The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-23

WASHINGTON, ID. G., Dec. 10, 1881.
If the industry of Congress were
judged alone by the number Of bills
introduced since the commencement Of
the present session, it would indicate
a body of legislators in danger of peril
ing their lives by oyer-wOrk. There
have been offered in the Senate and in
the House 1913 bills. These bills are
sent to the committees, where probably
most Of them will never be considered.
There is like passion in Congress for
the introduction of bills which often
prevails in the Wisconsin legislature.
The member who is not the author Of
at least one bill during the session, If
it be only for an amendment Of the dog
tax, is afraid Of being charged by his
constituents with stupidity. unfit for q
law maker, and therefore not entitled
to q reelection.
The standing committees of the
House, it is expected, will be announc-
ed by the Speaker tomorrow. The
past week has been one of feverish ex-
element among members in respect to
these appointments. A complete or
ganization Of the House entities it to
seventy-two committees. Many Of these
are Of no special consequence, and ap-
pointments on them are not much
sought after. But there are a goodly
number Of committees to which great
Importance is attached, as we'll as hon
or, and the members who secure
craftsmanship has a position which
brings him into national notoriety and
gives him much influence in matters Of
legislation. The chairman Of an i'm
portant committee has the power to
appoint clerk and messenger. It is
commendable ambition for q member
who has the proper qualifications to
aspire to be put at the head of q first
class committee.
Congress is not likely to proceed to
business with earnestness until after
the holidays. and even then there may
be protracted skirmishing, attended
with no important results. There is
probably no representative law-making
power in the world where so little i'm
portant legislation is accomplished, in
proportion to the time consumed, as in
the American Congress. ALI the bust
ness Of Importance to the country
transacted during sessions lasting six
and eight months could be accom-
plished in half that time, with equal
safety to the interests Of the people.
In no national legislative be-ay N
5 I9ESRRses ohksRde, for mere political adj
vantage, or personal notoriety, as in
the Capitol at Washington.
a great portion Of the speeches made
by Congressional orators, even If pos
sessing literary OF other merit, are only
ephemeral they are read after appear
ing in print by only a fraction of the
people, then pass out of mind and are
forgotten. Apologize for all this, it
is claimed, this is free country" and
every man has right to talk till dooms-
day, provided his breath is not stopped
before such an epoch comes. Free
speech, in these later days, has become
contagious among all nations. Govern
ment restraints are being relaxed, and
the time, if not already come, is near
at hand, when the acts of Kings and
Emperors will be as freely criticised
as we speak of our own rulers. Free
speech in any country is essential to
the vindicati0n of popular rights but
when allowed too great license it may
become cause Of national weakness,
by destroying the respect of the people
for their lawfully constituted rulers.
Senator Sherman's bill for issuing
two hundred millions of bonds, bear
ing 3 per cent interest, has been unani-
mously approved by the committee OIL
Finance, and will, without doubt, be-
come law.
The work on the Washington monu-
ment was suspended last week, and will
not be resumed until next spring. The
monument has reached the height of
$50 feet, little less than one-half the
height contemplated by the original
plan, which'is 525 feet. When finished,
it will be the highest work Of man IN
the world. Although a full force of
workmen has been employed the past
season, the progress has been slow,
owing to the heavy weight Of the
blocks Of granite which have to be
raised and placed in position at so great
a height. 1t is not probable there will |
be any interruption of the work here
after for the want of funds. There is
evidently a disposition in Congress to
make appropriations from year to
year until the monument is finished.
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