, 1876-09-02
The Close nc1he session.

dEc nOl sEtClaili DIlllIdult bui 'nC cahAc SHAhe
may be said with truth OF every session Of
Congress within the last forty years which
Immediately preceded Presidential election.
1t is chronic infirmity Of Congress TO per-
vert snch sessions into a mere eleotioueeriug
canvass. II has happened IN this session that
one of the great rival parties has controlled
the Senate and the other party the House,
and justice constraius us to say the democratic
House, in spite Of It's shortcomings, has made
better record Than the republican Senate.
The democratic party has labored under q
disadvantage not shared by its opponents
in consequence OF It's long exclusion from
power. For the last sixteen years the demo-
Gratis have been deprived of opportunities TO
bring forward their budding or rising states
men and give them the training and expert
ence indispensable Cor conspicuous usefulness
in public life. The large democratic major
i'y in the House consisted, IN the main, Of
raw members, to whom Congress was a new
theatre of action. In the composition OF the
committees most of the members had to be
assigned 20 unaccustomed duties-an element
of weakness for which due allowance has not
been made. And yet. in summing up the
work of the session, this raw House of legis-
lative neophytes appears TO advantage in
comparison with the Senate, where the re-
putlicans have not only had majority, but
a majority Of trained members. The work
Of the raw and inexperienced democratic
majority in the House msy safely challenge
comparison with that of the republican ma
ioriry in the Senate, consisting Of old stageTs
who have had every opportunity 70 acquire
legislative skill and are precluded from plead
ing the baby act IN ex'euuation Of their short
comiugs. The republican majority IN the
Senate has done nothing 70 establish a claim
70 public confidence, whereas The raw and
unframed democratic majority in the House,
in spite of the bluuGers Of iuexperience, has
done much which sound public sentiment
will approve.
The House has reduced the public expan-
ses thnty millions below The expenses Of las:
year, and would have been much larger re-
ductiors if it had not been thwarted by the
Senate. Even if some Of ;he proposed eur
tailments for the relief Of the taxpayers were
crude and iucuusiderare these errors OF mex
perience do not cancel the merit Of steady
and persistent Efforts in behalf of econ
Omy. The government has grown into
habits of ,xtrayagauce, and public s.ntimtnt
will iUdorse the strenuous attempt of the
House to rec :ablish simplicity and economy.
We dc not believe that any public interest
Will sun by the measures Of retreuchmcut
which have been carried through Congress
By the unyirlding attitude of the Ilguse.
The country viii easily pardon some mis-
takes Of detail when the sincerity has been 20
apparent to reduce the expenses of the gov
ernment and alleviate the burden OF The tax
payers. That any public interest will suffer
bv these strides toward economy we do not
believe.
When we turn from the House TO the Sen
ate we seek in vain for any measure which
deserves strong approval. What has the
Senate done or proposed during this long
session which reflects credit on itself or its
political party? Il is idle to mark the short
oomings of the House, whose msjority has
consisted of new and inexperienced members,
when q Senate of trained men has done so
little. We are not insensible to the blnnders
Of the House, but when We compare It's action
with that of the Senate we are unable 10 point
to any measure Of The latter whioh presents
a favorable contrast The Senate has resisted
the attempts of the House to curtsil The pub
lie expenditures. The Senate acquitted Bel
knap, whom the House impeached on con-
elusive evidence of his guilt The Senate
attempted 10 revive the franking privilege,
and failed by the non-concurrence OF the
House. ne OcldLt ut4teleI ihC AtON'" "i''
for transferring Indian affairs to the war de-
partment-a wise and wholesome measure
which Ibe enlightened public sentiment Of
the country strongly indOrsed- The Senate
has confirmed Clspp as public printer, IN
snite of his demonstrated uDfiness. The
Senate has passed no bill for giving effect to
the law requiring specie payments IN 1879,
although ils majority profess TO stand by
that act. and although everybody scknowl-
edges that new legislation l. necessary for
giving it effect. Nobody can lay his finger
On any act of the present Senate which has
any tendency TO alleviate public burdens OF
to introduce a better system IN the admins
tration Of the goverument- 1t won!d be
violation OF fairness TO judge the House by
rule which cannot be applied to the Senate
These two branches Of Congress are co-ordi-
nate. aud i. would be absurd to hold one TO
a responsibility which does not belong to the
other. The inexperienced HCuse. il spite OF
its blunders and shortcomings, has done
something to put public affairs on better
footing; the experienced Senate has done
nothing.
We do not ignore the mistakes of the
Houss. Il acted unwisely in furnishing Ar
Blaine the opportunity which he wss 50
prompt 10 seize TO arraign the democratic
party as the champion of Jefferson Davis 1t
made signal exhibition OF imbeeili'y IL It's
attempts to deal with the Currency question
1t has expended effort in the investigations
where the game was not worth the powder
II has made an aboraiive and useless attempt
10 reform the tariff But in spite Of these
failures it Is impossible TO withhold 'Fon 'he
credit OF persistent and successful efforts 70