The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-01-07

Judges was taken up, and the enacting
clause stricken ont. Mr.. Tomlinson moved
to reconsider the vote whereby bill to
alter and amend the charter OF the town of
Edgefeld was made the special order for
Wednesday, January Is. at 1.3O p. m.
Agreed to.
MIR. Tinslcy obtained leave of absence.
at p. M, the House adjourned.
Wh"t Congress Costs the Country and Nvhnt
Little Work II Performs.
The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Herald telegraphs as follows, un-
der date Of the 81 Instant:
Congress Is Il very expensive institution
OF the Government, and not alone eXpen-
sive, but lazy and inefficient to great de.
gree. The representatives of which it is
composed, are sent here by the people to
perform the business of national Legislation
The manner in which it is performed is one
thing, and the amount Of work done an
other If any large private business firms
employed number of men to go to n
certain city and hold Il convention for the
transaction of mercantile matters, und dis
covered that their representatives. had been
several weeks together, without touching
upon single subject in which these firms
were interested, it would be very strange if
they failed to discharge the entire crowd
and engage the services of others, who
would give more of their time and attention
to the business on hand The people cannot
so readily dispense with their servants, but
they have just as much right to demand
that the men they employ and send here,
shall do the business of making laws for
the convenience and welfare of the country
Besides, these public servants are we'll paid
for their time and comfortably provided for
at the capital Tins far in this the third
session of the fortieth Congress, which in
the meanwhile has cost the country about
S1OO, 900 in salaries and other forms of ex-
pense, really nothing in the way of business
has been transacted. Ten bills have passed
both houses Of Congress, five of which are
for removing political disabilities from some
loyal adherents of the radical party in the
South; several are for pensions to some
newly y-discovered heroes of the war OF 1912;
one In reference to the tax on tobacco, and
another repeating the prohibition against
the organization of II militia in the recon
structed States. The latter is the only one
of any importance that has become n law;
but it is of such very questionable benefit
to the people, that it can hardly be placed
IN the category of serious and useful legis-
lation. The game is certainly not worth
the candle, Judging by this exhibit And
yet what n vast field of legislation remains
what Il host of important subjects are I'M
attended to. There is the financial question
comparatively untouched, the tariff, the in
ternal revenue and the settlement OF recon
structlon, once and forever, still neglected.
Nothing; has been broached concerning the
encouragement which the shipping interests
OF the country so vitality demand Nothing
has bcen done or is likely to be done, to
satisfactorily adjust our Indian difficulty,
except the action Of the House to transfer
the Indian Bureau to the War Department.
1t may be pleaded that time sufficient has
not been allowed to bring up these various
questions; and that in the onsuing two
months everything will be fully and salts
factorily attended to; but unfortunately we
have two prccedents before us in the past
sessions of this Congress- illustrating how
much time can be consumed and how much
talk expended. without great deal of worl,
being accomplished. This session will be
like its predecessors, fruitful of theory and
barren of practice There will be a vast
deal said about the finances and the incyi-
table nlgSer will crop out ouce more in the
discussion about reconstructing over again
the State OF Georgia and dividing the State
OF Texas. Indian affairs will Re debated for
time, and in the end some tinkerine will
be done, leaving matters worse than they
We're before. But there are many excellent
subjects that Congress could devote its
attention to during the remainder of its
existence if it would only choose. The
condition of the finances should. of course.
receive paramount attention, the postal
telegraph scheme should engage that degree
OF consideration which so wise and sautary
n reform calls for; the reduction of the tax
on everything which enters into the con-
struction of ships, should awaken patriotic