Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-03-31

evenings in a room adjacent to the Office
and discussing public measures, 1 went
to my room to assist in entertaining our
visitors. At some time after l went up
stairs it seems that a telephone message
was sent from the Capitol to the hotel
saying that a roll call was In progress,
that no quorum was present and urging
immedite attendance upon the session.
All left for the Capitol except Mr..
Nevins Of Ohio. who was i'll, and myself,
who was not notified. l knew nothing
of II until the members returned later in
the evening, when l learned that after
we had left for dinner Mr. Sherman OF
New York introduced an amendment ap-
propriating $3.50, 900 to pay the mileage Of
Senators, Representatives and Delegates
for the second session Of the 5sth Con-
gress. A point of order was raised by
Mr.. Underwood which was overruled by
the chairman. the House then being in
committee Of the whole. and after dis
cussion the question was taken, on divi-
sion, the amendment being agreed to-
yeas 50, nays 49, After the bill was re-
ported to the House a separate vote was
demanded on the amendment providing
for the payment Of the mileage This vote
was on roll call and the amendment was
agreed to. yeas 80, nays So answering
present 26 not voting 1SS 1t is not
true that was present but not voting"
as stated in the st. Johnsbury Republican
/ was not present and was therefore re-
corded as mot voting" as appears on
page 1864 of the Congressional Record Of
March l. 1905. 1t further appears on the
same page that I was paired for the
balance Of that day with Mr.. Henry Of
Texas, and this was easily ascertainable
by any one who had the Record upon
their editorial table. My colleague Mr.
Foster. who went with others to the
Capitol on the telephone call informed me
his return that evening that ha
covering that l was not present and
knowing how l voted on the same dues-
ton the year before, arranged a pair
for me with Mr. Henry. who. had he
voted would have voted for the amend
ment. Mr.. Foster did for me what l on
one occasion did for him. and either Of
us would do the same again. II one Is
absent or purposes to be absent. a request
to pair for that vote. for a day, or for
a longer peroid. / have never known to be
refused. II counts Just the same as the
two votes would II they were present and
voting. II will be observed by reference
to page 1864 OF the Record that 1876 mem
hers We're paired" at the time that vote
was had and amoung them is Mr.. Hemen-
way who had charge OF the bill. he hav-
ing arranged a pair with Mr. Living
stone Of Georgia, the ranking Democrat
on the committee who was absent /
voted against this proposition to pay this
present on the evening Of March l. 1906
should again have voted against IT,
March the Senate amended the House
bill by striking out the provision to pay
this mileage. The next day the bill as
amended by the Senate came back 10
the House. and on March Mr. Hemen-
way moved as to that amendment that
the House recede and concur therein, and
on division the motion was agreed to.
yeas l73. nays q. / was present when
this vote WAS taken and voted in the
affirmative.
Mr.. Hemenway in closing the debate
in support OF his motion said: MIR
Speaker, two Of the strong lawyers OF
this House decided that an appropriation
for mileage was in order on the general
deficiency bill. As to the lave / never
had any doubt. As to the propriety OF
accepting the mileage. / have always had
grave doubts, and | have no doubt that
that Is the condition Of the mind OF many
Of the members Of this House today.
While they have no doubt Of the legality
Of the mileage, they feel there Is a
serious question as to whether or not
they ought to accept it,
AS to the law. and as a lawyer. have
held with Mr.. Hemenway; but with him
and large majority. as I believe, OF the
members Of the House. ! have doubted the
propriety Of providing for its payment
and hence have voted against it whenever
the question has been up and was
present There wasn't a minutes interim
between the first and second sessions
No one incurred any expense by reason
thereof either for board or travel To the
far western, northwestern and south
western members this mileage was an
Item OF considerable consequence TO their
pockets To those who reside in the
middle and eastern states and nearby
southern and middle states IL was OF
but small moment. To the people
Of the United States it was $3.50. 900
that. to my mind, might be paid out to
better purpose.
In conclusion I desire TO say that re-
gret that anything has occurred that
makes this explanation necessary. That
during my four years service have had
no newspaper reporters TO exploit my
services but have done my work faith
fully and without ostentation or unneces-
sary display. l am conscious that the
country as we'll is Individual citizens have
been somewhat benefited through my
humble and earnest efforts. I wrote and
presented to the House the report in be-
half Of the Committee on Agriculture in
favor or the passage OF the bill for the
| better enforcement OF quarantine OF live
| STOCK, and my report was copied verbatim
by Senator Warren who reported a similar
/ bill to the Senate. Encountering con-
Il
| the President, on March l sent to the
| House and Senate a special message urg-
| ing favorable action on the bill. ] quote
/ the following from the Each
| OF the bills referred to In this message is
| accompanied by an able report, which
| points out the necessity. from a legal
! stand point, for the enactment Of this
! legislation Cong. Record p 1898 and
| 1888. Senator Warren was congratulated
! by Senator Plat, OF Connecticut, upon the
| report referred to in the President'a
message; Senator Warren said: Il did
not write the report. We adopted the
| House Committee Report, so the COM
/ pliment falls a little short Of applying
| 10 me- See Cong. Record p. 1894 I dis
like to refer to these things but the fore
going newspaper items, as we'll as some
| others, seem to render il necessary in my
own defence.
During my term OF service 1 have never
| lodged vote. l have had opinions OF
my own upon public questions and have
never been afraid to evidence them by
my vote.
| During the first session of the last Con-
| gress there were five roll call votes and
| 1 answered yes or no on all. During the
second session there was 40 roll call votes
| taken and my name stands recorded on
| A. being paired" on two The record OF
| the last session is not yet available to me
as have no complete copy OF the Con-
| gressional Record at hand. / am sure,
however, that my attendance upon the
| session and the number OF times l have
/ a -