Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-11-27
THE TASK OF CONGRESS

lnuuenti"I HeinDeIS Vi congress have
endcavored to ascertain from the lankers
merchants and ,radesmen OF New York
aud other cities their views As r. ,he
financial measures expected Of Congress.
aud haze been embarrassed and disap-
pointed to find that while all said tha,
Congress must do something, no two
agreed as to what that something ought to
he. Still it may be assumed as au impor-
tant poiut to have arrived at the eunclu-
sion that Congress is expected on all sides
to adopt some new financial measures for
the relief to the country. Some ws,t u
higher tariff, some lower; some want
more paper money, some less, somc want
TO substitute green5acks for bank notes,
some to substitute bank notes for green
backs; some want all national securities
payable IN gold, principal and crest,
some want them payable all in grctabac.s !;
some want the extinguishment Of the na-
tional debt to go on faster, some want the
whole proceeding arrested, aud the pay
meat OF the debt left to posterfy; some
want the national banking capit.l increas-
ed, while Others want the whole system
abolished, and SO GU to tha end OF the
chapter,
la this multitude Of counsal!ors and
confusion Of counsel it is troublesome
matter Tor member OF Congress whose
duties aud autecedcnts necessarily make
him more political than financial, to know
what course 10 pursue. If The organic
bodies that represent the trading interests
OF the country had any definite views on
the subject, Congressman might look to
them iOI advice in this crisis. But as
general thing these bodies either have no
views or are afraid to give them express
sion, ie they might be construed as hay,
ing political bearing. Nor is it likely
that their views would, if uttered, have
any great breadth The national banking,
now 50 universally popular, would have
encountered, when FIRST broached, tie
unanimous condemnation OF these trade
had their opinions tecu
asked. Congress must, therefore, make
up its mind to act for itself, from It's own
knowledge OF the wishes, interests and
necessities Of the people. TIE trade d!
ganizltlons think only for Il limited class
aud restricted localities. Congressman re-
feet the Interests and the wishes Of all
There are, however, some points that
we may consider as being settled by con-
mVn consent, and it is important that they
should be borne in mind Eirs., it l.
agreed on all sides that there must be
reduction Of the internal taxes; second,
hat the load of interest on the national
deb, ought to be reduced third, that the
ought Ia some way to be
relieved from the burdens under which
iaey now suffer /; fourth, that the expen-
5es OF the national Government should be
reduced very largely; fith, that unless
he Secretary OF the Treasury can show 4
reasonable excuse for maintaining 50 large
l balance Idle in the Treasury, it shou!l
De applied 10 its legitimate use iu paying
ii the obligations Of the Government.
The first aud third Of these poats nat
lraily come together lor consideration
,iuce If there be any lowering or abolish.
ug Of taxes, the productive Interests Of
he country ought to have the benefit Of
There is a great clamor to obtain the
,epeal OF the cotton tax but if the re-
noval Of that tax will uecessitate ;5c re.
ention of any of the numerous taxes
~ domestic industry, the cotton tax should
De retained.
Oar own impression has been tha; the tax
should be reduced sliding scale Of a
lalf cent year. AS regards contrac
ion, We do moi think that Congress ous ht
o allow the destruction Of greenbacks to
90 below the point of permitting three
hundred mil ions to remain in circulation
or the redemption Of the national bank
lotes If Congress authorizes an in
,relse Of the national banking capital for
he country south aud west Of New York
rs we think it should, such action as
his will be imperatively necessary
North AnaericaR.
THE Juniata Republican publishes an
article from an crchange which, it says, is /