The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-01-16

CoNGREss.ss

ef gets READY I'LL tue Iasl IHluuic. 1uc
/ good old rule never do anything to-
day that can be put of till tomorrow
is conscientiousIy observed. Still
there are a few real workers, in each
House, without whom legislation
would come to halt. However. ev-
erything goes Through with rush on
the last days of the session. that is, if
it goes through at all. Then Congress
has its fever on, and tosses about in a
delirious sort of way day and night.
The lobbies are crowded and the gall
leries full, and the unaecustoned
spectator looks with astonishment up
on its wonderful contortions and ex-
presses genuine sympathy with its
condition. But he need not be alarm
ed !; Congress will come through all
right, and out of that bedlam of con-
fusion there will come laws, which, to
say the least of them, must be obeyed.
Notwithstanding the session is near
its end, and every bill that does not
pass through, dies with it, still there
is no end of bills that are being con-
stantly introduced. But the smembern
is not to blame. Each constituent has
bill, or is liable to have one, which
is bound to pass. Of course the Con-
gresham knows there is no earthly
chance for it, but experience has
taught him the easiest way out, and
he puts it in. This, however, is not
the only, nor the worst sort of decep-
ton that is practised by the lords of
the people. The
ssFRANKING PRIVILEGE" DODGE
is having another run as usual. This
old trick of make-believe" is again
to be played. OF course neither the
Senate nor the House. would have the
law abolished for anything, nor have
they ever had any such intention /; but
the House pleases its constituency by
4 passing bill for its repeal every now
and then, and it just so happens that
it never gets to vote in the Senste,
which makes it lovely all around.
But it is not in the pretended aboli-
ton of the Franking privilege alone
that this systematic humbug is prac-
ticed upon the people. There is ffe-
quently genuine case of
BARGAIN AND SALE
and it is not confined to either party
Many bills that are opposed by large
majority in either house, pass almost
unanimously. For instance. the Cot
ton tax and sthe French Spoliation
bills it is designed shall pass each
other. Though it is believed the Cot
ton tax job will be postponed as an
electioneeriDg act, some two or three
years hence. The appointment of a
few popular Democrats to important
offices may pass the San Domingo
scheme, or the Postal Telegraph bill.
In this connection we may enquire,
why was James G. Bennett, straight
Democrat, and two other Democrats,
appointed by the President Commits
sioners of Board of Police for Wash
ington city? We make no charges,
mind, we only suggest. You see
some Democrats are no better than
other people, though they oughtto be.
THE INvEsTIGATIoNIsTs
are having . lively run of business.
| What with the Louisiana and Arkan-
sas, the Credit Mobilier, and the Teton
Sioux scandals, Congress has become
nervous and out of temper, and many
pet schemes and much important leg
| islation will fail. So it is not certain
that there will not be q called session
after all.
The recent select committee ap-
pointed by the House 10 inquire into
the relations of the Credit Mobilier
and the Union Pacific Railroad to the
| Government of the United States,
gives much wider scope to the whole
question than was at first anticipated.
The whole business is now likely to
be fully explained to the country and
there IS no telling who will get hurt.
The
LOUISIANA SCANDAL
is still subject of special interest,"
The Committee will soon be appoint
ed whose business it will be to pro-
ceed to Louisiana and Arkansas and
make full inquiry into the true state
of the case. There is no doubt but
the Administration feels that grave
mistake has been made, especially in
the case of Louisiana. But the fact
that it has backed down SO far as to
demand that there shall be no farther
military interference with the meeting
of the Fusion Legislature is indicative
of returning reason. It is singular
that the intellectual COLOSSUS at the
White House did not see at first that
an attempt TO inaugurate a govern
ment composed of defective negro of
flee seekers would be rebuked, as it
has been, by the whole people of the
country.
Senator Ames' bill for the reorgan-
azation of the army, by providing
that all branches of the army service
shall be open to citizens of the United
States without regard to race or color
will be obstinately resisted by all the
influence that the inferior officers and
the rank and file can bring to bear /;
yet as the measure is believed to be
in furtherance of the general plan of
Capitalization it is doubtful If such
opposition will avail.
THE LAND GRAB BILL.
by which it is proposed to give to the
soldiers in the late war 375, 900 square
miles of the public domain, equal in
area to eight such States as New York
meets with determined opposition in
Republican quarters. The objection,
chiefly, to this bill, from radical
sources, is that it allows the land to
be purchased by specuIators, etc. 1t is
not likely to pass this session.
The bill to incorporate the
ERIAL TELEGRAPH COMPANY
now pending in the Senate, and which
has already passed the House, will
probably go through. There is, how
ever, serious opposition even to this
very just and laudable undertaking,
by certain Senators who, it is said,
own stock. or are Interested in the