New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-14
cnNGRESs IND APPROPRIATIONS.

What did Congress 10 yesterday III ulu
what it has done every day for a week, every
day for q month, every day for nearly six
months. 1t blocked the wheels of Government.
1t nut out the lights and stopped the water in
the public buildings. 1t caused the United
States Courts 10 close, dismissed Jurors because
there was no money to pay them, and released
dangerous counterfeiters on low bail. 1t told
officials who have waited for ten months in vain
for their well-eaTned pay, that they must wait
still longer 1t warned other officials, who
have been paying for necessary expenses of the
United States Government out of their own
rockets that they might continue to do SO, If
they pleased but that Congress was not ready
to nav them a cent of the money already adj
yanced, or to provide for their payment if they
should advance any more.
In other words, Congress did nothing 1t has
done nothing for weeks and months though
there was most urgent need of doing something,
if the wheels of the Government are to run at all.
1t listened to malignant partisan speech in one
house and authorized another costly and
useless investigation in the other. There was
no hot political debate, at either end of the
Capitol, to excuse the outrageous neglect OF
pressing public necessities. For months the
heads Of departments have been representing
that the appropriations were exhausted for this
or that purpose, and that the public service
would presently be arrested if Congress failed
to make such provision as existing laws re-
ouire. Congress has listened with indifference,
done nothing with great pains, treated the laws
with contempt, and suffered the public business
to 90 to the dogs The,mOst necessary functions
of the Government-its confinement trial and
punishment of criminals, its adjudication of
claimants under its laws, its occupation OF pub
lie buildings and transportation OF fast mails,
and arrest Of law -bIeakers-have been con-
tinued thus far in many cases only by the
patient or pitiful generosity of private iDdi-
yiduals, in spite of the incompetence or dis
| loyalty of Congress.
Either incompetence or disIOyalty it GER
| tainly is that prevents the appropriation of
money required by existing laws and necessary
for the continuance of public service. The will
ing people pay literally all that is needful for
every branch of the service. The existing laws
provide fully for every branch, and make it the
duty of members of Congress to vote in due
season the money required for the execution OF
the laws. Congress refuses to d. its duty. or to
obey the laws, and in nearly every case has no
|
observation of experienced persons at Wash
| ington that there never has been gathered a
more wretchedly and pitiably incompetent body
of men than this Democratic Congress. 1t Is
incompetent to change the laws with proper
understanding of existing provisions; inCOm-
petent to frame an appropriation bill~with due
| regard for the existing laws which it wishes to
| carry out incompetent to discuss any public
| measure intellgently or prOtitably; incOm-
petent to reach vote, within any given time
even when it is anxious to do go and for six
months members have sat, talked nonsense OF
| billinsgate, or debated politics in the tone
adapted to a country barrOOm, kept the few
sensible men busy in preventing mischlevous
or rascally legislation, and done nothing. II
question whether a body so incapable may
not claim exemption from censure on tho
ground of utter responsibility. But in some
| instances even the utmost charity cannot plead
/ this excuse
| AS to some pressing needs of the public
service. Congress has betrayed a comprehension
of the need by its action. 1t has passed bills tC
cover immediate deficiencies" for example
! Some Of these deficiencies were created by the
| ignorance or incompetence OF Congress ut its
| last session some by its inability to calculate
| what sums existing laws would make necessary
some by spiteful and reckless craftsmanship
| But the need was confessed by the passage Of
the Immediate Deficiency bill, and would have
been met but for one difficulty. A set of revolu
tionists and repudiatOrs had openly and Otter
threatened TO STOP the wh6I1.s Of government