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and taken up the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill, on which Mr. Murphy of New York had the floor, I stepped out to attend to some business, and was rather surprised to learn, on my way back to the Hall, that Mr. M. was making me the subject of his remarks.
As I went in, Mr. M. continued-
Murphy.—As the gentleman is now in his seat, I will repeat what I have stated.
I said that the gentleman who started this breeze about Mileage, by his publication in the Tribune, has himself charged and received Mileage by the usual instead of the shortest Mail Route.
He charges me with taking $3 20 too much, yet I live a mile further than he, and charge but the same.
Greeley.—The gentleman is entirely mistaken.
Finding my Mileage was computed at $184 for two hundred and thirty miles, and seeing that the shortest Mail Route, by the Post-Office Book of 1842, made the distance but two hundred and twenty-five miles, I, about three weeks ago, directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to correct his schedule and make my Mileage $180 for two hundred and twenty-five miles. I have not inquired since, but presume he has done so. So that I do not charge so much as the gentleman from Brooklyn, though, instead of living nearer, I live some two or three miles further from this city than he does, or fully two hundred and twenty-nine miles by the shortest Post Route.
Richardson of Illinois.—Did not the gentleman make out his own account at two hundred and thirty miles?
Greeley.—Yes, sir, I did at first; but, on learning that there was a shorter Post Route than that by which the Mileage from our city had been charged, I stepped at once to the Sergeant's room, informed him of the fact, and desired the proper correction.
Living four miles beyond the New York Post Office, I might fairly have let the account stand as it was, but I did not.
Jan. 18th.
Mr. Greeley's own suggestion with regard to Mileage appears in the Tribune:
1. Reduce the Mileage to a generous but not extravagant allowance for the time and expense of travelling;
2. Reduce the ordinary or minimum pay to $5 per day, or (we prefer) $8 for each day of actual service, deducting Sundays, days of adjournment within two hours from the time of assembling, and all absences not caused by sickness;
3. Whenever a Member shall have served six sessions in either House, or both together, let his pay thenceforward be increased fifty per cent., and after he shall have served twelve years as aforesaid, let it be double that of an ordinary or new Member;
4. Pay the Chairman of each Committee, and all the Members of the three most important and laborious Committees of each House, fifty per cent
