Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-03
HOUSE HOLDS ON
TO ITS MILEAGE
Proposed Reduction to In
cIude Only Actual TRAVELLING
Expenses Voted Down.
PRESENT RATE INSERTED
IN LEGISLATIVE BILL
Members Declare Their Expenses
Justify an Allowance of
20 Cents a Mile.

The loud cries of economy which have
been heard in the House of Representa-.
tlves lately all came to naught late this
afternoon when the House, sitting a.
committee of the whole House refused &c
reduce the mileage of members from N
cents mile to actual expenses Mem.
bers who were outspoken against the
proposed economy declared very frankly
that a members expenses justify him in
accepting % cents mile.
1t was shown that the present mileage
arrangement is beneficial to members
coming from the far west, but, as Rep
resentative Alfalfa Bill Murray said
Members who live near Washington can
carry on a law practice or other bust
ness" The vote was SO to 46.
The Legislative. executive and judicial
appropriation bill, now under discus
sion. has a paragraph providing about
ne-half the usual amount of mileage
and limiting it to be spent for actual
travelling expenses. Representative
Good of Iowa led the fight against it
by offering an amendment which was
adopted. to insert the present law in
the bill. Several other amendments
were also offered, among them being
that of Representative Thompson OF
oklahoma. who wanted to do away
with all mileage
During the debate Representative
Bryan Of Washington said that the bill
as now written, providing that expenses
should be paid based on what was &C.
tually spent by congressman and depend
ent members of their families, would pre-.
vent senator or representative from
bringing his wife to Washington at gov
eminent expense.
Wives are not dependent on their hus.
hands, he said, lat least. they are no,
out west"
Mr. Cox of Indiana said that it was no,
right that the Treasury should paw for
trips by congressman to their districts
to mend their political fences.
Mr.. Hawley's Point of Order.
Representative Hawley, republican. of
Oregon, made a point of order against
the reduced appropriation for mileage
for senators, which grants actual ex-
pense only. in place of 20 cents a mile. both
ways. Representative Good, republican
of Iowa, supporting Mr.. Hawiev. said
there was no reason for Congress ia
attack its own practices and allowances.
why should we cut off our own al
lowances unless we also make the same
cuts in the allowances of all govern
ment officials, judges. army officers etc.
ut is because We have to go before the
people for election said Representative
Butler of Pennsylvania.
DO you know any government official
outside Of Congress who gets 20 cents
a mile for travelling expenses" asked
Representative Gordon, democrat of
Ohio.
Mr.. Good declared that congressman
spent more than they were allowed for
stationery, clerk hire and mileage.
Representative Byrnes, democrat, of
Tennessee said the government should
not pay the travelling expenses of the
members families.
Representative Madden. republican, of
Illinois, asked him If he did not believe
representatives should be paid mileage for
official trips to Washington during the
recess.
II do not" said Mr.. Byrnes. IF Con-
gress wants to do 1t. it should increase
the salaries
Representative Nolan of California,
whose visits home cost him $500 a round
trip, told the House he could not afford
to go home at the Christmas recesses.
DO you not think that the reason the
graft In mileage has been perpetuated in
the army Is because Congress is in no po-
sition to strike it .out?" asked Repre-
sentative Gordon of Ohio
Yes" said Mr.. Byrnes. and he recon-
mended that members should be paid
mileage after filing an affidavit showing
his actual expense In going to Washing
ton or leaving the Capitol for home.
Representative Cox Of Indiana made q
vigorous protest against mileage in ex-
cess of actual expense.