National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-05

the public purse and the public patience
until il reached the last day of the session
as limited by its own action II will be
recollccted that during that day of the
session five different hours for fnal adjourn
ment were made necessary to meet the ex-
igencies created by the incompetence and
prodigality Of the House ia wasting time
that its political hates might be gratifcd at
the expense of the public welfare. II will
be borne in mind also that five of the npprc-
priation bills were crowded into the last
days session for passage and engrossiug
before they could possibly become laws.
Among these monuments of neglect and
improvidence were the army, legisln-
tive, post-oflice, and sundry civil
bills, which contained great majority of
the appropriations made for the mainte-
nance of Government. The ftct is not yet
forgotten that the sundry civil bill, appro-
priating S2G,000,000, was rushed through the
House in the early morning, after nights
debauch on the part of many members,
when all were fatigued and worn down with
prolonged labor md n portion were maudlin
with drink when none could understand
and appreciate its provisions or really know
what it did and what it did not contain. 1t
is a remarkable fact in connection with the
passage of this bill that q portion of the
Committee OH Enrolled Bills were untitled
by inebricty for the proper discharge of
their duties, and the laboring oar fell upon
Mr.. RAINEY, the colored Republican menl-
Der of the committee, but for whose pro.
priety and fidelity the bill would have been
lost altogether. Aud it will be recollected
also that in the haste with which this in-
portant bill was rushed through n very i'm
portant section was omitted entirely-a fact
which led to much embarrassment and pub
lie scandal. 1t WIS in this disgraceiul way
that the first session of the Forty-ffth Con-
eress closed its labors-a consequence that
had been produced by the recreancy and
proiligucy of a Democratic House.
When the session Just closed was COM
menccd on the first Monday oflast December,
the Democratic majority of the House osten-
/ sibly entered upon their duties with fresh
resolves in the interest of fidelity, industry,
and propricty. They had been among
! their constituencies and their families, and
| had recovered from the effects Of an eight
months wrestling with evil influences OF
almost every imaginable type Many had
no doubt been admonished of their rocrc-
ancy to the public welfare and Of u neces-
sity for reform i'll their habits aud conduct
Under these more salutary influences that
had fallen upon them ut home, the Demo.
cratic managers of the House entered upon
the late session with an apparent determi-
nation to attend to the public business with
more promptness and propriety, and in that
way to escape the disgracelul scenes
through which they had passed at the closC
of the previous session. Under these
early Influences six of the appropriation
bills were reported and passed before
the holidays But every indication ant
every assurance of reform in habit spirit
and effort at legislation were soon dissi
pated under their reassembling. Old habits
of idleness and indulgences returned
to interfere with the good intentions
with which these Representatives hat
been paving their pathway. Month
were frittered away in indolenc
and inattention to business They wer
beset by combination ofmen who gathered
at the Capital in the interest of plunder
and the most tempting schemes were spreat
out before them to divert them from til
legitimate duty of providing for the neces
stiles of the Government These scheme
were lostered, and the public good wa
neglected. The political advantages of a
extra session were impressed upon the mem
bers. Time was wasted, and the sessio
shortened day by day, until but a bric
period remained. Evil disposed and un
, patriotic men were received into confidenc,
! until the most reprehensible schemes an
measures were engrafted upon the generG
appropriation bills to embarrass, delay, an
defeat them, unless they should be passe
into laws covered with obnoxious an
vicious features,
In this way, and under these deleteriou
influences, the session 1oatod on until but
day or two was left in which to perfect an
) pass eight of the remaining appropriate
/, bills, TO wit; The legislative, the sundr
t civil, the deficiency, the army the pos
office, the river and harbor, the fortifcation
, and arrears OF pensions, all of whic
aggregated an expenditure of some S125
8 OOO,0O0 making about 20 per cen
: of all the appropriations for the opcratio
f of the Government for the next fiscal yea
: This was the condition of legislation o
: Sunday night last, when only day and
\ half of the session remained in which
perfect these important measures in law
This fraction Of time was consumed on Il
part of the House in an attempt TO fore
the repeal of the Federal election laws an
thus remove all barriers that have bee
thrown around the elective franchise
4, preserve the purity Of our elections relatir
TO the General Government, or to bring,
: q consequence, an extra session of ,Congre
!. by refusing to pass the remaining appropr
= alton bills. This revolutionary measu
was successful. The appropriation bill
: failed, and the President has callt
an extra session of the Forty-six
u Congress for the 18th day of Mar,
. instant. The House is purely responsib
for this condition of affairs, Itplaced upc
an apprOpriation bill measure that shou