The Washington times., 1904-01-30

vote by tellers was I67 to o.
Immediately after the reading Of the
journal today. the House went into
Committee OF the Whole. resumed con-
sideration of the urgent deficiency
bill. and proceeded with debate relative
to the right of the House to vote itself
double mileage.
Representative Fuller Of Illinois, Re
publican. expressed the opinion that
Congress is now in its second session.
although there vas no hiatus between
the first and the second The extra
ordinary session came to an end De-
cembeT with adjournment OF that day
The regular session provided for by
the, Constitution began on Monday. at
noon Fer that reason the Committee
on Appropriations had no right to leave
out the appropriation OF Sl45. 900 for the
mileage of members OF the House
Representative Parker (ReDsS n. J.)s
argued that as the Congress- 67as been
in continuous session Stree No'ember ,
there can be no rightful claim u double
mileage. The law deals in realities, he
said, not in fictitious intervals between
the two sessions, and mileage cannot be
paid where there can have been no
travel
Representative Cooper CRep.. Wis)
did not discuss the QueSti0n OF
mileage directly. but addressed him
self TO the point OF order raised
yesterday by Mr., Maddox OF Georgia,
Mr. Cooper's contention being that
there were clearly. under the Con-
stitution. two distinct sessions OF Con-
gress-
Mr. Tawney, chairman of the Com
mittee Of the Whole. announced that he
was ready to rule. when Mr. Littleheld
of Maine took the floor in support OF
the point of order.
The Chairman's Decision
Chairman Tawney then read his care
fully prepared decision overruIing the
point of order. He held that under
resolutions adopted by Congress. there
Were two sessions of Congress-this De-
ing the second Under the law OF 1856,
which was revived by the repeal Of the
law of 1874. which raised the salaries
of Congressman to s.. 500 per annum. the
salaries of members are fixed at $3.50.
and as additional compensation mileage
at the rate of % cents mile for the
shortest route is provided
This Chairman Tawnsy held 10 mean
that the amount in question is payable
once a session. whether there was really
any travel or not. as an additional ccu-
pensaticn-" He quoted from the journals
of the two houses OF Congress to estab-
| iish the fact that there were really two
separate and distinct sessions. although
they merged into one. The constitutional
provision calling Congress into session
/ on the first Monday in December ter
minated the extra session. which began
| November 3. For these reason s he over
/ ruled Mr.. Maddox's point of order and
/ held that the appropriation for mileage
was properly in the BILL
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama. imme-
diateiy after the reading or the decision.
moved that the mileage provision be
stricken from the bill. He explained
/ again that he opposed Il second s-dyTnent
l OF mileage to the House, because. IN
/ fact-no matter how many technical ses-
sions there may hawke been--there has
been but one continuous session OF Con-
/ gress.
Mileage in Deficiency Bill
The mileage provision in the bill was
reached late yesterday Afternoon Just
before it was taken up Mr.. Henaenway.
the chairman OF the Committee on Ap-
prOpriations. offered an amendment ap-
propriating $4,000 for mileage for Sena-
tors. IL appears that the House com
| nittee in its anxiety to appropriate
$4,000 for members Of the House. en-
tireIy overlooked the Senate. and omit
ted all provision for mileage for men,
1 bers OF that body. &ir. Hemenway Of
Z fered an amendment to include in the
/ appropriation S45. eco for Senators. thus
! bringing the amount for mileage up 10
4 $3.50 UUO.
As soon as the para graph was read
! there were half dozen members On
| their feet TO raise point ef erszsr. Tho
/ cnalr. Mr.. Jawney, recognized a Demo-
! crslt. Mr.. Maddox OF Georgia. Mr. Mad
doX argued the question briefly. and
yielded TO Mr.. Grosvenor tRep.. Ohiol
I who offered q facetious amendment to
/ the effect that any member who did not
want the mileage be permitted to cover
| the same into the Treasury. and that
! the Secretary be directed TO receive II
as 4 miscellaneous item. This created
/ laughter. snd Mr.. Maddox characterized
/ the amendment as cheap"
/ Representative GroSVsnor of Ohio Of
I fered an amendment so that any MEM
/ Der who desires shall nave the privi-
/ leve Of covering his mileage back into
/ the Treasury and receiving a receipt
/ therefor.