The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-05
the toRrr-r1rrH CONGRESS.
A Review OF the Session Just Ended-Whnt
Has Been Done and Left Undone.

Has Bsen Done and Left Undone.
WARRINGTON, March 4.-There ls little In
the history Of the Congress. which has just
closed its career. that commends it to favorable
Judgment The financial question engr05scd
most attention during the first session. b. tho
exclusion Of all practical legislation The dem
agogues on both sides in tho West sought to
make political capital by outbidding each other
for cheap money-that is to say. for issues Of
paper without limit and without any substantial
basis. Mr.. Thurman became conspicuous by
cutting loose from his old mooriag and adopt
ing the Ohio idea" rs n means OF propitiating
support to his Presidential ambition inside the
Democratic ranks.
At the end Of long and angry controversy
silver was remonetized. grecnbacks were lifted
up to equality. and truce was declared. After
passing through this experience II may well be
doubted IL the resumption act has served Il
good purpose. The existing so-cacd resump-
ton would have come without legislation, and
probably in far better form, because the fact
that an arbitrary day was fixed to resume. to
which everything must bend, excited hostility,
and may be said to have created the Greonback
organization. Natural causcs alone can mako
resumption perfect success. and thousand
laws would not hasten it to security. without
being sustained by the condition aud business
OF the country.
Mr.. Wood rs Chairman OF the Ways and
Means. started out with large project &C. re-
wise the Tariff which hal many good things to
recommend it, and suillciency Of bad to dis
tract his own party and to send his scheme TO
resting place. from which there has been no
sign OF resurrection. A variety Of interests
having no relation to each other. except tho
common one Of slaughtcring any bill that de-
stroycd their protection and monopoles. COM
bncd together. and left the leader Of the House
TO enjoy his title without the abilityto command
the nee, ssary vote OF his political friends
The Republicans and Democrats in n sharp
race To- capture California next fall. shameiully
conspircd to violate the national faith pledged
voluntarily in the Buringanc and other trca-
ties with China. Practically considered. the ef-
feet Of this scheme. II carried to its logical
clusion. would be TO enhance the value Of Chi
nese labor ON the Pacific coast fully one-fourth.
and perhaps more. at Il single bound. and TO de-
stroy the resource upon which agriculture now
exclusively relies for gathering and housing
variety Of crops. The veto is blow to both sides
and for the time being will strengthen tho
hands Of Kearney and his followers.
Congress was obliged to swallow the bitter pill
OF paying five and half millions 10 John Bull
for fisheries which. according TO the most lib
eral scale OF reckoning. could not be forced
above onc-fourth of tlat sum For this snap
judgment. the country is indebted 10 Don Ham
iton Fish. who laid the foundation Of 1t. in
what is called the treaty Of Washington. and
subsequently consummaied the work by virtu-
ally allowing England TO be represented by two
Commissioners. against one on our side. After
first bitterly opposing the appointment Of VI.
Delfossc. the Belgian Minister. as an arbitra-
tor. he finally invited him to accept the place.
and thus surrendered the American case before
1t came 10 trial
To Mr.. Thurman is due the credit. though he
was ably supported by Mr.. l. lmunds. Of bring
Ing the Pacific railroads 10 account compelling
the creation OF sinking fund. by which tho
rights Of the Government will be at least par
TALLY protected and appointing m auditor 10
examine their accounts. The Union Pacific
has resisted the authority Of the auditor. and
refused to allow him access 10 the books. and
the receipts Of the corporations have ostonsibly
diminished since these laws were passed. But
this opposition and this trclscry will Doe sure to
invite more positive legislation in the next Con-
gross. and the sharp"rs who have rcsoriel To-
such eXledients TO defeat moderate laws will
-rnu tif-r-~i,t- subectc11o the1 ~ ~-ties which
bad faith deserves
blow az tclegraphic monopoly was struck in
the amendment TO the Army bill. which would
have opened the business 10 competition. and
glvcn the railroads possessing lines the right 10
enter the field on fair terms. These roads were
made post routes. and the Postmaster General
given the power 20 fix the rates. lis a gunrd
against a new monopoly being created. under
tho guse Of opposition 10 one already e-iab-
lishcd. and powerful in It's combinations. But
all this has been postponed by the failure Of the
bill
BY presenting q united 'front.' and by resort
ing 20 parliamentary devices the Republicans
succeeded in preventing n direct vote on tnc
resolutions Of the Committee on Naval Affairs
by which the testimony in relation 70 secor
Robson, and tho heads Of bureaus who were
his conicdoratos in lobbery. would be sont to
the Executive, the Secretary Of the Navy, and
tho Attorney General for their official action
To suspend the rules and yet the resolutions
before the House two-thrds were required
Every Republican present rallied TO tho sup
port OF Robcson, and he was thus saved from
the seyere-t condemnation and censurc" But
the EXPOSURE Of his corruption and ohbory hy
Mr.. Whu,horne viii stand ~ q perpetual in
dictment against him. lie will. through tho
statute Of limitations. escape the penitentiary
whore many better men than he is are seryin..
terms for less crimes but ne cannot escape tho
sentence which public opinion has pronounced.
The army comes out Of a two years struggle
untouched IN it, worst feature. by tho failure
Of the Committee on Appropriations TO DO
It's duty braycly. and TO reduce tho force
To the needs Of the country Mr. Baunng's
tinkering and Mr. IIewir's theories have
probably saddled on the backs Of the tax
payers at least fifteen millions a year Of UNI
Iustiilahlo charge for this branch OF the pub
lie service. Il is easy TO understand why the
Republicans, who arc openly IN fayor of tho
largest standing army. ana who have used il in
tho past MS they will do in the future. il the op-
portunity be offered. MS a political machine.
should vote soliy against retrcnchmcnts and
In favor of unfolding all abuses. But how
Democrats could loin hands with them. MS some
have done IN support OF this policy and thus in
giving aid and comfort 20 their enemy. passos
ordinary comprehension. Tho military Ring
~ Washington has often shown It's power and
It's great resources. but never IN more marked
degree than in the last and the present Con-
gress.
Tho bin for the distribution Of the remainder
of the Geneva award which passed. the House
a'tcra sharp contest between two rival inter-
csts, ono representing the Insurance COM