Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-11-22
congress MILEAGE
ALREADY SALIED
MUCH ADO BEING MADE OVER
QUESTION ALREADY
SETTLED.
MEMBERS LONG AGO
RECEIVED PAY FOR TRAVEL
Probable That Members Will Get An
other Whack at Public Treasury For
Regular Session Whether Congress
Holds Over or Adjourns = Custom
Dates Back to Days Long Ago.
Especial Correspondence

| Washington, Nov. 22.-Just at this
| dulged about the question Of congress
sional mileage and folks are solemnly
discussing whether members of con-
! gress ought to be allowed mileage for
some attention that congress already
has received it's mileage for the spe-
| cial session.
I Months ago, members OF the house
and senate got their mileage and either
sailed it down in bank or spent it.
Soon after the special session opened,
there was a distribution of mileage.
The usual sums We're allowed. The
statesmen We're not kept long waiting
to receive this perquisite as any one
can easily verify by consulting the
records or asking any member Of house
or senate whether he was allowed mile
age for the special session last spring.
Something over 100000 was distribute
ed on the basis of 20 cents per mile,
the amount OF mileage allowed by law
under the fictitious theory that men
still travel to Washington and back to
their homes in stage coaches and on
horseback.
May Get Another Whaek.
The fact the mileage already has
been disbursed for the special session
is peculiarly interesting in view Of the
talk that there will be no adjournment
of the special session and no actual
recess Of congress In order to avoid a
mileage scandal.
The question which is now at issue
is whether members will be allowed
their mileage for the regular session.
Good authorities say 1t is doubtful as
a matter of law If it can be prevented.
The law is apparently clear that mem
bers shall be allowed mileage for each
regular session. At the same time, the
mileage appropriation may be made
available for extra sessions.
If the new is followed with re-
spect to mileage in the regular ses-
sion. according to members who have
studied the situation, the usual allow
ances will be made for the coming
regular session. This Is clearly con-
templated by law. 1t is true that II
congress should refuse to appropriate
there would be no way Of compelling
the appropriation.
Adjournment Cuts No Figure.
"If congress had not been paid its
mileage for the special session" said
a prominent member OF the house to-
day." the question OF paying mileage
for the special session and for the
regular session might be more properly
raised. But the mileage for the special
session having actually been paid, 1t
seems clear to me as matter OF law
that the mileage for the regular ses-
sion is required, regardless OF whether
the special session adjourns today or
ends just before the regular session
begins the first Monday in December"
For the reason that congress may
fear that to vote itself mileage in the
regular session would result In great
depletion Of it's ranks at the earliest
possible election, 1t may not make the
mileage appropriation.
But there is good legal authority IN
the house for saying 1t has perfect
lawful right to do SO. One thing is
clear The statesmen have been fore-
handed in getting their special session
mileage early.