The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-11-23
WaahfnEaon Newa

WAsHINGTON, Nov. 10, 1877.
The Senate has passed both the
army and navy appropriation billie,
the latter without amendments. AS
the amendments to the army bill
do not radically change it, we ex-
pect the House to concur directly or
through q conference committee in |
q few days. There is great need of
improvement in cur mode of enact
ing laws. We should not only have
q vote of "ayes" and 'nays" upon
every measure which involves ap-
preparation of money, but should
confue appropriation acts excIu-
siVely to that purpose. In this
array bill Senator Thurman very
properly condemned the addition
thereto, by amendment, of matters
purely legislative and which should
be first matured in the committee
to which snch IN alters belong. For
instance, the bill makes appropIIA-
ton for support OF certain reg
'uents of cavalry, aud then directs
the disposal OF the troops in man
Der, which, Mr.. Thurman claimed,
wac in gross usurpstion Of the
rights of the military committee
whose duty was to mature and re-
port all such measures.
The demonetixstion of silver was
6rst rendered possible by this load
ing an appropriation bill with leg
islative burden belong alone to the
committee on finance to determine,
and the sooner we abandon this
1must perDicious practice, the better
for the interests of the country.
| Appropriation bills are discussed
and amended often when not nearly
q quorum of members is present.
No one is interested enough to de-
msnd q call of the House by which
the lack CT q quorum would be
ishoWn, hence the facility with which
dangerous provisions creep into our
laws may be appreciated, when the
people reflect that q bakers dozen
of men can determine, and often do,
the nature of these laws. But were
appropriation bills restricted closely
to providing means for the Execu-
tiee officers to disbqrse and the di-
rector needs thereof left to the prop
er committees and were the "ayes''
and "nays" compulsory requisite to
passage Of the bill, we fear the trade
of public filchers by means of VIC
ious laws would be narrowed down
to 9 small point; so small that the
lobby would nearly lose its power
|, for ill.
Whether Congress will adjourn
ss soon &C the army and navy sp'
J preparation bills are finally disposed
of is still undetermined. The pres
d sure for immediate adjournment
: comes mostly from those whose
homes are within . days ride of thu
Capitol, while those more removed
D who would have little time to spend
at home prior to December 8, TIT
3 beginning of the regular session
Q are more inclined to work than t.
. remain here doing nothing. henc'
: We look for recess of few day
!. only.
{ Mr.. BANDS silver bill will b.
badly punished in the Senate, fol
: there is streng feeling among
D many of the Senators to give it I
black-eye. New York and Phila
. delphia sent large delegations o
r bankers and capitalists to protes
: against its passage and it seems set
D tied that q material modification
will be secured. It's free coinagI
clause is doomed as the Senate viii
= not rescind the the Finance commit
= tees action which struck it out ant
It is very probible that the full re
moneti2ation feature will be essen
!, TALLY changed, hence we opine tina
Mr.. Bland will hardly recognize hi
measure when it is returned him b,
the Senate, as that body seems dis
posed to limit silver as legal ten
der as well as to bar free coinage
The fate of the anti-resumptIon bill
will be similar to that of Mr.. Rland'l
for there ls not the same desire il
the senate to change the policy O
the Government in regard to finan
ces that the House has evinced re
y GENTLY. Amendments will be made
I and of such nature as to most ma
q terially alter the present intent o
the act. Hence we cannot now in
= dictate for your readers that Con
70 gress has succeeded in fixing upo
10 some definite financial policy. Blu
If the chances are that by the next lei
ter we can see precisely how great
& the divergence of views hetwee
IL the two Houses. There is undoubt
r eddy q radical difference at preser
?. and we do not preceive how it ca
be rec0nciled unless the House {
Representatives recedes MATERIAL
9 from 1ta UOsitiOn EEI1x