Mileage

Mileage, in the United States, signifies fees paid to officials—and in particular to members of congress—for their travelling expenses, at so much per mile. The system has in the past led to gross abuses, each senator and representative estimating for himself the distance he had travelled. Now, however, there is a fixed table of mileage, and the largest allowance paid is 1440; the total annual cost, for both houses of congress, is nearly 150,000. In all countries of Europe, except Britain, the same system prevails with regard to members of the popular chambers, at least, they being paid either their travelling expenses or a fixed annual sum.