Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-02-24
RECKLESS LEGISLATION.

RECKLESS LEGISLATION.
If both branches of Congress had at
tempted to show the country how reck-
less a national law-making body can be
they could not have succeeded better
than they did on Monday. The Senate
spent the day in perfecting and passing
bill which will reduce the tax collect
ed from tobacco between SO, 100000 and
$1O,OOO,OOO. The House passed bill
appropriating 1927, 100000 to meet the
requirements of the recent bill provid-
ing for the payment of pension arreara-
ges and other pension claims. That an
nual piece of jobbery known as the Riv-
er and Harbor bill, appropriatlng S5,-
100000, was passed under suspension
of the rules and without debate. Not
one of the men voting for it would have
the audacity to stand up before the
country and attempt to defend one in
twenty of its items. This bill. before it
passes the Senate, will have two millions
more added to it, making nearly eight
million in all. The House River and
Harbor bill, passed by the last session,
appropriated almost 100000 to this
purpose so that the total expenditure
on this account by the present Congress
for two years will not be less than &c.,
900, OO0-double the amount ever ap
propriated by any previous Congress.
The greater part of this money. as We
have frequently stated, is wasted in
making improvements upon streams and
rivers which are of no national or of
much local Importance.
Last week Secretary Sherman notified
Congress that without making any pro-
vision for the sinking funds and with
out reducing the revenues there would
be deficiency of $27,OOO,0OO. To
this suggestion, the Senate responds by
passing bill reducing the revenues at
least $12,O 100000. and the House makes
special appropriations, amounting tc
nearly S33,OOO,OOO. In connection
with these evidences of legislative in
sanity, the Ways and Means Committee
is considering proposition of its Chair
man, Mr.. Wood, to take the coin re
serve to pay the deficiencies resulting
from reckless expenditure and unwist
legislation, and thus endanger the con
tinuance of specie payments so success
fully begun.
Never did President have so grant
an opportunity to serve the highest In
terests of his country and to rebuk'
jobbery and recklessness as has Presi
dent Hayes. He should at least follow tn
example of President Grant as to veto tn
outrageous River and Harbor bill. B,
"rr-~'i-o tLe previous lii, ho uIsap
pointed many friends who believe tina
the time has come, even if that measur
contains many defensible items, to de
feat system of waste and jobbery whicl
is increasing with alarming rapidity
He should also veto the bill reducin
the tax on tobacco when the Hous
agrees to the Senate amendments. Tn
tax is one laid upon luxury, one tina
the consumer does not feel, and on
where the relief will be chiefly realize
by number of men employed in tn
business in the shape of greater profits
Even if this was not the case it shout
be vetoed on the ground that Congress
in taking twelve or fifteen millions frol
revenue already less than the expend
lures, had make no provision to max
good the deficit by laying taxes upo
other articles. He should veto bot
measures, if for nothing else than tn;
they will tempt Congress to make goo
its reckless expenditures by taking tt
resumption reserve and thus cause ser
Gus apprehension on the part of the bu
} mess aud industry of the country. I'll
President cannot approve these me asur
or possibly allow them to become effe
tive without his approval, without lea
ing the impression upon the public min
, that he is as responsible for the jobber
and the possible disaster they involve
if he had advocated them in Congress
Boston Journal.