The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-25
WORK FOR CONGRESS.

WORK FOR CONGRESS.
The debate now going On IN Congress over
the army bill reminds the Washington Post
of d remark made by Squire Edmunds, OF
the Wabash, q cousin Of the Vermont Sena-
tor. to brace Of iinlber-jawed lawyers, who
were arguing case before him: ''When you
gentlemen get through your speeches, you
will find my decision in this drawer; this
court is going to dinner"
This discussion has certainly been learned
and brilliant at times, but, with the Post We
are at a loss to discover any necessity Tor T.
Upon the thaee great questions Of the subor-
dination Of the army to civil authority, non
est and impartial trial by jury, and Tree ana
fair elections, the American public has long
ago made up It's mind, and all this speech
making is calculated to affect popular sentl
ment Just about as much as the arguments
IN SQUIRE Edmunds' court did that worthy's
Judgment. 1t ID about time to cut of this de-
bate at public expense 80 that Congress can
70 to work at something else. That 1t is the
purpose OF the Democrats to enter upon gen
eral Legislation, we assume from the large
number of bills introduced already. II such
ia their purpose, the sooner they get at 1t all
the better.
There is certainly vast amount of bad leg
islatlon to be repealed and Of good to be en-
acted, quite enough to engage ell the time
and attention that the present Congress can
find to devote to 1t. The extra session should,
at least, be utilized to get the committees In
working order and the more important meas
ures that are to be taken up In such eondi-
ton that Congress can take hold Of them
without unnecessary delay at the regular SEES
sion. The country Is looking to Congress for
some earnest and proof Of the reforms
that have been promised for 90 long by the
Democrats Immediately On their accession to
power. For this reason, II for no other, 1t would
not be amiss to make start at the extra SEES
sion The attempt made by the Republicans,
under Conger, last Monday, to tilibuster
away the morning hour and thus defeat the
introduction Of bills. met with but tempo
rary success Mr.. Stephens soon found an
expedient for defeating this project through
the medium OF the petition box, by which
bills were brought into the House ct all times.
III and out Of session. by the bushel. This
soon brought the Republicans to their senses
and forced from them concession which re-
legislation.
| Among the measures Of general interest,
the first and most important to be consider
ed are the tariff and navigation laws, and
whatever other bad and restrictive legisla-
ton still remains on the statute books to Grip
Die American commerce and prevent Its ex-
tension abroad. The evidences Of the neces-
sity of a thorough revision Of the tariff are
found all around us, in the universal depres-
sion of every important industry OF the
country, consequent upon the illiberal and re-
strictive policy we have maintained In regard
to our foreign trade. The present system has
become productive Of the most exaggerated
evils, the protection 1t affords to many arti-
cles operating as an absolute exclusion OF all
foreign importation, and consequently OF
all competition, The result has been
the creation Of privileged class who sell
their deteriorated articles at extortionate
prices. Take. for example, the single article
Of iron, and we find that the tariff On this ar
ticle OF universal use Is OF such character
as to keep It's prices twice and three times
greater than 1t commands in England. An
illustration OF this was afforded the other
day when Vanderbilt found it to his advan-
tage to import steel rails for his road from
England, that were warranted to last eleven
years, and pay the enormous duty on them
rather than take the inferior home article free
OF duty.
Louisiana Is directly interested In the re.
form Of the tariff through her sugar produc
ton, which needs protection and is, besides, 9
legitimate object Of import duty.
In the amendment Of the navigation laws
we are also deeply interested. By the aboli
ton Of the existing regulations In regard tx
American registries the John Roach feature
of the Brazilian mail service appropriation
would be eliminated, and there would M
longer exist any reasonable objection to tina
most important measure.
Besides these measures Of general interest
there are others Ia which we have q specia
interest, notably the rebuilding OF the levee
and Southern trans-continental railway
The railroad bills introduced by Mr.. Jonas il
the Senate and Mr.. Ellis in the House are en-
, tirely in accord with the views maintained b.
the DEMOCRAT, and they present the onl
honest and feasible plan by which trul
Southern road to the Pacific can be secured
] which would not be the case were either tn
Tom Scott or Huntington schemes carrie
out. The fact that these bills have been ir
troduced In both houses Of Congress woul
: appear to indicate that 1t Is the purpose {
their movers to press them with the utmos
: vigor It is not probable that gentlemen {
9 as sound judgment and large experience a
Senator Jonas or Mr.. Ellis would tax
the initiative in measure Of sue
y vast Importance without having b
! hind them an influence of whic
: they are certain, or without full knowledg
: of the ground on which they stand. Th
: scheme proposed by them will certainly IL
q sure the bitter opposition Of the powerful an
Q corrupt influence of both the Tom Scott an