Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-06-17
THE ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS.

! THE ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS.
Congress has adjourned till December
next, after session of over six months
duration. But little has been done to sig
naIize this Congress over those that
have preceded it, and for this the public
has good reason to be congratulated. This
country, in common with the rest of the
world, has been governed too much. Each
Congress for twenty years past has passed
bills of all descriptions by thousands until
our statute books are numbered by mass of
conflicting and irreconcilable laws that even
the supreme court finds great difficulty in
Interpreting. At the session just closed
there has been but little legislation of a
general nature. The needed appropriation
bills have all passed, and every department
of the government has now enough money
at its command for all legitimate require
ments. While the appropr iations are larger
than for several years past, they
are not lavish save in the matter of river and
harbor improvements. Some of the works
provided for in this particular direction
might have been postponed till such time as
the people were better able to bear the ex-
pense. The pressure upon Congress was
great, however-perhapst too great to be with
stood.
The only political legislation attempted
during the session was the passage of bill
regulating the manner of appointing special
deputy marshals to be employed at elections.
This has been defeated by Mr.. Hayes vetoes,
once when it was presented to him as a rider
to the special deficiency bill, and again when
presented as separate measure. The fact
is greatly to be regretted, for some reform
in that direction was necessary. The law as
it stands is intended only to subserve parti-
san ends. The only object of the Demo
Gratis in amending it was to make
these officials non-partisan, SO that
all voters might be placed on an
equality at the polls. Mr.. Hayes thought
the Democrats had no rights, however, that
he was under obligations to respect, and the
present law will be in force during the COM
ing election.
While Congress, at the session just clos ed
has done but little to boast of, it has the sat
isfaction of having done nothing to regret
This record will be far more satisfactory to
the people at large than if some brilliant
piece of legislation had been accomplished,
and at the same time numerous acts passed
that would work injury to some special in
dustry. The tariff has been left unmolested
more because of the impossibility of matur-
ing measure that shall be just to all inter.
ests than because of an indisposition to act
At the December session concerted effort
will doubtless be made to effect thorough
revision that will relieve many branches of
business of the unjust burdens they are now
compelled to bear.
The members of both houses will now re-
turn to their homes to give an account OF
their stewardship. Those of whose terms
have expired and who are candidates for re-
election, will receive the verdict of the people
in November According as they have wisely
or unwisely used the authority given them
they may expect a decision. The mass OF
the people are not IN mood to reward un-
faithful servants with a continuance of their
power, and there will be not q few in both
parties who will be required to step down
and out of Congress forever. Their loss
will not in all cases be missed, but in others
we will all miss description of oratory thai
has done much to increase the contempt OF
the people for our national House of Repre-
sentatives.