The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-07
MILEAGE ISSUE.

IMIl6AU6 IOOUE .
Continued from Page Onsy
journal clerk. ''What'M We do with
APP
Bennett Clark. house parliament
funds. Then. with mock seriousness.
he said: Refer that to the commit
tee on mileage
The banks letter was returned to
the careless member. who didn't get
his mileage after all, and doubtless
had to make other arrangements to
pay the note.
Can Bring Family and Servants.
The annual mileage fight. BY the
way, u about due in the house. Year
after year there an effort Is made to
reduce the 20 cents q mile allowance
granted members for their travelling
expenses" to and from their homes.
OF course 1t doesn't cost a member 20
cents a mile, or anything like 1t; that
ts. unless he brings on the entire fam
lily. a retinue of servants and the
household furniture.
A bachelor member. for instance.
pays about 3 v cents railroad fare, q
few dollars for Pullman ana meals.
and a tip or 80. He draws down 20
cents a mile and considers II is COM
ing to him. The member with a fam
ny OI average Size may come out at
the big end Of the horn after the tick
cts are bought.
The allowance Of 20 cents per mile
was authorized in the early days of the
republic when statesmen travelled by
stage, or on horseback, and under
Inconvenience In attending the ses-
sions Of congress. Transportation ia
cilities gradually improved. but the 20
cents mile rate was still carried in
H.
assembled every time the suggestion OF
q reduction was made. In consequence.
the mileage perQuisite today is the
same as it was when statesmen used
to rattle up to the capitol building in
! dust-stained stage coaches or on wind
ed horses.
In the case of a member who re-
sides near Washington. the mileage
account is unimportant. Congressman
| Carlin Of Alexandria. Va. gets about
! IS a session. On the other hand.
, members from the Pacific coast and
| the far southwest are allowed mileage
bills amounting to about $1,000 a ses-
sions, and they say it's worth 1t to
| come across continent to attend to the
business Of the nation, especially when
, congress has a habit of sitting all the
time, breaking up a fellows law prac-
, tice or other private pursuits back
home.
The annual mileage bill for both
branches OF congress now amounts to
gresham Palmer Of Pennsylvania,
Page of North Carolina, and Cox OF
Indiana have been the generals for
several years in the sporadic fights to
reduce this to something like an
actual expense basis, but the average
simply raises his voice in lamentation
and horror, and, somehow, the voter
always pile up against any amend.
ment to cut down the mileage item in
the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill.
years in Washington the correspond
ent OF the Topeka State Journal can
not recall a single instance OF where
any member Of the Kansas congress
sional delegation, be he a Republican
Democrat. Progressive or Populist
had ever argued in any fashion a re-
duction Of the mileage allowance
None have ever objected to receive
and profit by the old-time allowance
of 20 cents q mile. And, incidentally
each and every member and senator
serving congress within that period
has profited by this high rate. Any
Kansas member or senator could save
money on an allowance of 8 or cents
a mile. This much has been admitted
by some of them.
Post Sergeant Michael Drew, U. g
A., retired, who has been on duty al
National Guard headquarters for the
past six years, has been appointed
captain and adjutant of the home fol
disabled volunteer soldiers and sailorl
at Leavenworth.
i Congressman Dudley Doolittle has rec.
commended william Reedy to be postmast
a. ONCE is yes9 n R.edy Z
insurance man.
Kansas postmaster appointment: Myrtlt
J. Butler. Morland; Jerry Lasley, sherwis
wa% r. ae%a1 Hayes y" As an p sc9%0o
emo: James e: Simmons, wellsvilie:
will be abolished on the last day Of tn,
month. After that date mail to Hays.
bill to amend an act Of congress approved
March =, 1900 granting to the state g, q
eor the Of
Kansas stste , soiless o. and n
! school thereon and for a public park.
Congressman Dan Anthony presented
p pet n3ns sisned by th shsr presdsn;
enworth, protesting against any legisla
, ton looking toward nationwide prohibi
ton.
5 DR.. A. T. Foncannon Of Emporia drop
3 ped OF in Washington for a few days thi
week while on his way to Philadelphia
where he has a son who will soon grad
: uate from the university of the Keyston
= state.
l Prof L. A. Lother, superintendent g
the Emporia public schools, was also
visitor in Washington. He visited Cor
gressman Doolittle, after having attende
the national teachers' convention 8
. | Richmond, Va.
JAIL EDITOR ON TRIAL.