Okolona messenger., 1908-07-22
AN
ANSWER
70 THE PEOPLE OF THE 4TH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

F-----A@@T-
circulated in this district in reference
40 my vote on what is known as the
mileage bill during the last session Of
he 58th Congress. This vote was
east on March 1st, 1905, during my
first term Of service in the 50th Corr
wress and about three and hall years
ago 1t was cast to construe law al
ready in existence and not to make
any new law or change any old
one and the act was more Judicial
than legislative.
There were three sessions Of the
Bth Congress, the first merged into
the second, then the third followed
according to law. In the last session
an item was placed on the appropria-
ion bill to allow mileage to Senators,
congressman and Delegates in Con
gress for the second session Of the 50th
Congress and this item involved the
construction Of the law fixing the sala-
ny Of members Of Congress. The
law is is substantially in this
language, Salaries Of members OF
Congress shall be $4,000 per annum
and they shall have as ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION mileage at the
rate Of 20c q mile, going and re-
turning to the national capital at
EACH SESSION Of Congress. Now
It is evident from the wording OF this
law that mileage was not allowed to
members Of Congress tor travelling
. Expenses, because the amount allowed
would greatly exceed the expenditure.
Ii is also considered that members OF
Congress do not have to travel to re-
ceive this allowance for, il member
eemains in Washington from the close
of one session to the beginning OF the
next, he would be as much entitled to
his mileage as those who went home
and returned, therefore, not having
to travel to receive mileage and the
law allowing mileage at EACH SES-
SION Of Congress as additional
compensation" it seemed to me and
to the majority Of the members OF
the House that this was legal allow
ance to be made at each session OF
Congress. If it had been the purpose
Of Congress to allow only ACTUAL
TRAVELLING EXPENSES, it would
have stated this. then the law would
read Member of Congress shall
be allowed the salary of $4,000 per an
num and actual travelling expenses,
But seems to me that it was clearly
the purpose Of the Act Of Congress TO
give members the mileage as addition
al compensation, just as another sec
ion Of law gives them SIPS a year
for stationery, which is not spent al
together for stationers, but is an addi-
tional compensation to the salary.
On March 3, 1873. Congress pass
law increasing the salary Of mem
to 81 500 and abolished mileage,
in leu thereof, provided that they
receive only actual travelling ex-
~ which clearly shows the Con-
49, al construction of the first law
!, S 4 the Congress Ct 1873 did
the former allowance OF
- mere travelling pay, and !
'e %uau; y reaching my conclusion
y N, ngressional construction.
'n'S 2Oth, 1874, Congress re-
7 'a' 'tI,,,. Of 1873 and restored
I ,s'tu former T., law, which ! have substap-
/ H., i n,,ote, 4 and which was in exist
acs - during lgse SA d session Of the
Sth Congress-
nv vote on this meas r9 was caS'
! ID open session Of the 'ouse anu
,s,.r, i roll call, which made pe''na
5snt and public record Their m
,oskina secret or hid about my ac, 'o"'
II, 4 Vas open and public. Men WI
..ssd IL ID wrong do not usually pro-
.ssd il this way. | was satisfied at
bs time that my construction was cor
...s snd / think so yet Whether the
.,y Was an unwise one does not per-
y shis discussion and does
III to nv vote The law was