The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-23
Tub WORK OF CONGRESS.
Review of the Lab0rs of the Forty.
third Congress, First Session.


With the assembling OF the Forty third Congress,
first session, on the first Monday In December last
(which was the first day OF the MONTH, the eyes
and the hopes Of the whole country were directed
to Washington, and great expectations were en-
tertained In all sections OF the early adoption OF
much needed measures OF relief to the people from
their general financial endorsements and their
heavy and unequal burdens Of taxation. Under
the leadership Of General Grant, as their Presiden-
tial standard-bearer In 1872 the republicans
had succeeded in mant aining an overwhelming
majority in both branches In the elections for this
Congress; and, from the general harmony which
was supposed to exist among the republicans OF
the two houses, and between them and the ad-
ministration, no insuperable obstacles were appre
hended in the settlement of our financial troubles,
and no serious difficulty In the modification OF our
national tax bills-lnternal and external-for the
general welfare"
How for these expectations have been fulfilled
and how far they have ended In disappointments
brief review OF the work Of this late long session
OF great promises and small results will serve to
show.
THE CONDITIONS WHICH MARKED THE MEETING OF
THIS CONGRESS
were in an extraordinary degree calculated 10 en-
courage the dominant party to earnest work in
wholesome measures Of legislation With their
heavy majority in each House, and with the Presi-
dent ready to support them in the general domes-
tic and foreign policy as proclaimed by their party
in all its convention maniestoes, the republicans
held the power to meet their pledges, and they
knew that for their failures, II any, they would be
held before the country to rigid account
ability. financial panic had thrown all
the monetary and business affairs OF
the country into state OF confusion and stagna-
ton, which called for the speediest practicable re-
lief; our relations with Cuba ana Spain, from the
Vrginius affair, had assumed threatening aspect,
calling for active preparations for the possible
tingency OF war; the general agitation OF the IN
creased salary bill and so-called "oack pay grab"
of the last day OF the last session OF the Forty
second Congress had thoroughly alarmed all
parties concerned in that ''bil OF abominations;"
the state elections OF October and November, upon
this question and upon the financial arrangements
Of the country mad generally in their results
party In power, while In the Northwest the inde-
pendent action OF the grangers had made serious in
general corruptions including the Credit M0bllier,
an increased salary and back pay bill OF the last
peais FOR retrenchment and reform into general
popular hue and cry. Last though not least, as
upon the record OF the first and long session OF the
Forty-third Congress would largely depend the
issue OF this years. elections for the Forty fourth
Congress, the responsible party In Congress had
centive, in an extraordinary degree, to labor to
secure on all the issues before them good &C
count OF their stewardship to their masters, the
sovereign people.
WHAT, THEN, rs THE REPORT
OF the work done and the work left undone by this
long session, commencing on the LIST OF December
1878 aud ending with the ed OF June, 1874 SEES
sion OF seven full calendar months lacking only
eight daysY IL may be briefly summed up IS scs-
sion IN which vast amount OF labor has been per-
formed by both houses, BY the committees. regular
and special, and by the individual members
thereof We have had no session OF Congress
since the war which has exacted so much hard
Work AZ THIS from the members IN their commit.
tee roo ms, an amount OF drudgery which can
hardly be appreciated even from the general cata-
logue OF tho many v0luminous reports made on
various subjects and the numerous bills dtgested,
drawn up and submitted In the two houses.
THE BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
introduced In the two houses since the lst OF De-
cember are appalling to contemplate. The bills
introduced In the House down TO the Goth inst
numbered s,7oo. and 900 in the Senate; the House
JOINT resolutions reported number, ia, and nose
Of the Senate, 10. The bills passed By both houses
ard approved so far number over 400, leaving the
great bulk OF tho measures reported among the
unfinished business of the session. Most impor.
tant among the measures passed after the new
currency compromise on account OF their extraor.
binary retrenchments, IN the army and navy and
on the Indiana. ore the regular AUTHORIZATION and