The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-04-20
CONGRESSIONAL InACIlOn.

aud arc still dropping Much
important legislation Was sadly needed
Vital interests were al stake aud preas'
I'd with force upon the members Trusts
ing constituencies rested securely ~
made Of action and attention
six months of the session have been
FILTERED away, and nothing substantial
10 show for II, except the silver bill, aud
many people ara coming 10 regard that
as very meagre blessing unless " IL
speedily supplemented by tho repeal OF
the resumption act, or al exlenllon OF
the time fixed for the resumption OF
specie payments, Tho members have
bean airing their oralory on all sorts OF
trivial matters. Weeks and months
even, have been wasted In trlyialllleH'
and now thero II not sufficient time 10
handle all the grave questions which
press upon congress, The appoint'
menia Of tho president, tho Paris expos
slton and other matters OF similar
trivial import have elleetually barred
those atupenduous matters OF internal
Improvement which the people had
learned 10 believe would ongrOsa the
time Of the honorable gentlemen, II Ia
too bad that such matters IN the Texas
and Pacific bill, the federal court bill,
tho leyee bill and tho currency guess
ton, have all had the silent 20 by, II
il not sufficient 10 charge that this inH
action IL due 10 the social blandials
ments of the capital, or TO the other
deeply deplorcd fact, that the demo
cratic congressional majority Ia with'
out q leader of sufficiently command
ing ability and force of character
TO organize strong working
force out Of the materials In hand,
although many slow persons' in ordi'
nary life really believe that TO that
cause Ia reforrable part Of tho ineilN
cioncy of our majority no far this sosN
sion.
No good purpose il served by keeps
ing open these great questions, but
much injury IL worked by the disapN
pointment and uncertainty growing
out Of IT, Tho people looked TO this
sesson of congress TO determine II the
country Is really bound hand and foot
to the car of the Union aud Central
Pacific roads, or if there is latent
manhood enough in all the governs
ment to enable il to legislate upon
railroad subjects without the interlcr-
ence OF this corporation, or not, Not
withstanding the company owes the
government many millions of dollars,
which it is either unable or unwilling
to pay, it atill has influence enough
through its immense lobby to drive out
of congress and defer any scheme likely
to conflict in tho least with the fearful
monopoly il has fastened upon the
country. The country has not forgotten
the Credit Mobiler combination, and it
that sort of influence is still potent in
congress, We may expect to see some
more disconsolate members smiling
pensively from the same vale of obscu>
rity which hides the light of Schuyler
Coliax's shining countenance. A short
vigorous course of action inaugurated
now and continued for couple of
months may work wonderful change
in the situation with regard TO these
important interests, as well as in the
public estimation of tho ineiliciency
and inertness of the members.
The conviction is fast forcing itself
upon the country that the representa-
tives are more interested in tho next
presidential race, as we'll as the last
than they are in the immediate duties
in hand, There is time for all things
and there will be time when the
members may engage in slate max,
ing +" with propriety, but that time is
not now. Other duties are expected of
them and unless these duties receive
some attention at once the people will
grumble, and small wonder at TINT.
Our Texan delegation is known AS one of
the few working bodies in congress, and
Culberson saw fit, short time since, to
administer singing reproof to con4
gress because they do not, or will not,
second the working instincts of himself
and colleagues. Congress is at best
costly luxury, but when it remains in
Washington for six months and really
does nothing, people are not to be
blamed if they scold little. Thirteen
years have rolled by since the war
closed, and yet the commerce of the
nation remains AS completely Frustrated
as it was when the last gun sounded on
the field of battle, and still this is not
enough to intuse activity into the men
who are charged with the duty of re,
viving it, The country is overrun by
vast armies of unemployed people, want
and wretchedness stalk abroad at noon.
day, and still congress is not inclined
to suggest even possible remedy.
How sadly are we degenerated, and how
hopelessly we founder along, when a
little active wisdom might work so vast
and beneficial change.