Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-30
merit of steady and persistent efforts

ment has grown into habits OF extrav-
agance and public sentiment will In.
dorse the strenuous attempt OF the
House to re.establish simplicity and
economy. We do not believe that any
public interest will suffer BY the meas
ures of retrencht1ent which have been
carried through Congress BY the un-
yielding attitude Of the House. The
!xspuntry will easily pardon some mis-:
takes Of detail when the sincerity has
been so apparent TO reduce tho en-
penses Of the Government and allevi-
ate the burden Of the taxpayers. That
any public interest will suffer by those
strides toward economy we do not be-
lieve.
When we turn from the House to
the Senate we seek in vain for any
measure which deserves strong ap.
proval. What has the Senate done or
proposed during this long session
which reflects credit on itself or its
political party7 1t is idle to mark the
shortcomings Of ths House, whose
majority has consisted of new and in-
experienced members, when q Senate
Of trained mon has done 20 little. We
are not insensible to tho blunders Of
tho House, but whom We compare
its action with that Of tho Senate
We are unable to point to any meas
urs Of the latter which presents . fas
vorable contrast. Tho Senste has re-
sisted the attempts Of the House to
curtail the public expenditures. The
Senate acquitted Belknsp,. whom the
House impeached on conclusive evi.
dence of hts guilt. The Senate At
tempted to revive the frankipg priv.
legs, and failed BY the non-concur.
romeo of tho House. Tho Senate de.
feated the House bill for transferring
Indian affairs to the War Department
"a wise and wholesome measure
which tho enlightened public senti.
ment Of the country strOngly In
dorssd. The Senate has confirmed
Clapp IS Public Printer, in spite of
his demonstrated unftness. The SEN.
ate has passed no bill for giving effect
to tho law requiring specie payments
in 1879, although It's majority pro-
fsss to stand by that act, although
everybody acknowledges that now
legislation Is necessary for giving II
effect. Nobody can lay his finger ON
any act of the present Senate which
has any tendency to alleviate public
burdens or to Introduce 4 better sys.
tom in the administration OF the Govern
nent. It would DO q violation Of fair.
ness to judge the House by . rule
which can not be applied 10 the Sem
ate. These two branches OF Congress
arc CO. ordinate, and 1t would be absurd
to hold one to a responsibility which
does not belong to the other. Tho in.
experienced House, in spite Of Its blum.
ders and shortcomings, has done aome.
thing to put public affairs on . better
footing; tho experienced Senate has
done nothing.
We do not ignore tho mistakes Of the
House. 1t acted unwisely in furnish
ing Mr.. Blaine the opportunity which
he vas so prompt to seiEe to arraign
the Democratic party rs the champion
of Jefferson Davis. It made q signal
exhibition Of imbscility in its
attempts to deal with the currency
question. 1t has expended effort In
investigation whore tho game was
not worth tho powder. 1t made
au abortive and useless attempt
to reform tho tariff; but in spite of
these failures it is impossible to with
hold from it the credit Of persistent and
successful efforts to reduce extrava-
giant expenditures and tighten tho
burden Of Federal taxation. The Son.
ate has established no such claim to
public recognition and gratitude. We
must judge the two Houses by their
achievements, and 1t Is 100 evident
that the Senate has nothing to gain by
a comparison with the legislation Of
tho House. Had the House been as
experienced as tho Senate its record
during the session might have been
better, but It has no reason to shrink
from = comparison.
1t is easy to say that tho Democratic
majority in the House has been i'm
PEELED by mere party motives in its
successful efforts to reduce public ex-
penses; but party zeal always de-
serves applause whom it takes so wise
a direction. 1t is the proper business
OF political parties to ascertain the
public will and conform to 1t, and the
Democratic majority Of the House has
hit the true tone of public feeling in
its strenuous efforts for economy. 1t
may have erred in minor details, but
its main purpose was right, and public
sentiment will indorse 1t. A saving Of
-