The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-08
THE Grant MEN LAUGHIy0.
The Democrats In the House OF Representa-
tivcs MismanaGing Things.

WASHINGTON, Feb Tho manner in
which the Democratic majority In the House Of
Representatives has gone about the most i'm
portant Of all their dities-.he thorough inves-
teation ofevery department Of the Governm ent
-excites the contemptuous ridicule oftheir op-
ponents. In the 1rst place, the speaker, In order
TO compel, or rather to manipulate vote OF
confidence In his committees, caused Mr.. Morri-
son OF Illinois to ofer his resolution directing
all the regular committees to make Inquiries In
their respective fields. OF course. tho ostensi-
BILE reason for this movement was economy, but
the real purpose was to cause the House to en-
dorse Mr.. Keu's committees. That IL Is
not In the interest OF economy, any we'll
Informed man will unhesitatngly admit,
because the important committees, like
those on Ways and Means, Appropriations,
Military and Naval Affairs, Post ONCE and Post
Roads, Judiciary. Public Lands, War Claims,
Patents. aud the like, have just as much rs they
can do TO dispose of the work regularly referred
to them by the House. II these committees are
diverted from their legitimate business 10 make
investigations. the business OF the House will be
delayed, and the inevitable res ult will be that
the session will be lenPthened out. and no sue
cessful work accomplished in the way OF UNI
earthine the frauds and rascalities OF the party
In power.
II is a fact attested by the history OF the
House that ell successful inquiries MS to abuses
have been conducted by committees specially
created for the purpose. No man can point tu
a single case where the regular committees Of
the House have done this sort of work
thoroughly aud satisfactorily. There are
plenty OF men In the House peculiarly
adapted 10 the work required, who
are on unimportant committees, aud have
plenty OF time at their disposal. The men who
stand In the wav Of special committees are
therefore, aiding and abettinR the Admin. ira
ton party to escape the merited obIoquy which
must come upon If its conduct Of public affairs
during the past seven years is vigorously over
hauled.
Again, as rule, II is a mistake TO conduct in =
yestigations with closed doors. There may he
times In the course of an inquiry, AS there WAS
during the investigation OF the District Ring
two years ago, with tho safe burglary engrOss-
Ing the attention Of the committee when closed
doors are absolutely necessary to enable COM
mittee to get at the truth, but In ninetv-nine
cases out of every hundred publicity is abs llutel,
essential to a successful inquiry. IL may he that
the persons charged with the investigation are
incompetent, and then It is In tue interest OF
pubic justice that their inCompctency should
be exnosed and better men employed 10 do the
work.
There Is evidently lack Of energy and system
about the investigations which the House has
ordered and the presence Of the re pres EN- tatve.
Of the press are needed to bring order out of
chaos, and give vg0r to the work. Two ears
ago the press compelled a RepuD lican House tc
oren the doors, ana from that time no secret
star chamber inquiries have been tolerated. Ev
cry reason that was urged then la favor Of pub.
llciyis pertinent now. Let the doors be opened