West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-03-23
MILEAGE GRAB
Bill Passed by the National Con-
sreSS-The Total
AMOUNT OF STEAL WAS $4,000.
The Members cheered When the
Bill Passed and Left the Hall
to Enjoy Themselves.
AMOUNT OF STEAL WAS $tsO,OOl

frenzy because Federal Judges take
per diem allowance Of Sro when
their expenses do not amount to
that, members of the House voted
themselves 500, 900 for mileage for
the constructive recess between the
extra session and the regular session
in December, 1903. This wa $
mileage for that indefinite period
which the Senate Committee on the
Judiciary has declared did not exis'.
Fearful OF the indignation of the
public, the House voted down the
mileage proposition last year, but
there was an election pending then.
Members had no such computations
now. They not only yoted for the
mileage appropriation but lobbied
for it, and when they won by mar,
row margin of ten votes they whoop-
cd and yelled and many rushed to the
hotel bars to spend part OF the
"graft' for champagne in celebra-
ton Of its acquirment.
Representative Sherman, of Utica
led the fight for mileage.
For more than hour the House
criticised Federal Judges for taking
the full Sro day expense allow
ance when they did not spend that
sum. The yirtuous indignation Of
the House was SO feelingly express
ed that it effected even the galleries,
which applauded the Honesty is
the best policy" sentiment of the
House.
To prevent the dishonest practices
of the Federal Judges the House
adopted an amendment to the Cen
eral Deficiency bill allowing Judges
IS a day for expenses and specify
ing that for all over that amount
they would have to submit vouch-
ers, sworn to. The amend ment
makes conviction for making false
vouchers punishable by fine of
not less than Sroo aud imprison
ment for ten days.
b efore the ink had dried on this
amendment rebuking TIE Federal
Judiciary, Representative Sherman
proposed on amendment giving
members mileage Of twenty cents
mile for going TO and returning to
:heir homes at the close Of the ex. .
ira session. This amounts to forty
cents mile one way, and as nine
tenths OF the members use railroad
pssses little il any of the mileage is
ever expended for the purpose in
tended.
The amendment provides an ap-
preparation of $roo, 600. This
would provide Federal Judge $40
a day for 70, 900 days or more than
ffty-two years, holding court 36s
a year. Some Of the House mem
bers baked at what was termed a
barefaced steal.
The amendment was accepted
69 to 49 with great applause by
those who favored the amendment.
The bill was finished in committee
of the whole, and when reported to
the House for passage Mr.. Under.
wood demanded seperate vote on
the mileage grab. This developed
that no quorum was present. Those
10 favor Of the mileage grab organ.
lied themselves into a reception
committee and stood in corridors
buuonhoiing the arriving members
and trying to get their votes for the
grab
After almost an hour a quorum
appeared and Speaker Cannon an
nounccd that the amendment had
been carried 90 TO So, with 90
members answering present"
The announcement was received
with thundcrous applause.
Before the bill was passed an
amendment was agreed to appropu
ting an extra months pay 10 all
employees Of the Congress An
other amendment was adopted sp
proprialing 5000 for the widow
Of the late Representative Norton
p. otis, Of New York, who left an
estate Of s., 900. 900.