The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-16
New York Letter.
Congress again-Inck of statesmanship-
What Mr. Dawes failed TO d0-The issue
before the people-An honest currency TO


Only one week more! don't wish to be dis
respectful to Congress, but L am persuaded the
majority of the people will welcome its adjourn
ment as the most satisfactory act which will,
up to that time, have marked it's existence.
Undoubtedly great deal too much was expect
ed of it, and that is why its shortcomings have
been more noticeable The most imperative du-
ty which devolved upon it was the reconstruc-
ton of the finances In the accomplishment
of this object it was hindered by the egregious
fallacies which had taken possession of ma
jority in both houses, in respect to the functions
of paper money. But the minority entertain
ing views which were in accordance with the
fundamental principles of political economy,
should have insisted on the sessions being large
ly devoted to their eucidaton in order that
the country might be educated up to practi-
cal comprehension of the situation and its re
quirements 1t was a great opportunity for an
able parliamentary leader in each wing of the
capitol. There rarely happens so good a chance
for craftsmanship, as fell in the way of the
chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means in the popular branch of Congress- and
indeed Of the chairman of the Finance Com
mittee in the Senate, although the Commons is
the place in which historic precedent has fixed
the origin Of measures affecting currency and
taxation.
Mr.. Dawes is universally regarded as an am
bilious man. He had the advantage of longer
experience than any of his associates. He en-
joyed large measure of the confidence and ap-
probation of his countrymen. The coveted
post of honor on the foor-second only to the
speakershlp in prescriptive rank, and prefera-
BILE to it, as a means of making enduring reputa-
tion-was accorded to him, without a breath of
dissent. The disturbed condition of the nation
al finances seemed to have opened a way for
him to acquire exceptional distinction by the
initiation of a plan which should rehabilitate
the public credit, and re-animate the dormant
industries of the country. One would have
supposed that he would have given himself up
to the exclusive consideration of the most effec-
tual mode of meeting the responsibility which
circumstances had imposed upon him; that he
would have matured, before the December
meeting, and presented to his committee on
the first day of. the session, a comprehen-
sve bill embracing every detail of the
momentous question of the hour. Such a
scheme would have undoubtedly encountered
strenuous opposition-any healthy project
would have been sure to do so in such body
but it would have challenged scrutiny and elici-
ted debate; and if it had possessed sufficient
specific gravity to stand these ordeals it would
either have worn out the irrational hostility of
the deluded intlationists or so effectually dem
onstrated the weakness Of their theories, that
it would have served as an admirable basis, on
which to take an appeal to the people!
But Mr., Dawes, strangely enough, has ignored
financial matters entirely. Beyond few
Insignificant changes in the tariff every thing
pertaining to revenue and expenditures has
been sedulously kept out of his committee. To
be sure he made his annual speech on economy,
and the subsequent speeches of explanation,
qualification and virtual traction thereof, but
TOO frequent repetition has deprived that per-
Torrance of its interest Then he has done a
large business in the investigation line, but it is
very doubtful whether it has proved edifying to
the country or advantageous to himself. How
ever useful it might be, in a moral point of
view, it is kind of thing that ordinarily has
been reckoned as rather beneath the dignity of
the first committee of the House. When Ham
let is played it is very necessary that the chairs
1'oNAtNN
play.goer ever saw Macready orsKemble doing
that line of stage business Ii Congress had
seen fit to organize corps of detectives, to
mouse round the departments and find out
whether this or that official had paid a cab fare
for ride he might have taken in street car,
or belated senator serving ON committee,
had written home a note to his wife excusng
his absence, on stationery paid for out of the
contingent fund, and sent it by messenger,
whose compensation was derived from the
treasury, it didn't necessarily follow that it
should designate as the spies who were to per
form these somewhat humiliating functions,
the eleven gentlemen, who compose what has
hitherto been considered the chief in impor-
lance and dignity of the forty four standing
committees among whom the duties of legisla-
ton are distributed. A membership in the
Ways and Means has customarily been sought
after. To be chairman of it is the privilege ac-
corded by common consent to the foremost rival
of the Speaker. But if it is going to content
itself with employments suited to scavenger
it will soon fall into discredit. If its chairma
can find nothing better to do than to devote his
time to the gathering up of ''unconsidered tri
fes'' he will serve no higher purpose than to
verify the axiom that
"Pgmies are pigmes still though perched on Alps"
The contras between the efficiency of the
Executive and the inefficiency of the Legisla-
tive branch of the government will ten to give
a keen edge to the criticism which the latter
will be sure to encounter, when the fall cleo
tions set in. The President recognizes the par
amount Importance of the financial issue, and
has devoted the most studous attention to it
Adhering manfully to the pledges under which
he came into power, foreseeng clearly the dan
ger of any further dstention of currency al
ready redundant to such degree that it contn
ues in state of chronic depreciation, and
thouehtfully working out plan of relief which
has in it the essential elements of practicability
and permanence, he has enumerated certain
cardinal principles upon which reconstruc
ton of our monetary system should be under
taken. A bill framed in accordance with the
Executive programme-with increased taxa
ton for its foundation, and par redemption for
its superstructure-would be an excellent thing
to go to the country upon. Compared with the
very best of the numerous amorphous projects
which have fretted their hour both in and out
of Congress, it would be the very perfection of
wisdom
But while it is matter of sgret that no spe-
cifc measure embodying the Presidents sug-
gestion is to be passed upon at the polls, the
lines nevertheless are distinctly drawn, and
everybody who fayors return to specie pay
ments will support the Executive and the advo-
Gates of initiation and irredeemabity will OPP
pose him. The roads are as lineal as they are
divergent. Men who thrive by honest toll will
pursue the one, men who live by their wits will
take the other. Those who suppose that this
question can be disposed of without exhaustive
discussion have read history to little purpose
There have been defenders of Unrestricted is
sues of paper money ever since barter became a
necessity of human life. They have waxed and
waned, like the planet by which their instabli-
ty is typified. But their ultimate fate always
has been and always will be certain. Error is
ephemeral, truth eternal. If every member of
the next Congress should be elected under an
explicit pledge to sustain the EXTREMIST meas
ure of imitation which the widest disciple of
that absurd theory could invent, there would