[346] $20,000 was spent in extra mileage above the amount allowed by law, $40,000 for mileage and per diem of special traveling committees of the House alone. Carter stated that there were thirty-one standing committees and twenty special committees with a full complement of clerks. House Misc. Doc., 42 Cong., 2 Sess., No. 211, 39. [347] _National Republican_, Jan. 2, 1872. [348] Sen. Jour., 1871, 74. [349] House Repts., 42 Cong., 2 Sess., No. 92, 21. The largest sum ever spent before the war, when they were printed in both English and French, was $60,000. [350] This paper was said to pay a dividend of 110 per cent. But the governor denied receiving any dividend. House Misc., Doc., 42 Cong., 2 Sess., No. 211, 368. [351] _Ibid._, 38. Sometimes papers were opposed merely because others were entitled to the same privileges. House Deb., 4. [352] _Ibid._, 42 Cong., 2 Sess., No. 211, 39. See House Jour., 55 and 129 for a list. [353] _Ibid._ He asserted in the Press Convention that his patronage should not be used against him, and in several cases where papers asserted this independence, the contracts were revoked. House Misc. Doc., 42 Cong., 2 Sess., No. 211, 298. [354] Phelps says: “The corruption was so general and so notorious that no one connected, directly or indirectly, has escaped from the mess without taint in the eyes of the people.” _Louisiana_, 369. [355] Moncure declared that he did not know a public official who was not worthy of impeachment. _Ibid._, 53-4. [356] House Misc., 42 Cong., 2 Sess., No. 211, 38. [357] _Ibid._, 238. Another man brought conclusive evidence and stated that he had witnessed money paid to Carr, Dewees, and Pinchback. _Ibid._, 474. Nordhoff had the original of the following interesting document: “Gentlemen of the Finance Committee of La. Levee Co.: Please pay to Hon. A. W. Faulkner the amount you may deem proper to pay on account of Levee Bill, I being absent at the time under orders of the House. But I would have voted for the bill had I been there. Mr. Faulkner is authorized to sign a receipt for me--Stamps.” Nordhoff, 59. The value of quotations from Nordhoff may be proved by stating that he declared himself a Republican, never having “voted any other Federal ticket than the Republican; I have been opposed to slavery as long as I have had an opinion on any subject except sugar, candy and tops; and I am a thorough believer in the capacity of the people to rule themselves, even if they are very ignorant, better than anybody else can rule them.” 10. [358] Most telling is the reluctant reply of the governor to the question: “Are you able to say from your knowledge, personally or officially, that all or nearly all of these bills incorporating monopolies or granting individuals private valuable franchises are passed through the legislature by corrupt means?” “I wouldn’t like to say that.” House Misc. Doc., 42 Cong., 2 Sess., No. 211, 400. [359] _Ibid._, 534.