Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-09-15
Prom he bdijoad Mieiiigcncef. Sept Z.
IIlf IAIE SESSION

The present Congress, parlIenlalythe House Of Rep
resenlailSes having been repeatedly accused by the oil
cal organ, aud by other kindred presses of having
been negligent and inattcnye business, ii Is due
to them thai few facts should be pre- seniod 10 the
Public from which they may judge OF the truth oil the
accusation
The fist ground Of complaint against them was. of
delay IN the passage of tho General Appropriation Bill
mon The time OF passing SAID bill by the House for
the last ten years at each long session Of Congress- has
been AZ lulows:
In 1892. on the 9Th Of May.
In 1891. on the 9th of June.
IL 1896. on the 0lh Of May.
In 1888, on the 9th OF April.
In l7IO. on the Sth of MAY.
The average tme then, taken Ia PISS these bills for
the last ten years. the 7lh of May. At this
sion The General Appropriation Bill passed the House
The 2O day Of April: that is, twenty days earlier
than tho average time Tor the last ton years, although,
owing 10 the duty Of inquirng into and correcting
ard acses witch have grown up during the last twelve
years in the administration Of the finances, much more
time than usual necessarily consumed IN
lining aud debating the dealls Of this and other nppropri
alton bills.
In relation To the general charge that this Congress
has done but little business IN comparison with the
length Of lis session. the following facts will enable
The public TO Judge how much truth there Is i'll the ac-
custti0n:
The prcsunaossion ofC congress il the longest ever held
under the Goyornmen, extending through period Of
800 days. The session Of Congess neat to the present
in duration the second long session under Ar Van
luren, which lasted 229 days.
ifihc business done 10y the House at these two sessions
be cpnirsted it will stand thus:
At the second long session under Mr. Van Buren,
Reports aade. Bills reported. bills passed the House
7lG 525 2ll
AT lhe present. session there were
Rarorts made. Bills reported Bills passed
In addition to the bills passed, may also be stated
thai there atout hundred private bills Of the
House which have been enarossed, aud are now ready
for their final passage and most OF which would have
passed If the Senate could have acted upon hom, aud
which were Iurp3sely retained in the House because
these bills will be in better position at the noHi session
f oaly action than they lad passed the House, and
been Laid aside in the Senate for want Of time To act Oh
them. IL adl sJn t. these, numerous Joint resolutions
have also been passed. aud the general result Of COLI
parison is HAT this Congress has made more reports,
passed public laws, and done more important husl
ness tian any Congress which convened slHcc the
formation OF The Government.
The bills passed the last long session preceding tho
one Just closed averaged not quite one a day The bills
passed BY this Congress at the late session averaged more
than one per day
This is despatch in the transaction of legislative bu-
sinoss greatly surprising that in the British Parliament.
as appears by the folio wing statement: ...
lt session 2th arlamen 1888 10 days passed bills
ID do do do 1896 in lG6 do do III do
ist do ETH do 1878, in 252do do 100 do
"a do do do 1899, i'll l6l do do 81 do
An do do do 1871 in % do do 81 do
From tins statement il appears that the average
time of passing bill in the British Parliament dn-
ring the last five years. has been two days and one
hrd ola day; more than twice the average time occu-
pied By Congress.
DUNN the late session moreover, Congress has pass
ed two very Important bills which have always required
Great deLeslion and occupied much time, viz the Ap
porlionlncnt Bill ADD Tariff Bill.
rhe four previous Apporopnen Bills. viz those OF
lSOt lsl 1872 and 1852, occupied the ilousf, on an
average, just thirty days each.
ar,f,qs t'f1r reonir,d MSS the four Ia