The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-08-14
The Adjournment of Congress.

Congress adjourned, as usual, with
more curses than blessings. But every
such body is so composed and sub.
iect to such influences that it is to be
judged rather by what it does than by
what it fails to do. Those who de-
scribed it as "a den of thieves and Il
nest Of jobbers merely declare with rhe-
torical venemence that it has not done
many things which they hoped would be
done. But this Congress deserves Ia be
homored for its freedom from ,iobbery
and for its general high character, as
well as for its searching inquiry into the
irregularities, and exposure of gross
abuses of administration. 1t repealed
the salary grab and the Sanborn con-
tract law; it abolished the moiety system
and the District government; and the
good impetus of these acts will doubtless
lead to Il thorough revision of the whole
revenue system. For the repeal of the
moiety system is a far reaching blow.
The sudden and immense reduction of
the emoluments Of certain revenue Off
GERS also reduces the pccuniary re-
sources of the Administration
party in the elections. and tends to re-
store the Custom-house to Its legitimate
function. That the salaries named are
in all cases what they should, may be
doubted. For instance, under exist
ing laws, the position of Collector of
New York is an office of such impor-
lance and power that it may be ques-
toned whether a man of the necessary
knowledge, experience, and ability is
likely to be secured for twelve thousand
dollars a year. There have been col
lectors of another kind, indeed, who
have been paid very much more, but
they were not appointed primarily to
discharge the proper duties of their po-
sition. And one Of the very great SER
vices ofthis Congress is the step toward
a reform of the abuses of this civil SER
vice by restoring it to its purpose which
is taken by the repeal of the whole Gys-
tenn of moieties and perquisites-except
in cases of actual smuggling-which was
intended not to ave money to the treas
ury of the country but to provide money
for the treasury ola party.
Another important result of the re-
forms adopted by this Congress is the
evidence which they furnish that the
Republican majority was wise enough
to know that the party is quite
strong enough to c%riticise and reform its
own measures and men. We observe
that a Liberal" orator the other even
ing proposed to his friends to join the
Democrats, and recounted many of the
abuses which the Republicans have ex-
posed and corrected as reasons for OPP
the Republican party. There lisa
fatal touch of comedy in all liberal per-
just now. If Congress had
cluug to the salary grab, and retained
the moieties and the Sanborn law and
the District Ring and the Sanborn Off
GERS in the Treasury, and showed itself
and %incredulous toward all com
there would have been some rea-
son in the denunciation of the party.
But, as it has been a peculiarly honest
and a strictly inquiring and a radical
reforming body, the invitation to step
over and try the Democrats is exquisitely
ludicrous.
On the other hand, Congress has eva
1ed the passage Of the Civil Rights
Bill; it has virtually bafied a systematic