New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-09
c0NGRESS ~ RrNLNESN.

Congress does not deliberately intend TO
destroy business in this country, it must be
presumed. Members who are hungry for re-
election this Fall do not really mean to crush
industry, and turn thousands of voters ont of
employment in their districts. Yet they are
doing that very thing. Thousands of firms
some employing few, and some many work
men, clerks and operatives, have gone into
bankruptcy within a few weeks. Whyf Be
cause Congress has all this time been talking
about repeal of the bankruptcy net, but has
not yet repealed it. The repeal would have
caused some trouble; the act itself causes
some; but the prolonged prospect of repeal is
curse to the country. Many merchants en-
gagged in importing, and establishments en-
gagged in manufacturing, have failed, throwing
ont of employment a great number of opera
tives miners, clerks, porters and other laborcrs
Why? Because Congress has for months
been talking about sweeping change of tariff
and yet has done nothing. Mr.. Woods bill,
bad as it is, would have caused less harm to
date had it been law since January j, than 1t
has caused hanging as a threat over all trade
and industry. Importers lose trade because
they dare not buy or they import goods and
then fail, because merchants are led to hope
that they soon may get the same goods at
lower cost, and so defer purchases. Consumers
all over the country are led to believe that
prices of wOOlens, cOttOns, irons, shoes, silks,
and all sorts of goods, are soon to be reduced
by taking off duties, and they, too, put off pur-
chases to the last moment. SO manufacturers
and merchants are forced to heavy loss or ruin
These are not, by any means, the only meas
ures which Congress has kept pending for
months, with fatal results to trade and indus
try.
At this time we do not discuss the merits
of either of these measures. Let it be granted
for the moment, that either ought to pass, or
to fail, the one thing certain is that delay is
making Congress the great national nuisance.
1t ought to act one way or the other. Doubt
is worse than any action, when a pending
measure paralyzes great interests. 1t will be
said, of course, that the rules of Congress
prevent prompt action. Then the first duty
of Congress is to change its rules. Ii is sand,
too, that the growing multiplicity of business
prevents prompt consideration of the really
important measures. If so, Congress ought to
thrust into the waste-basket all bills that are
not important. The real difficulty is that
members insist on making set speeches to
their constituents, instead of celebrating,
talking only when votes Oh the floor can be
changed, and reaching an early decision.
Members differ widely in opinion, IT is said,
and their tenacity OH each side causes delay.
Undoubtedly; but is there a sensible member
who will pay 500 for II 50 hat? If the thing
costs more than il is worth, why insist upon
getting it 7 1t Is 50 in legislation. member
believes that the country needs a bankrupt
act. Very good but Congress is plainly of
the opposite opinion. The member cannot
get the act continued if he tries. But he can
and does delay and struggle, and thus costs
the country a great deal more than the loss
of the bankrupt act could cost. 1t is not good
sense to pay too dear for the whistle.
Every speech and motion designed merely to
delay action, and keep the business of
the country on the rack without hope of final
accomplishment of any good end, is poor
work for a legislator. Mr.. Wood is much inn
pressed with the idea that his bill would ben
eft the country, to the amount Of millions.
Suppose it would is it sensible to strange
business for months, in order to reach a bare
chance of success at lastf This bill has cost
the country millions already; continuance of
the present tariff for another year, until public
opinion had been more fully formed on that
subject, could not have cost as much, even in
the opinion of extreme ee-traders.
The pith of the business is that we have no
Congress celebrating for the general welfare.