An allowance for travelling.
1754. —— shillings sterling per diem, during their sitting, and milage for travelling expenses.—B. Franklin, ‘Works’ (1887), ii. 345. (N.E.D.)
1776. The militia were promised their mileage and billeting-money at Number Four; but no money was sent there to pay them.—Horation Gates: Sparks, ‘Corr. Am. Revol.’ (1853), i. 281. (N.E.D.)
1840. If the mileage was reduced, Mr. C. C. Clay of Alabama was in favor of an inquiry into the propriety of reducing the per diem also. Mr. Grundy of Tenn. would vote against all attempts to reduce pay or mileage. Mr. Sevier of Arkansas knew that he himself had a hard bargain to get here and back upon the mileage allowed him…. This bill supposed that they must travel through the air, for they were to charge for their mileage by an air line.—U.S. Senate, June 12: Cong. Globe, p. 459.
1841. I have witnessed, year after year, palpable violations of the law relating to the mileage of members, and I have in vain endeavored to correct the abuse.—Mr. Underwood of Kentucky, House of Repr., Feb. 20: id., p. 341, App.
1862. The term “mileage” has crept of late into our language and our law. It is not to be found in the original law of compensation of members of Congress.—Mr. James A. Pearce of Maryland, U.S. Senate, Feb. 6: id., p. 671/2.
