New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-05
Work In Congress.

The rea.sembling Of the XXXth Congress for
a Session constitutionaly limited 70 ninety days
naturally provokes observations on the manner I'D
which time is habtGsly wasted In the two
Houses and the serious consequences OF that proc
igality. Whether any exposure can secure cor
rection Of the gigantic abuse may well be doubted
bn, the oxoeriment is at least worth trial.
In the first place, the daily sttings Of the two
Houses, for a large portion oil each session arc
quite too brief Plain citizens who work hard tor
ten or eleven hours for dollar or So cannot we"
understand how their hired men in Congress can
earn eight dollars per day in the course OF two or
three hours when the business they might ana
should do, bat which is yet habliuslly let undone'
10 of such vast Importance and immlnence' IL
very true that each Member has much to Do else
where than on the Hoor-tbst Committees must
meet and investigate, and decide, aud report on
the subjects referred 10 them respectively but the
Members who usually move and carry ADJOURN
ments, a. well as those who waste time by need
less speeches calls of the House demands OF the
Yeas and Nays points Of order, &c. &C. are noto-
riousIy unapt to devote much time 10 Their duties
on Committees, or TO perform much service Ia that
capacity Whoever are seen 10 figure as detri-
mentals on the floor are very certain 10 maintain
the character where they are screened from pub
lie observation aud censure.
OF all the hours devoted by the House to its
public deliberations at least one-hali are utterly
and many OF them wllfuly wasted by Members
who seem to believe and some OF whom publicly
declare, that they deem legislation generally
curse and consider that the less there is done OF 1t
the better for the country. We have not yet heard
Of one Of these gentlemen proving the depth OF
his conviction by staying away through Session
or by refusing 10 draw his pay for attendance
Legislative bodies generally divide into two
nearly equal parts-one anxious to expedite bust.
ness and earn what they paid the other appa
rently bent on taking matters easy and doing the
least that will answer their turn. And the rulers
Of most Legislatures but especially of the two
Houses of Congress seem admirably adapted TO
aid the do-nothngs in ciiectng their purpose
Must this be so eyermOre
There probably has never been short session
OF Congress from which action was required on
greater number and variety OF topics than from the
present. The existing Tariff and Sub-rreasury
acts ought to be essentially modified but there is
little hope that they can be, owing to the hostility
OF the President and majority OF the Senate so
it may be that neither will be seriously taken IN
hand. But our Rates OF Postage ought to be re
duced and smpliied our New Territories require
organization, with provisions respecting the sur
vey and dispose of their Public Lands Mines, Sc
and there is urgent need for the passage OF bills
providing for extensive River and Harbor Improve
nents Our whole Naval system needs re-castlns
TO adapt it to the gigantic march of Ocean Steam
ll,.k,,, .h,s,l1 l.,
reduced in expense and we think in force also
in Officers If not in Men and there ought to
be some radical improvement of our system
OF considering Private Claims on the Government
for the present usage amounts to an absolute de-
NAL Of Justice. A Military commander for exam
pie, takes citizens cattle, OF grain, or boats for
the public service, and tells the sufferer It is all
right--Congress will honor his demand-and on
the aversge two out of five honest claimants Nil
die before they have Justice done them, and they
must pay half they get often large sum without
getting anything) to lobby agents, borers &c. Be
side these, there ought to be thorough inv estiga
ton and sitting OF the Public Expenditures with
a view to Retrenohment, by which we are conf
dent Two Millions year might be saved With
regard to the Public Lands generally, legislation
is pressingy needed These are not nearly al
the subjects on which Congressional action is ur-
gently demanded but will they receive II Prob
ably not one half of them; and even It they should
all be entertained, referred reported on and con.
sidered. the majority would doubtless be struck
dead in one House or the other by the falling Of
the Presidents or Speakers hammer at midnight
on the I'd Of March next when the Session must
terminate. Brethren said the wise African
preacher blessed are they who expect nothing,
tor they will not be disappointed