The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-03-09
8tgisttr.
EXIT CONGRESS.

COulubioIl, dCcOTulllR W llule nOIOTeu
custom. Perhaps no Congress since
the organization of our government has
done more, or more faithful work than
this, Yet 1t Is doubtful If any have
received such severe and not altogether
unmerited criticisms. The day has
long since uassed when official dignity
however exalted, can protect one from
censure and criticism. The universal
dissemination of educational discipline
aud culture even, has removed the
possibility of superiority In leaders, and
familiarity with official proceedings.
and an acquired habit of free criticism,
has modified, if not destroyed, the
tremendous respect formerly entertain
ed for official dignity. The annihila-
ton of distance between first and second
rate talent dignlfied by high sounding
titles and official position, and equal
ability pursuing the usual avocations of
life, Is largely due to the newspapers
Whether the change is for the better or
OF the work of the forty-third Con-
gress we can hardly form an estimate
unless we take into consideration GER
tain important facts. The unhappy
condition of certain of the Southern
states, and the sympathy with the bad
elements. among largo and influential
minority in their own body. with the
influence of prospective political
revolution at first, and after election.
the certainty of change in relative
positions between the majority and
minority had n strong tendency to
retard legislation and consume time in
useless discussion. So the hue and cry
about corruption raised by interested
parties, or political opponents, or
sensational press, has operated TO
hinder substantial progress Still,
during the session just closed, about
six thousand bills have been introduced,
and of these nearly two thousand were
finally disposed of Most of the bills
which passed and received the Presi-
dents signature, were of limited scope
and interest. But some very important
bills Of general interest were success
fully carried through and became laws.
The appropriation bills. provided for
legislative expenses, nineteen and q |
half millions for the army nearly |
twentyeight millions; navy seventeen |
millions fortifcations three fourths OF |
million diplomatic one and third |
millions; post-offlces eight and half
millions; pensions, thirty millions
rivers and harbors six and half |
millions eundry civil twenty-five and |
a half millions; deficiency two and
half millions relief bills two millions.
The finance bill providing for the
resumption OF specie payments, is not !
Of the least importance in the bills
passed. The little tariff bill the tax
and tariff bill the civil rights bill and
the bill granting the right of way
through public lands on certain con-
.iitions for all railroads that may be in
corporated under local laws of states or
territories; the admission Of Colorado
"a state with its population of about
$4,000, and its area of 10G,475 square
miles Of rocks and canons, making the
3sth state in the Union, are also
measures Of national importance, and
unquestloned beneficencc.
On the other hand our national legis-
lators ought to be praised quite as much
for the mischief they have prevented,
rs for the good acts they have passed.
Among the bills which remained on
the Senate calendar at the close of the
session, last Thursday noon were the
House general amnesty bill which
reached the Senate in December 1873
the caucus force bill which ought not
anybody and which was revolutionary
and dangerous in the extreme several
postal telegraph bills; a bill for the
payment of French spoiation claims
to protect the navigable waters of the
United States from injury and obstruc-
ton, declaring the true intent and
meaning of the Union Pacific Railroad
acts; to pay the two per cent claims of
the States of Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois to establish bureau of inter
national commerce; to make general
provisions in regard TO cable telegraphic
communications; to grant pensions for
service In the war with Mexico; to
amend the act granting pensions to the
survivors of the war of 1872 to regulate
the counting of electoral votes for Presi-
dent and Vice President; the bill of the
Joint committee appointed to frame a
better government for the District of
Columbia, and many other Senate bills
OF minor Importance, also the House
bill known as the McCrary bill. TO
regulate commerce by railroad among
the several States the House bill to
repeal the pre- emption laws and secure
homesteads to actual settlers on the
public domain, and the House Steam
boat bill.
Among other prominent failures of
the session are the bills for the equaliza-
ton of bounties, for The admission of
New Mexico, and the Texas and Pacific
and Northern Pacific Railroad bill.
and all other land grants or subsidy
bills, except very few which proposed
grants merely of the right of way.
Several private bills which had
passed both houses failed to become
laws for want of the Presidents sigma
ture. He had not time to examine
them.
The bill to equalize the bountles Of
soldiers who served in the late war
failed to become law. the President