILEAGE ITEM
Proposed Appropriation At
tackled in the House.
UNDERWooDY DECISION
WILL NOT ACCEPT IT. EVEN IF
VOTED.
Panama Question Again Before the
Senate-Mr. Stone Criticises
the Administration.
UNDERW0oDg DECISION

the Administration.
George ]. Smith of the twenty-fourth dis
trict Of New York, who has been detained
at his home by illness, was sworn In when
the House of Representatives convened to-
day.
Mr.. Overstreet Qnd), from the committee
on post offices and post roads, brought up
a resolution calling on the Postmaster Cen
eral for information as to the number. OF
horses. carriages and automobiles main
tanned at the government expense for Of
icials of the Post Office Department
Mr.. Hitchcock (Neb.) asked IL Mr.. Over
street would accept an amendment SO as to
call for information for specific time.
saying that information furnished under
the resolution as 1t now stood might be
worthless.
Mr.. Overstreet said he had no authority
to accept an amendment, as the resolution
had been unanimously reported by the post
Office committee He moved the previous
question and forty minutes debate was al
lowed.
The minority applauded the Speakers rul-
Ing permitting debate
Mr.. Hitchcock said he was surprised at
the confession of the chairman of the COM
mittee on appropriations that expenditures
for this purpose were being made, and that
cOachmen and fOOtmen were being employ
ed and designated as laborers, and that he
had been unable to get information as to its
extent. He said he had introduced the
resolution for which the committee had re-
ported a substitute, for the purpose of Sc
curing speclhc information. He character
lied the use of carriages as governmental
extravaganza and illegal expenditure, and
said extravaganza of that kind, carried on
in the dark, should be stopped. He said the
resolutions in their present form laid them
nf dad IN, mt no
executive departments in position to state
existing conditions, adding that he had
heard that there had been reforms and a
rafting of dry bones since the resolutions
were offered. Mr.. Hitchcock also said he
was informed that there would be an at
tempt to fix responsibility for the practice
on democratic administrations.
Mr.. Overstreet said the resolution was
Identical with those calling upon other de-
partment heads. He urged that the resolu-
ton was broad enough to secure all the in
formation sought by the author Of the reso-
luton. IL
On the Urgent Deficiency Bill.
The resolution was adopted and the House
went into committee of the whole. with
Mr.. Tawney (Minn.) in the chair for the
consideration of the urgent deficiency appro-
priation bill. Mr.. Hemenway Qnd.), chair
man Of the committee on appropriations,
explained the provisions of the bill
Necessity for Cutting Estimates.
Mr.. Hemenway called attention to the
fact that if all the recommendations to the
committee were followed the appropriations
would create deficiency in the treasury
of $42,OOO,000. In the bills thus far passed
the estimates have been cut little over
100000, and that ratio would reduce the
estimates only $12000,000, thus leaving a
deficit of $4,000 Co., He urged the ne
cessity Of pairing and cutting, saying that
If this Congress did as we'll as the last the
estimates would be cut s2o.OO0.OOO.
The $145, 900 Mileage Item.
In explaining the item of $145, 600 for mile
age for senators and representatives, being
40 cents mile, to pay their expenses OF
attending the extra and present sessions,
Mr.. Hemenway said that the committee had
simply followed precedent established In
the Fifty-third and Fifty-fifth Congresses.
Il wish to say" continued Mr.. Hemen-
way, that now 1t is up to the House."
Mr.. Underwood (Ala.), member Of the
subcommittee which prepared the bill, in
discussing Its Items, said there was, from
testimony of heads of departments before
the committee, much abuse Of the "contin-
gent fund. Carriage hire was one Of these
abuses and he advised specific regulation
on this matter
Mr.. Underwood said he had voted in COM
mittee for the item to pay the salary Of the
support this item in the House. He ex-
planned that the committee fixed the salary
of the minister at Panama at 10000, be-
cause the testimony shows that that is an
unhealthy post He said it appeared, fur
Their. that part of the $4,000 went for living
expenses and the balance for life insurance.
Mileage Item Attacked.
Representative Underwood of Alabama
attacked In vigorous speech the provision
appropriating s145,O0O for paying mileage
The provision was placed in the bill by the
committee on appropriations on the sup
position that the extra session which began
November was adjourned five minutes
before the regular second session was con-
vened Monday. December Z,
Mr.. Underwood claimed that there had
been no adjournment constructive or other
wise of the extra session.
The extra session had been merged into
the regular session. None of the members
had been home to their constituency be-
tween the sessions, they had not travelled
by government permission, and were there
fore not entitled to the mileage.
Mr.. Underwood reviewed the history Of
other Congresses where the sessions had
begun earlier than the first Monday in De-
cember and continued into the regular SEES
sion. He said that in none Of these had
extra mileage been drawn.
Mr. Underwood was interrupted by a num-
Der of members.
Mr.. Thayer of Massachusetts wanted to
know If the present was the extra or reg
ular session. He said he had not drawn
his mileage for either session. but he want
ed it for both.
Mr.. Bartlett Of Georgia called attention
to the fact that in 1857 a law was passed
making the mileage available on the first
day of each and every session.
Mr.. Underwood replied that the present
law provides for mileage only once for each
session.
There has been but one session of the
Fifty-eighth Congress, he declared, and be-
neved that the courts would hold to that
view. If they did SO 1t would put the rep
resentative who had drawn double mileage
in a very embarrassing attitude. He did
not care to be placed In such position.
He claimed the privilege Of voting against
the mileage because he did not believe he
was entitled to it.
Mr.. Underwood declared that IL the mile
age should be voted by the House he would
not draw any of 1t, but would let his share
be covered back into the treasury at the
end of the fiscal year. ~
THE SENATE.
Mr.. Hepburn Qdaho} addressed the Sem
ate today on his resolution directing stay
of DrocaadiuCS IN applicatiOnS To uafenf