The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-02
To Pay Mileage of Members During a Recess Which
 Never Existed
UNDERWOOD TREMENDOUSLY
 FIGHTS THE MEASURE
Action Is Regarded as One of the Most Fragrant and Disgraceful Attempts on Record to
 Loot the Treasury.

Washington, March -(Special)-Be- fore passing it's last big bill tonight the republican majority, assisted by 20 demo- crats. most of whom retire at the end of the present session and are therefore not answerable to their constituents, adopted an amendment to the general de- ficiency bill appropriating Sl90,OOO to pay the mileage due senator's members and delegates for attendance upon the second session of the fifty-eighth Congress- In other words the House voted itself $780, 900 of the peoples money to pay the ex- penses of coming to Washington during a constructive" recess
 There was no interval between the ex- tra session and the regular session and of course such q trip was an impossibil- ity. Nevertheless taking advantage of technicality the House proceeds to vote itself this sum.
 Considered Fragrant and Dlsgraceful.
 It is one of the most fragrant and dis graceful attempts to break into the treasury since a similar amendment was defeated last year. It is made worse this time because it has been success ful. Several democratic senators who dis cussed the matter tonight were highly in ulBDdHl dl the 11OuSe BIdDf anu II ID not unlikely that some one will be found in the democratic side courageous enough to talk the session out before allowing the Senate to concur in the amendment
 While the Senate has held that there is no such thing as a conservative re- cess.'' the House republican leaders claimed that this ruling only referred to the question on confirming appoint ments, not to tle question of salary.
 All the members of the Alabama delega- ton who were present voted against the amendment, Among the twenty-six demo- crats who voted for the amepdment were the following: Lewis of Georgia, Richard son of Tennessee, Dinsmore of Arkansas. Davey and Broussard of Louisiana.
 Underwood Objected strenuousIy
 The general deficiency bill with amend ments was favorably reported to the House. All of the amendments with the deception of one rela a.lng to the mileage or senators and members were adopted, but with respect to the latter, Represent tative Underwood of Alabama, demanded a separate vote. The amendment, on di- vision, was agreed to, 63 to 46 Mir Un- derwood demanded the yeas and nays but MT. Heneway meantime insisted that there was no quporum and the roll &C., cordingly was called, the vote being ta- hei CAi hHe dt tHS tilie. ny d vote of 20 yeas. 29 nays, answering present 26. It required an hour to secure quorum, the vote remaining tie. throughout the session, swing ing first from one side to the other The opponents of the proposal were ac- tive on the floor of the House and out ir the lobbies securing votes. Mir Gaines of Tennessee. protested in a question to the speaker as to whether a member had the right to lobby among his colleagues. Ask the chair something easy" re- sponded the speaker, amid thunderous applause MT. Gaines did not further pur- sue his inquiry.
 The bill was then passed. and at o'clock the House adjourned until noon tomorrow.