New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-06
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.

THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
AN UNUSUALLY LONG SESSION PRoBABLE-A RE-
VIEW OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BILLS UNDER
CONSIDERATION BY COMMITTEES.
IRON REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUSE.l :
WASHINGTON, April 1.-The work of Congress,
far as practical results concerned, has never
been more backward than at present. and although
the Committees have been IN session quite as often
as in previous sessions they do not seem to have ac-
complished much. 1t is the general opinion that tho
session viii be an unusually long one some assert
ing that it will reach well into the month of July
Some OF the more important Committees and the
work before them are mentioned below:
The Ways and Means Committee have done very
little III the way of current business, and 1t has
much to do although there will not. of course, be
any extended revision of the tariffs. The most i'm
portant question before them is the financial one.
There are half dozen bills or more, which very
diverse in their nature. Some of these, indeed the
most important of them have already appeared in
TIE TRIBUNE. No settled action has been had on
them and none will be attempted until the Jayne
ard Sanborn iniquites are disposed Of The aboli-
ton of the jayne and Sanborn blackmal and col
lection agencies is quite as important to merchants
as regulating the finances. There are several bills
relating to the tariff which also show the diverse
interests There are petitions for admitting Jute
and jute butts free and there memorials for i'm
posing tax OF SIP ton on jute butts. As in the
Jayne and SanbOrn cases. no bill has been prepared
on the tariff question. AS usual the Committee
have a bill to repeal the duty on salt and one to IN
crease the duty on hops
The Appropriations Committee Ire pretty well
along in their work but the House is slow. The
81 Naval Emergency bill the first passed.
The Army Appropriation bill has passed both Houses
and is now in Conference Committee on the amend
ments. The Navy bill is in the same condition. The
Fortifcations bill has passed both Houses and been
signed by the President. The Legislative. EXecu-
tive and Judicial bill has been reported by the Com
mittee and is now before the House. The West
Point Military Academy bill is also before the House.
The Indian Appropriation bill has been finished and
approved by the Committee-making three appro-
priation bills before the House for action. The Com
mttee have still before them and now consider
ing the Post Office BILL the Pension bill, the Consul
lar and Diplomatic bill the River and Harbor bill,
the Sundry Civil bill, and the Deficiency bill The
latter is well advanced, and will probably be re-
ported next week
The judiciary Committee next to the two above
mentioned have a greater amount of important
work before them than any other Committee, and it
might be said that their business is of more i'm
portance as it is not of routine character. In the
first place the Senate Civil Rights bill is with the
Judiciary Committee at least its chairman has it
in his own keeping with no indication of inten-
ton speedily to report it, although the Committee
was permitted by the House to report at any time.
The Committee for several weeks, have been en-
gaged in inquiries a. to whether they would report
articles of impeachment against United States Judge
Durell of Louisiana and Busted of Alabama. They
seem to have proceeded very slowly, and at present
have entirely suspended the Investigations. There
is no doubt among Durells friends that he will soon
resign, rs his health is greatly impaired The Bank
rupt BILL which originated in the Senate. and came
to the House as substitute for its BILL is still in
the hands of a subcommittee. 1t was, however,
reported the House the House Committee refusing
to agree to the Senate substitute for the House bill,
and asked for Committee of Conference. The bill
authorizing the Central Branch of the Union Pacific
Railroad to take its to the Court of Claims has
been agreed to- and the Committee is ready to report
The Banking and Currency Committee, owing,
doubtless, to the ineficiency of the chairman, Mr..
Maynard do not seem to get through with any work.
The inquiry into the conduct of the receiver Of the
Ocean Bank of New York is not yet finished and of
course no decision has been reached. A large num-
Der of bills before the Committee, but very little
of the work has been distributed by the chairman,
and everything is behind. The Committee are now
engaged in an inquiry regarding the printing of the
National bank and gTeenback currency. The Com
mittee early in the session, began an inquiry to
the cause of the panic and the general financial sit
uation. Many of the most prominent financial and
commercial men in the country were invited to
make statements which they did, but the statements
have not yet been printed.
The Military Committee have reported to the
House theirl bill for the gradual reduction of the
army, but the report and the evidence to accom-
- L.
mostly of private character, are before the Com
mittee but il is the desire of the members to
avoid as much possible individual special legs-
lation. Some of the members are considering the
subject of reporting new Bounty bill covering
cases of just character which defective only in
a constructive manDer-the number being small
The House Foreign Affairs Committee devoting
their sessions principally TO the consideration of the
bill revising the whole list of consular fees The
bill of Judge Hoar expatriaton is not yet fully
matured but the Committee have devoted much
! time to it.
| The Post-Office Committee have before them the
question as to whether they will recommend bill
| TO continue the subsidy to the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company, which was forfeited several months
| ago by failure to comply with theif contract. The
Company, it Is understood only ask that the sub
sidy may date from the time when their ships shall
! be all completed of ron-as provided in the con-
trace. There are large number of small bills for
| mail routes, and other matters of like character
The Committee. IN addition, considering very
| important questionable principle of which they
have already settled. The Committee intend to re-
yye the salary list OF postmasters, and reduce the
! amounts materially IN small places, and increase
them in large cities The Postmaster General shows
that in some places where salary of $1,000 year
In paid, the whole business of the Office does not