The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-17
Review Of a Remarkable SeS-
sion Of Congress.
WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
Absence of Executive Influence on
Legislation.
THE ISSUES OF THE NEAR FUTURE
Progress Of Investigation by the Potter
Committee.

Committee.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORE sPoNDENT.
WASHINGTON, juno 10. 1878
TEE LONG SESSION OF coNGRrss AND WHAT
IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
This Congress- which has boon in almost constant
session since tho 18th OF October (eght months
mas according he saying Of Senator Bsyard, doue
less good and less harm than many expected
In fact OF its chief merits Il that IL has dono
very little; It's sins are mostly sins Of oms-
sion. ASIDE from tho River and Harbor bill.
is guilty OF not single job and tho lobby has done
no business at all ~ this long session, for tho River
and Harbor bill IL job which needs no lobby. Il
prepared in the committees OF the two houses
10 force two-thirds vote by giving q slice
d public plumber to more than two-thirds
pf the districts States. This general 'dvide, Is
larger IN amount. this year than many years be-
lorA The House Gxod It at $1,000 oo0 The Senate in
creased u moro than 81 0Oo0 600, and in spite Of the
opposition OF the Speaker and several members
Nessrs. Cox, New York, and Eden, Of Illinois, and
oihers-it was adopted.
WHAT HAS BExx DONE.
The only important legislation has been that on
the currency. The remonetzation OF silvor ana the
prohibition to decrease tho greenback circulation,
with minor measures OF loss consequences, mako as
paper money nation with our paper based on silver OF
less value. which nobody wants. Tho House has to
prepare lis business about forty committees and the
best way 10 show what IL has and mot done 10 to
run over The list OF theso
Tho Committee on Elections has left four or 6ve
contested casss over tho next session. which Ike
deciding that man 10 guilty after he has served
his term out 1t Sing sing.
The ways aud Means has accomplished nothing, she
Tarin bill having failed slx4si ess
The Banking aud Currency has rsmonstizsd silver,
bpt has fortunately failed 10 carry any othor Of
~ numerous propositions. each moro ab-
sufd and ignorant than it, preoscsssos.
In forming this committee The Speaker
certainly observed the rule that committee ought to
represent The prevailing sentiment Of the House,
the combined ignorance and dsmagogusry Of the COM
nittss, with Mr. Ewing - the tail who wsggsd IL,
VAS In the end too much even for the House ITSELF
Tho judiciary COMMITTEES reported . sound bin on
No distribution OF the Geneva award, but late In
Tho session that was put over 10 next December BY
general consent. & fetf1sA ~
The repeal Of the Bankrupt Law was accomplished.
rhe Committee on Military Afnrs brought In
bi 70 reosganizs the army founded tho theory OF
surne mad dog-to cut on his tail close mp behind
Ais ssss; but this b being reported heard
y
for the sss end shared the fate Of tho Banuing bi
and the army 10 len commission report TO the
nsxt ssssion--she wisest 6ourso.
{, The Committee Patents considered some impor-
tans and needed reforms IN tho patent laws pro-
duced nothing.
The numerous investigating committees made very
few and unimporsant dlseoveriss, and that 10 all.
Whom the failure Of important measures Is cousid-
cred We md that tho Tariff bill Is dead tho transfer
Of The Indians 70 the War Department failed partly
becauss tho measure, IL came from the House. was
% crude 10 DO impracsicabis, ana partly because
Senators, though they may hate Secretary SEIZURE
love patronage, and were reluctant to give
up the power TO connrm ana to influence
the nomination Of Indian agents. Various jobs ana
subsidies failed. and u must DO SAID for tho House
that, like its SPEAKER, In the main honest and
hssed Jobs.
The commission to improve the Mississippi River
failed. and no measures looking TO . permanent re-
form OF the civil SERVICE TO extending the Pres
idential term and making him ineligible to rc-eiec-
sion for reforming the method Of eIsctIng Pres
idens or counting tho vote, wore considered.
People who imagine that the business OF a leesra.
tive body 10 to pass as many laws possible viii DO
dIsgustsd with beggary OF the acts OF tho
Forty -1nh Congrsss But tho moro sensible people,
Who remember that Congress 10 never near to q
blupdsr when IL votes. ana that debate is It's real
business, Will be thankful to have got on so woII
Tho present Congress has done but lito HARM n II
has done absolutely M good. Considering that over
four thousand bills were offered In the House alone
surius tho eight months ana that numerous Jobs
pressed for recognition tho country has reason to DO
thankful that 50 little was done.
Tho condition Of the country, with an uncommon
number OF wild ana Communisic ideas snont among
The people made itself fst only In tho House, but
In the senate also. sun, tho evenly balanced condi
lion Of parties IN both nouscs-wth democratic ma
Iorisy Of only twelve 10 tho House and republican
majority OF two three In the ssnatcought TO have
produced better resuita tg,
,st. counsK or rnE PREslpRxr.
In such state ofpsrties In Congress, II tho Prcs
cent Is . man who knows his own mind and has a
positive policy, he oan Impress u upon the couotry
Il Is very certain that II Mr.. Bsyard, or some man
IKE him. had bcen President tho present session
could easily have been turned to great and positive
ESQ to the country An administration
With . policy could hsvo carried every
point Of that policy with pase Tho majority
or members In both houses were sincerely DESTROYS
10 help and benefit the country and wcrc ready tocr
suiy regardless Of party iiDes, TO support definite
policy, and only needed leader and the two houses
being Of opposing politics, no one could impress him
sell both except the President Unfortunately for
Che country, Mr. Hayes has no views He 10 honest
aud In favor OF economy. but ne has policy, and
declared frankly al tho outset that no meant have
Hts notion 10 that tho Executive Ia to execute
the laws that tho Congress 10 to adopt them without
influence from him, and he has pcrsistently adhered
10 this theory He vetoed tho sivor bill because 1t
attacked the national credit, but any OF his prcdo
eessors would easily have prevented It's passage He
may veto tho River and Harbor bill, because no IL
opposed 20 indiscrininate and wnstcfui appropria-
tions, but u viii DO passed his veto Probably
no President exercised 80 little influence upon
legislation and probably President had so great
opportunities Of influencing Congress for tho good
OF the country " ne had chosen 10. A considerable
part Of the no spent private war with tho
Senate over the appointments, W which nc last
tho senate brought MIN 10 submission; and tho