American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-07-04
The FIRST SESSION OF THE FORTY
THIRD CONGRESS-.

The two most noteworthy features
of the session of Congress which
ended Tuesday, are that the or'ilHa-
nv routine duties of the body have
been performed exceptionally wei,
and that, as to the duty of embody-
ing i'm legislation the views of the
country with reference to most I'M
pOrtant current issues, there has
been substantial failure. In the
matter of Appropriations, there has
been q resOlute and intelligent eff
fort. attended with considerable sue
cess, to secure economy. The army
and navy have had their expendi
lures for ordinary purposes cut
down, the one four and n half. and
the other four millions; the legis
lative, executive, aid Judicial eN
penditures have been reduced more
than three millions; the fortified
tons are allowed nearly one million
less than last year; the deficiency
bills are more than seven millions
less; the Sundry Civil ApprOpria
ton bill (Which includes all the
odds and ends, and is an especially
difficult bill to keep vii hin bOunds,)
is five and half millions less ; and
altogether there has been IA reduc
ton of regular expenditures of
some thing more than twenty seven
and three-quarter millions. On the
other hand, there has been no in
crease of taxation, and the antici-
patton of Mr.. Dawes, in opposition
to the opinion of Secretary Richard
son, that The revenues, in spite of
the falling off due to the panic,
would, for the entire year, be suffi-
cient for the expenditures, bids fair
to be justified. The Chairman OF
the Committee of Ways and Means
stated Oh Tuesday, and We have no
doubt that his statement may be
relied on, that not only would the
regular appropriations he met, but
the sinking fund would be provided
for.
This is good showing. If the
times were such as we have been
accustomed to for several years
past, it would be very good show
ing. 1t is idle for the opposition
to say that Congress deserves no
credit for it. Congress does deserve
great credit, because no such result
could have been attained without
an unusual amount OF honesty, fl
deity, and unselfishness on the part
of the members of the majority.
The Chairman of the Appropriation
Committee has won enviable laurels
and has shown himself sagaciOu>,
industrious, upright, and firm. But
the majority, as body, has also
earned the respect of the country
in regard to the matters we have
mentioned.
Nor should it be forgotten that
Congress at its recent session has
performed some duties of excep-
tiOnal difficulty with decided sue
cess. Its investigation and treat
ment of the affairs of the District
of Columbia, the investigate of
the SanbOrn contracts by the House
Committee on Ways and Means,
and the Investigations carried on
with reference to the Treasury en-
craving and the Congressional
Printer, are cases in point. These
have all been conducted with vigor,
impartiality, and honesty of pur-
pose. There has been no ''white
Washing nor any attempt at it.
The opposition can not, and do not.
allege any want Of courage or abil-
ity in these most delicate and diff
cult undertakings. They have been
carried on in every way in a spirit
worthy of the representatives of a
great aud honorable party, and with
proper sense of responsibility to
the people.
We have no inclination to pre-
sent the +. cord of Congress in a
too favorable light. We have al
ready pointed out many of what
we regard as its errors, and We shall
continue to do SO OH all proper
occasions. But we venture to ask
our readers whether any candid
mind could expect as good show
ing from the Democratic party,
were n in power No Y. Times.