Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-07-21

i would never have been accomplished
but for the energy, ability, and dogget
pertinacity of Gen. Robert c. Schenck
We do not think SO highly as do most o
our Congressman of the results therein
attained; but there is one result SO dis
tinct and practical that voters, this
Fall, will have no difficulty in compre
hending it. 1t reduces our burden o
taxation by an amount no less than
seventy-six millions of dollars. The
items for reduction are in many il moi
in most cases judiciously chosen, and
the general effect will undoubtedly be
to strengthen the Administration.
The most striking failure of this Con.
gress, thus far, has been in its neglect to
dispose of the lingering remnants of the
Reconstruction question by the prompt
admission of Georgia on terms honora-
BILE to her and to US, till the last hours OF
last nights session; and the entire fail
ure to pass liberal and generous bill OF
amnesty. We cannot believe that at
the next session Congressman can SC
fail to read the signs of the times, or tn
comprehend that generosity to our late
enemies and the National safety and
prosperity:mustg go hand in hand.
The bill for the admission of Georgia
was passed on Friday before the ad-
journment.-[ED. CHRON.
A REVIEW OF THE SESSIONS woRK-THE
IMPORTANT MEASURES THAT HAVE
BEEN PASSED.
WASHINGTON, July 15.-Congress has
received SO much and so often such de-
served censure for its garrulousness,
waste of time, and demagOguery, that
he 10 Eox ha 81 hat
very little valuable public legislation has
been addopted during the long session
which ended at noon to-day. Yet a
glance over the sessions work will show
this belief to be unfounded. In reality,
it is long time since so many impor-
tant measures have been passed and SO
much general business transacted in a
single session. Legislation can not be
judged by its quality and bulk for asingle
important bill may require more time IN
its CESSATION and birth than fifty minor
measures combined. Looking at the re-
suits of the session with this fact in view
Congress has no reason to be ashamed
of the fruits of its seven months labor,
and the Republican party ought not to
fear the verdict of the people upon the
acts of their representatives in the Ma
tiOnal Legislature. can not, in the
space of this letter, go into the details of
the work done during the session, but l
desire to mention the leading measures
which have been placed upon the stat
ute-book, and which must make in great
part the platform upon which our party
will go before the people at the coming
Fall elections.
FUNDING THE DEBT.
A carefully-matured Funding bill has
been passed, after a very full considera-
ton, which, if it goes into full effect,
will save S26, ,000, 900 annually Of the in
terest on the public debt, and conse.
quently lessen taxation by that amount.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
The whole Internal Revenue system
has been changed and simplified, and a
reduction has been made in internal
taxes amounting to the enormous sum of
sixty millions annually. ALI vexatious
special taxes have been abolished, and
nothing remains but the tax on distilled
spirits, malt liquors, tobacco and cigars,
the stamp tax and the tax on incomes.
REVISION OF THE TARIFF.
A large number of articles used as raw
material for American manufactures
have been placed upon the free list, to-
gether with many unimportant articles
which only numbered the schedules
without producing revenue enough to
pay for its collection. The Tariff on tea,
coffee and sugar has been reduced so per
cent, which lessons at once the daily
household expenses ofthe people, a mat
ter of especial consequence to the poor
and to all in moderate circumstances.
The whole reduction in the Tariff is es-
foA nj irfx mi 11l lloy =,
added to the amount taken from Inter
nal Revenue, makes the total reduction
in taxation effected by the legislation of
the presents session ninety millions of
dollars.
ECONEAIY IN APPROPRIATIONS
Since the beginning of the war there
has been no such trenchant and al the
same time sensible reduction in the ex-
pentures of the Governmentas during
the session of Congress just ended. Every
item of appropriation has been rigidly
scanned, and the estimates Of the De-
partments reduced, nearly twelve mill
ions, and these reductions have been
made SO judiciously as in no way to en-
barrass the operations of the Govern
ment. ...- .t.
BANKING AND CURRENCY LEGISLATION.
By the new Currency bill the needs of
the West and South for banking facili-
ties will be met, and bank currency to
the amount of fseyenty-nine millions dis
tributed in those sections, greatly slim
ulating business. A long STEP has also
been taken in the direction of specie
payment by authorizing free banking
upon gold basis. and the full investi-
cation made into the great New York
gold panic has resulted in such an ex-
posure as will prevent a repetition Of
that disgraceful affair.
RECONSTRUCTION.
When Congress met in December the
States of Virginia, Mississippi, Texas,
and Georgia were still held undt Z mill
tary rule. All have since been admitted
TO representation, and reclothed with all
the powers of States in the Union.
Legislation has also been adopted to en-
force the Fifteenth and other amend
ments, and insure to all citizens the ex-
ercise of the right of Suffrage.
ARMY REDUCTION.
bill the Army is to be reduced from
$1,000 to &c, 600 men, and over 400 super.
numerary officers are to no longer figure
on the pay-rolls. Many reforms in army
organization have been made, and the
aggregate saving to the Treasury that
will be effected by the bill may be esti.
mated at four millions.
NAVY LEGISLATION. i
A new pay schedule has been adopted
for the Navy, and the abuse of the 331
per cent. allowance has been stopped.
PREVENTION OF ELECTION FRAUDS.
The thorough Investigation and ex-
posure by the Subcommittee of Elec-
tions, of the frauds in naturalization,
registry, and voting in New York city,
and of the violence and intimidation