The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-02-10

self-pOSSesScu. aEu TO not ilitcnd that the Dlus
ter of their opponents shall throw them off their
guard. The administration courts inyestiga-
ton. Its friends will join earnestly i'll the re-
form Of any abuses, but will not allow parcel
OF blatant demagogucs 10 cripple and impair
Che public service, for party effect. Indeed,
the dominant party in Congress III sapprehend
the sentiment of the peopie-inisiudge the
popular nerve. They will find that the people
cannot be gulled by such clap-trap, and that
their false prctenses will be indignantly re-
bukeG and condemned. 1t would indeed be a
calamitous condition of public affairs, if their
reformation had to come from the party that
has ruled and robbed New York City, Balti-
the State Of Virginia. The idea that such
party could reform anything, is burlesque
upon legislation and government.
/ From the wholesale manner in which the
House has gone irto the investigation business,
it is barely possible that the Centennial year
will carry with it very long session of Con-
gress. As an Illustration the Treasury De.
partulent can be cited: One inquiry made i'll
a few words by resolution about national
banks will cost $5G.0e0 to answer large
number of the employees Of the Treasury are
taken FROM regular duties at this time in
the handling of SO maay, millions of called six
per cent. bonds. The clerks work at night to
reply to one inquiry, and then go through the
same work to answer another 1t will take
two years with the present force to reply to
the inquiries made of the Secretary of the
Treasury by Congress and its committees, and
yet it is proposed to cut down the force. Ii
this is done the House committees will get
their information in time probably for the For
ty-ifth Congress. So in degree with the
Navy, War, State Interior, Postofficc and At
torney Generals Departments. The informa-
tion already called Cor will lumber the commit
tee rooms OF the House. Mr.. Springer, a DEM
ocratie member, is Of the opinion that Con-
gress instead Of reducing the clerical force,
ought to grant temporary increase, that be-
ing the only way he sees of getting the desired
information in time, unless the books of the
Departments are handed over to investigating
comnaittees.
The question of constitutional limitation to
the term of office of President of the United
States was discussed in Congress on Tuesday
| the list. Three joint resolutions had been intro
| duccd. The first, offered by Mr.. Randall, pro-
posing that on and alter the next election the
President sllallhold his office during the term
of six years, and shall not thereafter be eli
4 gible for reelection. Another, proposed by
] Mr.. New, was that the length of the term shall
remain as at present, but that no President
shall be eligible for election a third time. The
report of tie Judiciary Committee, of which
Proctor Knott is chairman, provides ''that no
person who has held or may hereafter hold the
Office of President shall ever again be eligible
to said Office The minority report Of the
Committee, presented by Mr.. Frye, provides
that on and after March 4, 1885, the plesden-
tiai term shall be six years, and makes any one
who has held the office for the full term, Oh for
a part OF a term of the length Of two years, in
| eligible for reelection. An effort was made
| to recommitthe subject to the committee, which
failed. The amendment making the term six
years. beginning with 1881, was voted down.
Mr.. Frye>s amendment was also rejected. The
| IcpOIL VI lHC COiil!IllGtcc Wis tHCu ItJtCtGu US
a vote OF l49 ayes to l06 nays, wanting 46 Of y
two-thrds vote.
| Mr., Frye, who is comparatively Il young
man, q very clear thinker, and folceful
speaker, argued against the whole policy OF
| limitation, but supported his own proposition
as preferable to the others. He claimed that all
| the clamor about the overshadowing power of
| T. ooft 1,o d., 70,
| nothing. Congressmcn themselves distributed
the patronage, they made the appointments to
Office, substantially, for the President commits
stoned upon their recommendation, and, to be
consistent wish the ayowed object of limitation,
! congressman should be shorn of their power
to dispense patronage. He contended that
service in public trust was essential to eIlicien-
| the great influence exerted by members over
| legislation, not so much by their ability and
learning, as their familiarity with the rules and
methods of legislative business.
It is not probable that anything will be done
to change the constitution i'll this respect, and
the American people, will a little while longer,
be entrusted with the t.nty of preserving their
OWL lIlslituCIOIlS al&u lUIlll VI AAh'~Hes
As leader, Mr.. Morrison, chairman ct thu
committee on Ways and Means, is already con-
siderded a failure. The tariff bill submitted
by him, proposing wholesale revision of the
tariff, at this time, is regarded with but little
or no favor by either party. 1t is looked upon
as job gotten up by professional lobbyists,
and if adopted, would prove disastrous to the
business OF the country.
Washington is the political centre OF the
country. From it Issue the influences that
fashion and direct popular sentiment in great
degree. Indeed, the movements OH the politi-
cal chessboard are regulated at the Natiofas
Capital, and to get an intelligent idea of the
purposes and prospects of parties,i is necessary
to study the characters which are brought to
hn foraproIn1 and tI,a intaractc with ,vl,;oj,