Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17
REFUSE TO CUT RATE
House Members Insist on
Present Mileage.
PLEA FOR ECONOMY FAILS
Ninety-Eight Vote for Proposed
Reduction.
ON URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL
Chairman Fitzgerald Protests
Against Tendency Toward
New Expenditures.
Plea FOR ECONOMY FAILS
IN URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL

The annual row over the mileage ques-
ton was staged in the House of Repre-
sentatives yesterday. 1t was a foregone
conclusion that the democratic strength
in that body. after it's announcements
on the subject of economy, would attempt
to reduce the allowance of % cents
mile now granted to members in Journey
ing to and from the National Capital to
attend sessions of Congress. AS usual
the movement failed. The mileage
amendment was introduced by Repre-
sentative A. Mitchell Palmer Of Penn
sylvania, proposing to cut the rate from
~ cents to 10 cents a mile, but a sutti-
cent number of the faithful remained
in the chamber to defeat the economy
proposition, 129 to 9S. Seventeen re-
publicans voted for the cut and seventy
three against it. Eighty-one democrats
wanted the reduction-or voted that way
and .fifty-six registered in the mega
tive So it is apparent that the repub-
lican strength saved the day.
The mileage reduction discussion oc-
Cured during consideration of the urgent
deficiency appropriation BILL carrying
a total Of 81. 800, 157. which was finally
passed by the House at nearly O'CLOCK
last night.
1IOPOSCS " SuC 1tdtC Al = " We
When the mileage section was reached
Representative Palmer offered his motion
to cut the rate in half Representative
Byrnes of South Carolina went Mr.. Palmer
one better by proposing to cut the rate
of 90 cents a mile to 5 cents instead OF
10 This was quickly voted down, as
was the Palmer motion and one by Rep
resentative Sherley of Kentucky, pro-
posing that the government pay senators
and members only their actual expenses
incurred in journeying to and from Wash
ington to attend the sessions Later MI
Palmer moved to recommit the bill for
report with his ten-cent proposition In
cluded. but this was defeated by -e vote
already mentioned. The republican men,
bers who voted for the decrease were
Representatives Austin of Tennessee,
Cooper Of Wisconsin, Haugen Of Iowa,
Kendall Of Iowa, Kinkaid of Nebraska,
Lafferty Of Oregon, Lindbergh Of Mime
zie, Mckinney and Madden of Illinois,
Morgan of Oklahoma, Nelson of Wiscon-
sin. Norris OF Nebraska, PrOuty of Iowa,
Willis of OHIO and Young Of Kansas.
that the twenty-cent-a-mile rate was ri
diculously high. On the other hand sup
porters of the present rate contended 1t
was barely sufficient to meet the expense
family from his home in his district to
Washington and back again.
Indignant With Palmer.
Pacific coast members became extremely
indignant with Mr.. Palmer for his actiy-
ity in attempting to have the rate cut
down.
ut is quite apparent said Repre-
sentative Humphreys of Washington to
Mr.. Palmer, that you live near WASH
inston. great many people are willing
h1 {Ofi h. ut
body else. A member who comes to
Washington and leaves his family home
is unfit to be a member of Congress
This stuff you are talking is just bun
conlbe and your constituents will know
it
representative Galloway Of Texas, Sc
curing the floor, asked Mr.. Palmer if he
thought the people Of the country would
believe in his sincerity. Mr.. Palmer re-
piled that he did so believe and warned
his democratic colleagues that If they
persisted in taking the mileage to which
they We're not morally entitled, their
mouths would be forever closed on the
subject of economy.
For House Expenses.
A request for an additional $4,000 foi
the expenses of the House of Representa-
tives threw the House into debate on
expenses that is considered prophetic OF
I the sessions tNdt are 10 COME
Republicans again charged the demo-
Gratis with having lost track of their
economy program. The reply from the
| democratic side was the Introduction OF
| the Palmer resolution.
| Chairman Fitzgerald of the appropria-
| tions committee explained the fifty-thou-
| sand dollar deficiency appropriation fol
| the expenses of the House by giving
some of the monthly expense accounts OF
the investigating committees. The Stan
| ley steel investigating committee, he SAID
| was spending 200 month: while extra
| stenographic expenses were costing ZOO
| a month.
| He said the House was paying % cents
| a folio for extra stenographfc work wher
| he knew offers had been made to the
committee to do the work for 2h cents a
| folio.
Later Chairman Stanley offered to ex
plain the expenses of the committee II
any member who wanted to inquire aoou
them.
Expenses Of Departments
The House approved expenditures for {
number of departments. including abou
S427 600 for the Treasury Department
which Mr. Fitzgerald said was mad
necessary because the department had Gu
its estimates too low last year. An ap
proprtatton of S1O5,OOO for an immigran
station at Philadelphia. asked for b.
1
Mr. Fitzgerald scored the various ex
e ecutive departments In connection Wit
: the estimates.
Most of the appropriations carried D.
this bill are needed because the depart
ments put in estimates too low last year
! said Mr. Fitzgerald. I'VE do not believ
II is economy or good sense TO crlppi
any government service by pruning esti
mates below the actual requirements.
r Denounces New Expenditures.
Every new expenditure We authoriz
is adding to the prospective deficit in tn
z Treasury" said Representative Fitzger
: aid, in attacking an increase of the publ
building program.
: IF this keeps on the House will no
be devoting it's efforts to reducing tn
burdens of taxation, but must find ne'
! methods Of raising revenue" he said.
Chairman Fitzgerald declared Congress
: had gone wild in authorizing new pub
L lie buildings. and that limit must b
put on such activity.
}, Third Tragedy Of the Strike.
HOUSTON. Tex, December 18th
third killing during the strike of Harr