The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-14
AT THE CAPITAL.
The Peculiar Case of Senator
Muikey of Oregon.
He Held His Seat Only Few
Days.
PAY LESS THAN 5000.
But His Mileage Amounted to
Over s., 500.
Congressman Miller LIS Having
a Busy Time.
PAY LESS THAN $500.

| Washington, Feb. 14.-Perhaps the
only case on record where the salary
of a senator or representative for MS
entire length of service is exceeded by
his mileage is in the case of Senator
Mulkey of Oregon, who will hold MS
seat until March 3. having been sworn
in a few days ago.
Mr. Mulkey was selected by the leg
| islature of Oregon to fill out the I'M
expired term of John H. Mitchell, de-
ceased
Senator Mitchell. who was under a
cloud much the same as Senator Bur-
ton of Kansas. died in December,
1905. The legislature of Oregon was
Republican, as was senator Mlt . ell
but the governor was Democrat he
appointed John M earin to serve until
the legislature should elect The case
was exactly similar to that in Kansas
where Senator Burton resigned ana
Governor Hoch appointed Senator
Benson to serve until the legislature
met.
The legislature in Oregon this year
is also Republican. 1t elected Jona-
than Bourne Republican, for the full
term commencing March 4. But it did
not like the Kansas legislature, also
elect Mr.. Bourne for the balance of
the unexpired term of Senator
Mitchell.
sworn in the day after Charles Curtis
took his oath as senator. This was
January 80. Therefore he will have
served by March 4. two days in jan
uary. % days in February, and days
in March. or 33 days, for which he
will receive as salary, at $3.50 per
day. $452.10.
On the other hand. Mr.. Mulkey
lives some $500 miles distant from the
city of Washington. The round trip is
something like 1000 miles. Senators
and representatives in congress. receive
a mileage, each way. each session, of
90 cents. So Mr.. Mulkey's mileage
may be computed by multiplying 1000
by 40 cents, which will make the neat
and tidv sum of $2,S00 for the Oregon
senator who serves but a trif1e over a
month.
Therefore. while the oregon sena-
tors salary will be but $452-10. his
mileage will be $4,000. or over six
times the amount of salary.
1t is thought that this is about the
feat; and yet Mime
sofa had senator. Charles A. Towne.
once a Republican member of con-
gress from that state. then silver
Repu blican-7 later PopuHst nominee for
vice president, and now in the house
of representatives as a Tammany
Democrat. who sat between the date of
the death of Cushman K. Davis and
the election a few weeks later by the
legislature of the present Senator
Clapp. who drew no more salary than
Mr. Mulkey of Oregon. but his mileage |
was not nearly such n fine sum-
Also there is the Kansas case of |
Robert Crozier who took his seat De- |
cember /, 1873, succeeding Alexander |
Caldwell resigned, and who was sue |
ceeded February IL. 1874. by James !
NJ. Harvey. elected by the legislature. !
But the Kansas mileage is an alto |
yether different proposition COM |
pared with the Oregon mileage.
Representative J. NJ. Miller has been |
1evoting his time this session to Keep
ng claims legislation down to the mini
mum and has been fairly successful.
Mr.. Miller is chairman of the COM
nittee on claims of the house Of repre-
sentatives. He has to pass on most /
If the claims. outside of those growing
,ome up in the house. He has put his