The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-31
WON'T GET MILEAGE
FOR SECOND SESSION.
Maddox Manages to Defeat a Bit of
Congressional Graft.


Washington, Jan. 3O.-The House to-
day voted unanimously to strike from
the urgent deficiency bill the provisions
for the second payment of mileage to
the senators and representatives. of this
Congress, and then passed the urgent
deficiency appreciation bill.
This action was the climax to an
exciting discussion of the mileage prob
lem begun yesterday, first on a point
of order raised against the provision
by Mr.. Maddox of Georgia, then on a
motion to strike out made to-day by
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama.
Argument on the point of order that
it was not authorized by law turned on
the question of whether this was the
| second session of Congress, or merely
a continuation of the session convened
Nov. 9, on the call of the President.
| Messrs. Mann of Illinois and Cooper of
Wisconsin commended that there had
been two sessions, while Mr.. Parker of
New Jersey insisted that because new
sanction had been given for meeting
on Dec. Z, the status of the session,
which he held to be continuous, was
not altered. Mr.. Littlefeld supplement-
| ed his argument of yesterday by re-
| affirming that there had been no in
terregnum between the two sessions.
Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota, as chair
man of the Committee of the Whole,
in a carefully prepared opinion over
ruled the point of order against the
appropriation saying the parliament
u fn 1srbp 0xyiu ~
law authorized the payment of mileage
was the point to be decided by him,
| and the question as to whether the
| mileage should be received was for the
| committee to decide
Result Loudly Cheered.
| An amendment by Mr.. Grosvenor,
| providing for the return of the mile
| age to the treasury, was agreed to
and Mr.. Underwood's motion to strike
out the provision for mileage was
| adopted without a dissenting vote. The
result was loudly cheered.
| Deep interest was manifested in the
| determination of the question, and
| there were but few absentees when
| the House convened.
| During the debate Mr.. Parker insist
| ed that there was nothing to warrant
| the drawing of mileage for travelling
| 5000 miles during that period that the
| ClOCk was SlilhllS Il. ne Sdlu IudI
! the House had talked of horses and
| carriages used by the several govern
| ment departments, and made the point
| that it would be inconsistent to allow
a fictitious construction on the mileage
| item.
Mr.. Livingston of Georgia called at
| tention to the fact that the House, on
meeting Dec. Z, had notified the Presi-
| dent and the Senate of its assemblage.
Why was that done, he inquired, if this
was a continuous session.
Mr.. Parker replied that it was de-
| sired to take every precaution, reaf-
| tirming his contention, however, that
the House could not adjourn the No
| vember session without concurrent
resolution.
Mr.. Maddox said he should vote
against taking mileage. He declared
that Congress was duty bound to set
examples of economy to the government
departments.
Afraid to Be Counted.
! On a viva voce vote Mr.. Underwood's
motion was declared lost, but tellers
were demanded
Immediately both Republican and
Democratic members arose and all
started for the tellers. The scene pro-
voked laughter and applause, and as
the crowd in front of the Speakers
ueSh grew uellscl luSiS were uSlidiuo
to "call off the tellers and make it
unanimous" When all had passed and
been counted in favor of striking out
the mileage, those opposed were ask
ed to vote, but not single member
responded. There was more laughter
and applause, and the chair announced
that 1877 votes had been cast in the
! affirmative and none in the negative.
The deficiency bill was passed with
out division just as it came from the
Committee of the Whole.
A concurrent resolution, accepting
the statue of James Marquette mis-
sionary and explorer, and providing
that it remain in Statuary Hall in the
Capitol, and extending the thanks of
Congress to the people of Wisconsin,
was passed.
The House adjourned until Monday.