Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-08

There Is public business enough requiring atten-
ton 10 employ the 47th Congress diligently until
next summer. There is the refunding Of the ex-
4 nGed bonds, which viii. doubt. receive early
attention. IL viii not probably consume any great
amount OF time, that senator sherman favorS
three per cent bill, IL was republican Oppool-
ton that defeated the three per cent bill in the
last Congress. Speaker Randall and Mr.. Carlisle
were the authors Of that measure and they Will
probably revive it in the House 1t an early day.
With the leaders of both parties favorng three per
cent it Is easy to predict that bill will be passed
without difficulty
d. A bill for the erection of suitable building
for the Congressional Library ought to be passed
promptly. President Arthur urges this matter
upon the attention of Congress, and Senator NOOr-
hees champions il with energy. The valuable col
lection row packed in the Capitol is being more or
less injured every day that it remains in its pres
ent condition Nearly every member OF Congress
admits, readily. that there ought to be a suit
able building for the library, but they permit
few tres in detail. such as site, style of architec
ture, etc, To retard this important work
Two subjects that will probably occupy good
deal OF time and attract considerable attention
relate tn the presidency. The President. in his
message, calls the attention of Congress to
the importance of legislation regulating the
count OF the electoral vote. In 1S16-71 an extra
constitutional plan was resOrted to in order
to avoid trouble. There has been neither amend
ment nor Improvement since that time. Various
measures have been proposed, laIt invariably de-
feated on partisan grounds Every citizen of this
country, from the President To the humbest In the
land, earnestly desires to see the danger which
confronted in 1876 Obviated for the future, by
the enactment of specific and definite laws con-
trolling the electoral count The difficulty in the
way OF such legislation is that each party seeks to
turn il To some advantage for itself. The repub-
licans are suspicious of any measure emanatng
affected likewise with regard to one coming from
the republican side Senator Edmunds' excellent
bill was killed in the last session of the FOryfth
Congress, because the democrats were afraid 1t
concealed something that might be turned to adj
vantage by the republicans. 1t is sincerely to be
hoped, however, that the present Congress Will,
for once at least, rise far enough above
party to relieve all apprehension in con-
nection with the count of the next pres
idential vote by proper legislation. The
other subject connected with the executive
Office, calling for Congressional attention is in
relation to the constitutional term '.inabilty" as
applicable TO the President under certain crcum-
stances. The wOunding ana IOng-suffering of the
late President awakened the country to the fact
that authority 10 determine what constitutes ina
bility In President is not vested anywhere Con-
gress is the only power competent to deal with
this question. and it promises to acquire some
prominence, when it comes up, the leading
minds in Congress differ materially as to what
should be done in the premises
The subjects OF revenue and taxation and of the
tariff Will also claim the attention OF Congress at
this sSSion. reduction If internal taxation will
be proposed, and the tariff viii be discussed The
outcome OF the latter discussion WILL doubt. be
the creation Of commission to examine and re-
pert hereafter IS To what changes should be made
In the tariff
The District of Columbia has claims upon Con-
gress which ought to command early attention.
Before next summer the much-neetied reclamation
OF the Potomac flats ought t. be under way. The
people OF the District suffer great annoyance be-
cause of an insufficient supply OF water and OF
lack of proper facilities To distribute the present
Inadequate supply. II the members fully aDpre-
cfate the work before hem this will be a busy
session.