Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-08-23
TIE CLOSE OF TIE SESSION.

THE CLOSE or THE SESSION.
Such is the caption oi mn article we
find IN the New York Hcraid, the lead
ing and most popular independent
journal in this country. The editor
heretofore, seldom gave the Democrats
credit for doing anything good but
In his ISSUE Of tho 10th, in reviewing
tho proceedings Of Congresshc partly
atoncs for the repeated assaults hc has
made on onr party friends in the fol
lowing editorial OF that date. Tho
italics urc oars Of course.
"Congrcss adjourned yesterday after
one Of the longest sessions in the his
tory OF the government.
"Thc legislative results of this long
session are not specially brilliant; but
the same thing may be said with truth
Of every session of Congress within the
last forty years which Immediately
preceded Presidential election. 1t
Is chronic infrmity Of Congress to
pervcrt such session into q mere elec.
tioneering canvass 1t has happened
In this session that one Of the great
rival parties has controlled the Senate
and the other party the House, and
just constrains us to say that the Dem
ocratic House, in spite Of its shortcom.
ings, has made better record than
the Republican Senate.
"rhe Democratic party has laborcd
under a disadvantage not shared by its
opponents, in consequence of its long
exclusion from power. For the last
sixteen years the Democrats have been
deprived OF opportunities to bring for
ward their budding or rising states
men and give them the training and
experience indispensable for conspicu-
Gus usefulness in public lie. Tho large
Democratic majority in the present
Honsc consisted, in the main, OF raw
members, TO whom Congress was n
new theatre Of action In the compo.
sition OF the committees most Of the
members had TO be assigned TO unac-
customed duties---an element Of weak
ness for which due allowance has not
been made. And yet, in summing up
the work of the session, this raw House
Of legislative neophytes appears to ad-
vantage in comparison with the Senate,
where the Republicans have not only
had majority, but majority of
trained members. Tho work OF the
raw and inexperienced Democratic ma
jority in the House may safely chal-
lcnge comparison with that Of the Re.
publican majority in the Senate, con
sisting of old stagcrs who have had
every opportunity to acquire legisla-
tive skill aud are precluded from plead
ing the baby act in cxtenuation OF their
shortcomings. The Republican ma.
jority in the Senate has done nothing to
establish claim TO public confidence,
whereas the raw and unframed Demo.
cratic majority of the House, in spite
of the blunders Of inexpcriancc, has
done much which sound public senti-
ment will approve.
"The House has reduced the public
expenses thirty millions below the ex-
penses of last year, and would have
made much larger reductions il it had
not been thwarted by the Sendts.--
Even if some of the proposed curtail-
ments for the relief Of the taxpayers
were crude and inconsidcrate these
errors of inexperience do not cancel
the merit OF steady and persistent
efforts in behalf of economy. The
Government has grown into habits Of
extravagancc, and public sentiment
will indorse the strenuous attempt Of
the House to rc-establish simplicity
and economy. We do not believe that
any public interest will suffer by the
measures of retrenchmcnt which have
been carried through Congress by the
unyiclding attitude of the House. The
country ,riH easily pardon some mistakes
Of detail ,chen the sincerity has been so
apparent 10 reduce the expenses Of the
Government and alleviate the burden
Of the taxpayers. That any public in
terest will suffer by these strides toward
economy VIC do not believe.
"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
party? 1t is idle to mark the short
comings Of the House, whose majority
has consisted of new and inexperienced
when a Senate Of trained
men has done so little. We are not in
sensible TO the blunders of the House,
but when We compare its action with
that Of the Senate we are unable TO
point to any measure OF the latter
which presents favorable contrast.
The Senate has resisted the attempts Of |
the House TO curtail the public expen.
ditures. The Senate acquitted Belinap,
whom the House impeached on con !
elusive evidence OF his guilt. The Sen
ate attempted 10 repiue tie tranking pripi-
'ege, and failed by the non-concurrcnce
Of the House. The Senate defeated the !
House bill for transferring Indian affairs
10 the War Departmental wise and
measure which the enlight-
cned public sentiment OF the country
strongly indorsed. The Senate has con-
dmed CIapp as public printer, in spite of