The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-05
Important Acts Passed BY CONGRESS.

With all its filibustering and buncombe
several highly meritorious measures besides
those passed over the Presidents vetoes have
been passed by Congress during the session
just closed. We allude particularly to the
passage of the Bankrupt bill, tardy act of
justice to thousands Of worthy and honest
men who have been prevented from going into
business and paying up old scores by the
memorable tyranny of short-sighted creditors.
" Pass the Bankrupt BILL" said well known
and opulent merchant tie other day, and
shall lose dozen of my most experienced and
valuable statesmen" These statesmen had
been in business for themselves, but, being
unfortunate, failed and were obliged to obtain
employment as chief statesmen in the spacious
warerooms Of one of our largest Wholesale
and retail merchants, carrying with them, In
most instances, their old customers to their
new quarters. A personal reason like the
above cannot, OF course, hold good when
the widespread benefits of the measure are
taken into consideration. We therefore con-
graduate Congress upon passing this much
needed and benefcent act The bill for the
has passed in the shape of authorizing the
issue of three per cent certificates, not to ex-
coed fifty millions at any one time This will
go little way toward relieving the Treasury
of the burdensome tax it is allowed to bear in
order to enable private individuals to carry on
. banking business and establish circulating
medium at the expense Of the government.
The Indemnity bill, providing for the protec-
ton of army officers from proceedings In civil
courts on account Of acts committed under
orders from superior officers during the war,
Is among the acts passed. How tar this will
screen the Secretary Of War from the conse-
quences of acts alleged to be arbitrary and
unlawful is not very clear but the bill Is no
doubt framed to meet his own case as well
as that Of some Of his subordinates. The
bill granting additional bountes to soldiers, al
though imposing an additional weight upon our
already heavy national Indebtedness, will be
viewed with favor in some parts Of the country,
especially the West, where the popularity of any
member Of Congress from that section voting
against it would undoubtedly have been sensi-
bly, impaired. The tarifates have not entirely
gone by the board. The wool interest made
convulsive effort at the eleventh hour in the
Senate and succeeded in having passed by that
body the House bill Of last session regulating
the duties on the article. II il q significant
fact that both the Massachusetts, Senators voted
against the bill. A bill sbolishing peonage in
New Mexico and throughout the United States;
another for public park in the District of
Columbia, which will represent in miniature
the typographical appearance of the United
States; another amendatory Of acts relative to
the abolition Of imprisonment for debt, have
also been passed, together with several other
bills Of general interest On the whole, for
a short one, 1t may be regarded as an impor-
tant and rather interesting session, while
the mulHfarious vetoes of the President have
given spice and relish TO the whole proceed
ings.