New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-07
THE LAST SESSION OF THE Mist CONGRESS-.
WHAT WAS DONE AND WHAT WAS LEFT UNDoNE
fgY TELEGRAPH 70 TIg TGBUSRl


WAsUIyGToN, March G.-The work accom-
pli,hed by the XLTst Congress during It's last session
WIS uuilDportaut if the measures OF public interest
actually enacted into law be considered Probably no
previous Congress, ia the course OF IFS closing session.
ever put few measures OF important general lcSl'"
ton upon the statute book and certainly 10 Congress
ever allowed so long list Of bills that had passed one
House to die upon tie calendar OF the other The value
OF tho session TO the country must fairly be estimated
mot y the bills passed but by the amount OF luis'ieY
ous legislation urged by all the power Of the lobby
which Coulrcss refused 10 De led into Tie rc'oiule
daughter Of all subsidy schemes, land crabs and other
MAN. of plunder is what the Mist Congress must de-
pend upon FOR the approval Of the people r"lHer ah
upon the on cinal legislation II has perfected
cbcf among the Jew important measures adopted, in
,e instability OF its future results IL the resolution
which authorized the sending OF the santo Domingo Com
missoucr which, II it should prove the ioferunhor oil
gigantic scheme OF tropical annexation ending IN the
ABSORPTION OF all the West indies and the Whoie eoh'l
mont down to the sthmus OF Daricn, would be entitled
IN rank AS the great measure of the ALlst Congress
In its immediate fruits, the Texas Pacific Railroad Dill
f. the leading legislative act OF the session. It viii son
sctte the Indian question in all our Southern telltoJ
IA tbe Union Pacific road has IL the central belt OF the
West The Apaches and Comanches VIII cease ther
murders and deprcdations a. soon as the locomotive
crosses the plains Of Texas, New-MeXco ana ArIHohs
and the rich mineral region lying between the no
Crnde and the Colorado will yield incalculable treas
ures now inaccessible 10y OF the hostility OF the
sayagcs. ,,e..
The sccton attached 10 an Appropriation bin by Sen
ator Trmbull authorizing the President TO make com
meneement toward Civil Service Reform by providing
careful system Tor ascertanlng the capacity Of applicants
for Office is Of great consequence when considered as the
entering wedge future legislation for nsuns TIC CHI
cheney Of the civil employees OF the Government
The at TO insure the purity OF elections commonly
known "a tho Enforcement BILL" is measure OF ln
or,.nce III works as well ts trainers hope, the
,ntlc frauds upon the ballot. which are OF such ne
onent occurrence in great cities will cease.
The martial repeal OF the Test Oath IS hui silent step
- , direction OF General Amnesty, but IL shows the
drn of opinion and makes certain the speedy iemo'a
:, an tihlites "a one Of the first acts Of the new Con
gress. .,,
uouses making provision for the better security oi lie
on steamers will save hundreds OF h'es WI 'o
rivers. -, l. -, .
Much has been done toward reforming do"ses III 'ne
Indian service The absurdity OF making u'sueS WIN
savages and negotiating with them as WIN
nations lie stopped, and the swindlns Vi INC iuiaa ny
raseally claim agents, VIII no longer W PoS'oe' me
-. - The Peace Commission enlarged and all
navments of large amounts made 10 the huaS ny uoV-
nr,oen, agents must be audited by the Commission.
An important measure to the ate FeDeulos states ~
the section added TO the Army Appropriation bib pro
vidinr for Commission 10 take testimony To substan-
, claims for food and supplies furnished by loyal cti
zns 20 the Union army with view TO their final pay
| ment
A measure Of doubtful wisdom Is the law granting a
mansion TO every whq served n the war VI 1912 II