The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-07-28
What Has the House Done +?

This is fair question and deserves fair
answer. "Nothing," is the answer if Won
read the Republican papers. Worse than
nothing, If you read some of the so-caled
independent journals, but the facts are the
action Of the House, while it has exposed
unexpected and hitherto unheard- of
amount of corruption, has also laid the foun-
datlons for an immense saving in taxes.
While the revenue has fallen off 81 | ,OOO, 900
IN the estimates of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, the fact that there was Il Democratic
House, and the persistent efforts of this ma
Jority in the House to save money and taxes
have resulted in making the income of the
Government equal to its expenses, ,and paved
the way for Il far better result the coming
fiscal year than the past. But we are asked
to make specifications as to the retrenchment
and reform policy, and conduct of the House
and we give them with pleasures
The present House of Representatives has
done more real reform work during the past
six months than all the Congresses for the
past twenty years, and if it could have the
support of the Senate it would make the
present congress an immense blessing to the
people. just here now are some of the re-
suits of this good work in detail, which we
condense from the Baltimore Gazette:
First, 1t has not elected Speaker like
Schuyler Coliax, who used his high office to
enrich himself. 1t has not elected Speak
er like James G., Blaine, who used his posi-
ton to influence legislation in favor of rail
road subsidies; who acted as the agent of a
firearms company who sold rulings and
legislation for so much cash down in the
shape Of railroad bonds.
Second, Since it met last December it ha.
not been devising ways and means, day after
day, to get money out of the Treasury. On
the contrary, it has cut down the extrava.
giant estimates of the departments, and if the
Senate will pass its bills, has reduced the
expenses Of the Government nearly $40 ,000,
600 per annum, Instead OF making places lol
the creatures of the administration, it has
abolished every Office that was not absolute
ly necessary.
Third, 1t has not legislated freedman,
bank into existence and placed in the power
of lot of men to steal the savings Of the
poor colored men of the South, amounting
to millions Of dollars. On the contrary, it
has taken the robbers and swndlers who did
that infamous work by the throat, exposed
their rascality and directed the officers of the
Government to send their names before the
grand juries
F6urth, 1t has gone into Pr, sident Grants
cabinet and dragged out of it one of hi.
trusted advisers, who abused his high place,
who robbed the dead veterans of the war,
who aided in cheating the living soldiers ON
the plains, who demanded money for every
appointment he made, and brought him to
trial for his many crimes
IWh, 1t has shown how the funds of the
so-caled departments of justice have beer
used for the purpose of controlling elections
in the South and in the North how the
President put his hand in the public Treas
ury and took out money to aid in his own
reelection, 1t has exposed the vilIainy OF
Williams, the rascality Of Davenport, and
the general corruption Of that entire branch
of the public service.
Sixth, 1t has stretched its hand across the
water to London and saved the honor of the
country by collaring the minister and en-
bassador extraordinary, who was using his
influence as our representative to 'bull" a
worthless mining stock and rob the English
people,
,Seremh, 1t has shattered the District OF
Columbia Ring into thousand atoms in
dcted Bahcock for completely with safe bur
glars made Harrington fugitive from JUS
tice, and exposed the rottenness and cOrrup-
tion of the present Commissioners.
Eighth, 1t has instituted rigid scrutiny
into the management of the Navy Depart
ment, exposed the corrupt operations of the
Cat,els and other plunderers.
Niath, 1t has laid bare the straw.bid sys-
TEN in the Post Office Department, and
proved that the country has been annually
robbed of hundreds of thousands of dollars
for carrying letters which were never written
over routes that never had an existence.
Tenth, 1t has exposed the infamies OF
the Indian Ring, shown how the Indians are
driven on the war path that army contract
ors may be enriched and the Treasury bled.
Eleventh, 1t has substituted silver for the
wretched fractional currency as step toward
specie payments matured a tariff bill which,
If the Senate would agree to it, would do
more to start 9pr idle mills and furnaces and
factories, and restore prosperity TO all classes