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

Johnsbury Republican.
1t is to the credit OF Representative
Foster of the First Congressional Dis
trict that he voted against the bill the
other day which would, IL passed. have
given the members Of Congress mileage
for the infinitesimal recess on Dec. Z. 1908
II was a plain grab. 1t is to be regretted
that the representative OF the Second
Vermont District was absent and so did
not vote. for it must be that he also would
have stood for honesty in the matter
Montpelier Journal
1t does not appear from the Congress
sional Record that Mr.. Haskins was
absent from the House when the vote in
question was taken. He is recorded
simply not al voting
II our congressman was not absent
why was he not on the floor to vote
against the monumental steal? Surely
Nermonts expects her representatives 10
be present to vote at such a time
We think that Congressman Haskins
owes his district and state an explana-
ton Burlington News.
From the pleasant relations existing
between the editors Of the foregoing
newspapers and myself, / cannot believe
that they were actuated in the least de-
me, but rather from misinformation re-
ceived. All Of the foregoing newspapers
are supplied by their Congressman. daily
with the Congressional Record and had
they referred to that they would not have
made the unwarranted criticism of me
which they did.
Let me briefly state the facts with
reference to this so called mileage grab. 80
and my connection Herewith. The con-
stitution of the United States provides
that the Congress shall assemble at
least once in every year and such meet
ing shall be on the first Monday In Dec
ember. unless they shall by law appoint
a different day" The constitution fur
Their provides that He (the PresidenD
may, on extraordinary occasions. convene
both Houses or either Of them. etc"
The law now in force governing the
question of mileage was enacted in 1866.
repealed in 1873. and re-enacted in 1874,
and reads as follows: That the COM
pensation Of each Senator. Representative
and Delegate in Congress shall be 5000
per annum. 10 be computed from the first
day OF the present Congress, and in addi-
ton thereto mileage at the rate OF 20
cents per mile, to be estimated by the
nearest route usually travelled in going
to and returning from each regular ses-
sion" This law will be readily seen
was not enacted in the days OF the stage
coach TO cover actual expenses of travel .
as some newspapers have claimed but at
a time when railroad communication with
Washington was nearly, If not quite as
feasible from all parts Of the country as
it now is. II has never been construed
as given TO cover actual expenses as il Is
an allowance far in excess OF that, even
if members are not supplied with free
transportation as some no doubt are, but
as an additional compensation to the
salary of $4,000. and each member is left
to get to Washington and return rs best
he may. whether by railroad, stage coach.
with his own team or on foot. So much
for the law.
The 5Sth Congress had three regular
sessions; the first assembled by order Of
the President Nov 9, 1903, and continued
to IL o'clock noon Of Dec Z. 1908, when
| il was adjourned without day and the sec
ond session assembled, was called to order
/ by the speaker and the roll OF members
called to ascertain whether a quorum was
present, proceeded to business. and con-
| tinued in session until its final adjourn
ment April 2S, 1904. The third session
| assembled Dec. 5, 1904, and was adjourned
without day March 4. 1905 Here then.
/ were three sessions Of the 5Sth Congress
regularly assembled and held under the
provisions Of the Constitution Nov. 10,
| 1908, a joint resolution passed the House
| and concurred in by the Senate on the
| following day, making the appropriation
| for mileage contained in the legislative,
| executive and judicial appropriation act
| for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1904,
/ Immediately available for the payment OF
mileage of Senators. Representatives and
| Delegates for attendance on the first ses-
| sion of the 5Sth Congress. BY this reso-
| luton the money appropriated by the 57th
| Congress to pay the mileage of members
for the session beginning the first Mon
| day OF December. 1908. was paid to the
| ba Cd n
the President.
Jan. 20, 1904, Mr.. Hemenway, chairman
of committee on appropriations. called uI
in the House the urgent deficiency bill
| which contained provision appropriating
1890 900 for payment OF mileage for at
tendance upon the second session Of the
5Sth Congress. Jan. 20, while the bill
was being read under the five minute
rule, this provision was reached, and a
| point of order was made against It by
| Mr.. Maddox OF Georgia. The point OF
order was discussed for hours and during
the next day the chairman of the com
mittee OF the whole house, Mr.. Tawney
of Minnesota, in an elaborate opinion
| Overrulled to point OF order, Mr.. Under
wood of Alabama. then moved TO strike
out the whole paragraph, and after quite
a protracted discussion, the House still
being in committee OF the whole where q
vote by roll call is not permissible, vote
| was taken D4 lGllGISs 4pt NOInb III AdNOl
| to strike out and no one voting against
it. On this vote 1 passed between the
tellers, thus voting to strike out" which
was a vote against the proposed appro-
priation.
During the last session of Congress the
general deficiency appropriation bill was
under consideration for several days, anC
| on March ! Mr. Hemenway, chairman
Of the committee, was anxious to have II
| passed that 1t might be reprinted with
/ amendments and sent to the Senate ir
season to be acted upon by that body
| and returned to the House for further
action, II made necessary by reason OF
any Senate amendments, before final ad-
journment Of Congress, and proposed t.
sit into the evening OF that day in order
to complete IL. AT 5. 80 p. m. the bill had
been read with the exception of some ter
or fifteen pages, and II was believed thai
| there would be no serious opposition
raised to any remaining paragraph. II
| contained no appropriation for payment