New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-28
CONGRESSIONAL MCONGRUITIEs.

numbers at No. 9s Prnces last evening Mr. Roosevelt
having been introduced by Luke G. Grimes President OF
the Association, began by expressing his grahcaton at
the opportunity 10 express his views matters OF pub
lie importance before the people Of his district might
seem strange he remarked. for Congressman OF only
one term TO speak Congressional incongruiues, TO
point out defects and to suggest remedies but long
time members OF Congress grow callous TO abuses
and are too often unwilling 10 lose the
advantages they themselves gain by such abuses These
abuses are so great that they will, unless removed in
the end destroy the Government. Republican institu-
tons appear to have certain inevitable defects Look
at our nation as great uphoder OF the rights OF man
ana of independence and nothing be grander but
in the regulation of its affairs of the despoc
governments Of Europe far surpass it, In civil war
ouly Providence can save it, while in ordinary times
there is trouble enough. All the powers of NewYork
city unable TO keep its streets clean Compare our
streets with the boulevards Of Paris
Our people are so accustomed 10 making long and
swift that they hardly realize the immensely of
their own land Bear in mind that the empire OF
France il hardly as large the State of NewYork, and
the lovely isle of Ireland could almost be dropped
in one OF our lakes. But enormous territory must
have one center Of government, and that center is
Washington. The amount Of lawmabng required there
is shown by the that during the last Congressional
term 800 bills were passed. Yet very few Con-
gressmen knew how many bills they passing. In
rushed through without any pretense Of cOnsidera-
tion getting only notice as the three readings
guired by law. Che sloveny and battling way in which
these readings are dispatched was here exempled by
Mr. Roosevelt to the great amusement OF his hearersJ
Four hundred out the 500 bills passed disposed
of in this summary way, while only an insignificant
number Of the legislators understood what reading
or knew what they voting The three final days
of session include most of the accomplishment of
Congress There then chance for the discussion of
bills of the utmost interest and importance The Re
publican party must be held responsible for such neg
lect and for the want OF legislation worthy the name,
for Congress is controlled by the majority.
Consider the course Of o bill which is favored with
longer time and is rushed though with the indecent
haste OF simple readings. Bills introduced before the
last days session generally referred TO commit
tee After that they may never be heard OF again. as
the committee may report them OF not at its pleasure.
As an instance of a reform sthed in the committee
roOm Mr. Roosevelt spoke OF the OF the Board OF
Public Works Of Washington. This Board had increased
the debt Washington in single from s2O000O TO
$4,000 OOO beside spending many more millions illegally
on an appeal OF Washington taxpayers, committee Of
investigation was appointed. Here matter OF the
grayest importance, involving possibly the financial ruin
of the city Washington; certainly the good name of the
and the credit Of American securities abroad
since the bonds OF the City of Washington offered
for sale in Europe. Nine Conpressmen composed the
committee of investigation and they were busy for 45
DAYS Hundreds OF witnesses. including the chief men
Of the city, examined In that investigation Mr..
Roosevelt saw much that wrongand corrupt but the
majority OF the Committee had eyes only for whewash
The result OF all this labor Of As days was simply
nothing Tho matter was not discussed, was not even
brought up in Congress The majority of the Commit
tee issued whitewashng" report, which, with the
testimony was printed in big volume, which no one
read. Mr.. Roosevelt and his colleague made minority
report he could get no chance 10 expose the matter
in Congress till the following session. Then, and not TIL
then and only by the introduction OF entirely irrele
want amendment TO a bill which had nothing TO do with
the Board OF Public Works he allowed TO speak on
the subject. BY offering amendment TO bill regu-
ang appointment Of teachers in the colored schools
he at length obtained the desired chance.
But suppose that committee to which ia referred
bill report back that bill to Congress Even then debate
L often Eut OF by the previous question, device whose
onIv object is 10 nrecude fair discussion. The minority,
10 prevent this unprncpled obliged TO resort
TO the ridiculous and contemplate device of "hlbuseT'
ing " a monstrosity and a barbarism. When the preyi
GUS question moved the only motion in order Is for an
adjournment or for taking recess But as 25 men have
the ght TO call for vote by Yeas and Nays by motion
for adjournment. by successive amendments To such
notion and by repeated calling off the Yeas and Nays
legislation may be indefinitely postponed. In this way
Is men have the power keep $40 legislators each draw
ing yearly salary Of $500 idle long as they please
This whole business OF calling the Yeas and Nays is
absurd Each Congressman might have two bills on his
desk one affirmative the other FOR negative voting
and bv electrical arrangements the Of the whole
House could be taken In a few seconds.
one of the most notable abuses in Congressional
legislation is the composition and conduct Of conference
committees When a bill has passed the House Of
representatives IL is liable amendment in the Senate
which body almost invariably increases the amounts ap
prOpriaed in appropriation bills II the House cannot
amen IN
tee-compOscd of three Senators ana three Representa-
uves-is appointed and the action OF tins Committee Is
final IL was of committee of conference that
an appropriation OF Two aud q hall millions for the
Washington Board OF Public Works was toisted into
the Sundry Civil Service Appropriation BILL after the
posture Of the corruption OF that Board had prevented
any Appropriation for IT IN the House But no member
could WEI vote against the Suudry Civil Service ApprO
pration BILL aud awful fraud upon the country was
successful. We may thank conference committee Tor
The Salary bin ar finally passed That bill only passed
the House by majority OF TWO. Before II went 10
conference committee the increase OF pay was only 10
800 that committee raised IL TO $500, and that a
preparation also made part OF the sundry ClV Ser
vice Appropriation bill, II Overcaine all opposition.
Another Congressional ncOugruity is the excessive
power of the Speaker, who Is practically the House oil
Kenresenatyes Ii Is he who appoints the conference
committees and, indeed, all other committees. More
over he Is the autOcrat oil debate No member OF the
House can speak unless recognized DIV the speaker ana
carried his despOc control that he requires OF any
would speechmaker previous statement oil the sub
ect of the intended speech aud the subject or the
argument do SUIT the Speaker Representative will
ma n very hard to get recognition from hun.
In this way Representatives. sienced, aud not
able fairly represent their districts. MI Roosevelt
said that he had been often wrOnged IN this way, and
especially the discussion on the report OF the
Poland Committee the Credit MOOiler investigation
That Committee recommended the expulsion Of two
members of the House vino involved IN the Cr6dit
MObiier affair, made recommendation In the
OF fiye others VINO were equally involved. Mr. ROOsc
Welt in common with many other Representatives. was
in favor OF the expulsion OF more than two members
one OF the members OF the Poland Committee adj
united to HIM mat men III That Committee signed
the report with expectation tnaJ the House would
80 yond the Recommendation Of tua report and would
gN mel IA.
composed of very gUod-natured Democrats aud
very ingenious Republicans. In the debate which
followed of report every member
tue Committee g1vena an opportunity To express ms
We've and a. make pfetense Of far debate, certain
carefully selected opponents of that report were allowed
To speak. But, be II noted, the men who per
lnitied open their mouths against the report al