National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-05-06
WHAT CONGRESS HAS DONE.

The Congress of the United States-now
under Democratic domination in both
branches-has been in session over five
months, and its record is not illustrious
either for its good intents or for its benef-
cent acts. 1t has taught the country how
time, talent and money may be irittered
away in frivolousness. The Nation, with
its multiiarious interests of Importance, has
looked to this Congress for measures of wis.,
dom and benefcence, and has looked in
vain; for down TO this time, of more than
five months of meetings and adjOurnments,
it has accomplished nothing of Importance,
nor more than could just as well have been
done in the first sixty days of its session.
The course of this Congress is marvel to
the country. The people do not under
stand how it could have been possible for
it TO have used up so much time
with such insignificant results. They have
seen it organize, commission and put to SER
vice a number of committees of mvestiga-
ton for the purpose of ferreting out wrongs
and frauds that needed reforming, but
neither wrongs nor frauds have been dis
covered that called for reformation. The
expense of these, however, has been all
the same to the National Treasury as il these
investigations had been called for by any
necessity or had resulted in public benefits.
In this Congress has taught the country q
lesson from which there may be some profit
derived hereafter, for the reason that il has
exhibited sad disregard for the proprieties
and economies of expenditure under a
party that claims patent for reform in
government.
1t was hoped that when this Congress, in
view of the disaster it had Brought upon
the party which the maj GRITTY represents,
meet, it would come together, not as n party
cabal, but rs a congress of statesmen, who
would leave party methods and triekeries
behind them, and honestly and earnestly
seek TO promote the general welfare by
prompt and judicious legislation. But in
this public expectation has been disap-
pointed. The majority Of Congress seem to
he here in the capacity of mere partisans,
who seek TO advance party interest ut the
expense of the public good If Il job was to
be fostered out of which unclean clippings
could be secured to lard the interests OF
partisans, then they would act If there
was q coveted seat in either House that
was wanted for party fIvorite, and
a great wrong was 10 be perpetrated
then the majority have been quicllened into
action. But beyond some such stimulant
there has been no impelling power of move
ment. A mastery inactivity has locked
up and held in allegiance all purpose 10 adj
vance the public welfare. Departments OF
the Government, which are embarrassed and
in some instances are languishing for the
want of appropriations, are regarded with
studied heedlessness, and thus Congress has
drifted into its sixth month, having done
comparatively nothing for the National
welfare.
It would have been reasonably expected,
in view of the experiences of the extra ses-
sion and the effect it has had upon the
Democratic party, that when this session
opened it would have sought to redeem
what it lost through the policies and meth
DDS of that session by change in its line
of action, and the dilatOriness Of its move
ments had somewhat confirmed that hope
but the majority, when they reached the
Immediate Deficiency bill, returned like
" the sow to her wallowing in the nire.'
They put on arider for mere party purposes
which of itself was intended to cripple one
branch of the public service, and thus chal-
lenged the exercise Of the Executive
veto. The veto came as they undoubtedly