National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-24
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN. WEDNESDAY

al REPUBLICAN,. WI
death knell Of even any tendency to imitation,
and movement was Immediately instituted to
originate such means Of relief as would not be
liable to objection from the President. After
prolonged conferences II was ct last agreed to
redistnbute the national bank currency and
thus furnish mora money to the West and
South without depreeiatins its value. Another
important feature Is the provision which author
ICES the use of the reserves hitherto retained
in the vaults of the banks. This practically
increases the volume of money In service with
out the addition Of dollar to the maximum
standard now allowed by law, This received
the approval of both Houses and proved the
key to the dilemma in which they were placed.
As q result of the financial panic, for the
alienation of which Congress has so persist
emily worked, Il was prominently exempliied
that the bankrupt law needed to be either
totally repealed or amended In very essential
particulars. With Characteristic fairness the
majority in the House started in motion the
wheels Of legislation, with careful and skilled
drivers, to protect the interests of all. Even
tually bill was reported, and after amend
ment in both houses It became law. It was
deemed impolitic to entirely repeal the law,
but its modification was imperatively de-
manded.. Many provisions, whose harshness
were never established until q great monetary
crises passed over the business community, op-
Grated to the advantage of the cunning and
proved the destruction Of the unwsry CONNER
cial man. At the same time the distinction
was to be drawn between justice to,the honest
merchant and protection to the skilled swind-
Ter. This delicate task was eventually COM
pleted, and is an additional honor to the Re-
publicans, through whose energy and tact it
was carried to success.
The same committee that was charged with
the perfection of this law also had to originate
the measure making provision for the honest
distribution of the Geneva award. The fifteen
and half million dollars allowed this Gov
eminent by the tribunal at Geneva as compen-
sation for the damages inflicted upon American
commerce by the Alabama, has been the dis
tant prey Of q rspacious horde ever since IL
was formally deposited In the Treasury. To
do justice to honest claimants has been the
principal endeayor, and although this would
appear easy of attainment, it has proved q diff
cult task. In many instances, If not closely
guarded, the powerful corporations would
have come within the meaning Of the law, and
thus divert from its legitimate channel large
portion of the award. But with that diligence
necessary in such cases the committee care
fully excluded everything from the bill which
would afford the slightest chance of fraudulent
action. And when the two Houses came to
act finally on the measure they completed the
labors so well initiated by the committee.
Another labor imposed upon this Congress
through the calamitous panic Of last year has
been the partial reorganization OF the customs
regulations. The bill is intended to perfect
perience has demonstrated can be benefcially
changed. It also contemplstes larger revenue
by the imposition Of q tax on several articles
now exempt, and an increase Of the duty on
other materials. The most notable feature Of
the bill was the provision imposing tax on
gold and stock sales. This has met with q
studied opposition from bankers, the Senate
being flooded with petitions against the section,
and the opposition has been successful, a. the
Senate struck out this tax. The tariff legisla.
ton of the session was not concluded. The
bill passed by the House contained = provision
imposing tax on gold sales, but the Senate
refused to scquiesce IN this. They referred to
the former attempt TO collect tax of this de-
scription, and its utter failure, and refused to
hurriedly warrant any second effort until some
well digested plan was arranged. In conse-
quenceit failed Of approval, snd remains with
the Senate as unfinished business.
The essential duty Of Congress at each rs
sion is to pass the appropriation bills, or make
provision for the expenses of the Government.
Il therefore occurs that these measures occupy
greater portion Of the time. Bills for, 'irais-
ing money? are, OF course, Of equal importance.
but they are not q part Of the legislation of
each year, as taxes are imposed as the neces-
sity exists, and are continued in operation Until
the Government is able to modify or abolish
them. There are twelve regular appropriation
bills, making provision for the expenditures of
the departments and furnishing the means to
liquidate every conceivable legal debt Of the
Government. They are given precedence
in the order OF business, and toward
the end of. q session supplsnt all other
measures which may be awaiting actioni 1t
is the usual custom to carefully supervise the
items making up the bill, and to compel
strict adherence to the laws. This session
there has been extraordinary pains taken to
reduce the expenses OF Government TO the
lowest possible figure. When Congress first
assembled it was generally accepted that the
disbursements of the Government must be ma
terially decreased or the alternative Of in
creased taxation resorted to. It was deemed
impolltic, with business Frustrated, to add to
the burdens carried by heavier taxes. Then it
was endeavored to prune the estimates % that
a saving could be secured sufficiently large to
relief the country from all anticipation Of
higher taxation. The main officials wers called
upon to cut down to the lowest practicable
figure every item for which en- estimate was
made. Immediately after the holidays the
results of this pairing process were developed.
and an unexpectedly large reduction made.
The executive officials had complied with the
for stringent economy, and brought
down their figures to q low basis. Congress
in turn decreased these revised estimates, and
the appropriation bills presented for action
were, in every particular, reduced to the very
lowest amount compatible with the workings
of the Government. It then became positive
that no additional tribute would be demanded
Of the people. In the prep srstion Of these
every useless expense has been abol-
ished, and with legitimate expe mixtures there
has been great reduction. Some OF them
have been curtailed until the sum saved aggre-
gates millions of dollars. Single bills have been
so economically prepared that reduction of
four or five million dollars has been effected.
This enormous pairing Of estimates can only be
reviewed with feelings of the kindliest nature
for the majority in Congress. They have
strictly adhered to the Republican doctrine
that the affairs of Government should be eco
nomically conducted, and are entitled to the
thanks of all. In the prosecution ofthe work
of reform Congress has been faithfully assisted
by the Executive Department. Each official
has clearly exhibited where expenses can be |
and given uudoubted token of the
disposition to conduct business faithfully under