The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-17
What Congress Has Done.

The first regular session OF the Forty-niti
Congress began fortnight ago to-day. On
Saturday the two Houses adjourned for
vacation Of between three or four weeks.
What has been accomplished
In the way Of public legislation very little.
and that little too much for the credit Of
tho Congress OF the good OF the country.
Deficiency bill has been passed by dint OF
vigorous log-rOlling which squandors be-
tween q million and million and
half OF the peoples money. One half
million tom in this bill was ~
monstrous that high official OF the de-
partment 10 which it was to Do voted said
in 10 many words that the money was not
needed, and that the department couldn't
possibly spend more than half Of IL. But
IL was voted all the same. With like dis
regard OF the demands Of the times and Of
The people, Congress has voted $l5O,Oo0 to
dcfray the expenses of a Misrepresentation
Worlds Fair in Paris money worse than
wasted OF the other bills passed the only
ones Of any public interest which We now
recall are those for the burial Of the Huron's
dead at the Governments expense and for
the relief of the sufferers by that douDly
cruel because needless, disaster.
In the way OF preparation for future lcgs-
hilton, more has been done and attempted,
A great number Of bills have been intro
dueed and referred, dealing with wide
range Of intcrosts-public, corporate, and
individual We may note among them sew
eral new ones relating to the Texas Pacific
enterprise; one or two relating to the North
ern Pacific; a bill for the creation OF a postal
savings bank system; and another for the
issue of small Government bonds for popu-
lar investment. Several Senator's have
evinccd n purpose to find out whether the
Union Pacific Railroad Company cannot be
made 10 obey the laws and live up to its
agreements. The Silver RECOMMENDATION bill
Ia before the Senate and will come up again
after the recess; possibly it might have
been forced to a vote last week il it had not
been crowded aside by Mr.. STANLEY NAT
THKwSs resolution asserting the legal and
moral right Of the Government to pay its
debts in silver. This also goes over, and
will be the unfinished business when Con-
gress reassembles. 1t Is probable that the
senate will postpone action on the bill for
the repeal Of the Resumption act until the
silver question Is disposed of. The indica-
tions Of the discussion and preliminary votes
are that a majority Of the Senators will vote
Tor reconciliation, and this majority may
reach the two-thirds required TO pass the
bill over veto.
Thanks to Mr.. CoNKLING and Mr. HEWITT
the Legislative branch Of the Government
has at last intervened TO save the country
from the consequences of Executive blum
dering--or worse-in the Rio Grande busl'
ness. The Foreign Affairs Committee Of TIA,
House and special committee Of the Sen
ate, headed by Mr.. CoNKLING, have been in
structed to make thorough investigation
and empowered to sit during the recess 4
they have that sense Of the immncnce q
the danger and the consequent urgency O
their duty which we are fain TO credit then
with, they will be heard from and heart
from ~ purpose, when Congress rclssembes
Democratic dilatoriness, lukewarmness, OF
cowardice in the first place, and Republican
filibustering in the second, are responsible
Tor the fact that the GLOVER resolution
Rrming the House committees with ful
powers 10 investigate whatever may seen
to them to call for investigation in the eX
ecutive departmcnts-is still to be passed
Nearly month has thus been wasted-in
case, too, where time is, literally money.
Select committees Of both branches hav
been charged with the duty Of lnquirin.
whether any Improvement can be made OF
Dur presenter rather our late-method O
eecting and installing Presidents, aud ais
whether any change should be made in Tn
duration of the Presidential term. Thes
reports will be awaited with more curiosit
han hopefulness.
Mr.. KELLOGG Of Louisiana having bee
seated by a party vote the House follOwe
suit by seating Mr.. PATTERSON OF Colorad
"A ROLAND for the Senate's OLIVER. Blu
his is almost the only instance in which tn
Democrats in the present Congress hay
acted effectively together
Indeed, the session will be memorable 70
The revival Of party devotion and dsciplin
on the Republican side Of the chambers an
for the simultaneous decentralization an
treachcry ON the other side, While demo
cratic Senators and Congress mcn have bee
playing the lackcy at the White House an
an the Capitol, the Republicans in Congress
under the magnetic leadership of Rosco
iONkLlNi nave N''l iHl All'll lhllh7f Nv
are now in better lighting trim than al al
time since 1872.
The quality Of their discipline was show
IN the matter Of the New York Custo
House nominations. If Republican Sen
tors have connivcd at such scandalol
appointments as that Of the seli-seckI
HARLAN TO the Supreme Court and that
The bIibe-takng BANCROFT DAVIS TO Il
Court Of Claims, let it be remembered
Their credit that IN the Custom House alta
they tore the mask of reform from the IA
of personal government, and warned Il
Fraudulent President, Fraudulent Repu
lican, and Fraudulent Rcformer at q
White House that he had reached the end
his rope. The significance Of this rev,
against HAYES and Hayessm has be
quickly perceived 10y Republicans throug
out tie country; and as gladly welcome
The first fortnight Of the session will al
be memorable for its personal inciden
FROM some cause our law makers have be
unusually irritable and irritating. We IA,
not stop to speak Of such minor and ms
nliicant squabbks ne that between lit
EvoEkE HALE and Colorado PATTERs
bat the CoNXLISG-QoRDoN episode '