The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-08-08
THE ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS.

tiC iiiiIu otoSiOu ltnBth oihSO viz Wa
and in some respects it has been memoir
able session. Not memorable indeed from
great measures enacted but rather the fail
urc 10 enact any, while the country ex-
pectod and needed something; and memoir
able too for the vast and unusual number
Of bills presented, and the reckless inroads
into our treasury surplus. There never
was such number OF private relief mea-
sures before the house, and, in view Of the
cash balance, never such
generous indifference about their
passage. by reference TO another column
some idea eau be obtained of what has been
going on in Washington, and some moro
practical knowledge, also, perhaps, OF what
as now situated, congress has to handle in
the matter OF business. The aggregate
number Of bills and resolutions introduced
over % measures on an average to each
member OF both bodies. To have passed
all these bills and resolutions In the seven
months passed would have required
the dispatch Of business at the rate Of 80
day-a thing impossible. even had
there been no debate whatever upon any
single measure. Even il the bills were
simply read and explained intolligently by
the various members introducing them,
not one-tenth Of the number named could
BIO passed according TO the peculiar meth
dds and rules of the house in the time this
congress has been in session. AS n result,
we learn that 5000 at least remain for con-
sideration in tho senate. Only 1903 bills and
joint resolutions have passed the house and
some 400 or more the senate. The great
majority Of these were pension bills on
measures Of n private nature. The reduc-
ton OF taxation, the settlement OF the presi-
dental succession and ono or two other
remain for action thereon. Among them
may BIO mentioned the matter of civil ser
vice reform and the overlapping question
of all, monopolies, which the people de-
mand the government shall strike blow
at. The few matters of prominence han
died were the Mormon aud Chinese ques-
tons, tho extension of the charters of ma
tional banks, and the annual appropriations
bills and the river and harbor bill, passed
over the veto OF tho president. As affect
ing us particularly we might also mention
the throwing open OF the Indian Territory
to railroads, for It amounts to that, and
the bill for tho rcimbursing of
Texas for moneys expended for
frontier projection. Dallas has not
been forgotten in tho matter of sppropria-
tons for public buildings. The only new
or especially significant feature in tho an
nual appropriations was that relating to
the navy, whore sums were voted for the
repair of the monitors and tho building of
new cruisers. Whom we have said thus
much We have outlined the work OF tho
first session OF tho forty.sevcnth congress.
All other measures have been chiefly OF n
private nature, but they have made havoc
with tho public treasury and have set an
exceedingly bad precedent. Upon the whole
then, We cannot SEQ that this congfess,so far,
Is entitled to any. special COMMUNICATION,
but on the other hand cannot but feel that
II has been a failure. 1t is possible that,
coming as II has Just before tho general
elections, its members have devoted moro
time and attention to the interests and 70.
lief Of some Of their constituents with a
view to influencing certain parties and
quarters In their candidacy for reelection
than to the country at large. At any rate,
the country as whole has been ignored
But what shall be said of this constantly
growing volume Of legislation How is IL
possible to check this unusually recurring
flow OF bills and resolutions, myrad.sided
In their nature and purposes, and operating
as n lancet upon the body politic1 So long
as members continue to introduce them by
the thousand, II will be next to impossibl,
to reach half OF them, and many measure,
of real Importance must remain buried 10,
over under a mass OF private claims and
jobs. In TACT, it Is becoming almost absurt
for n member to hope to secure the passag,
of u bill which the country is not clamoring
for. This TALL a number OF new men will b,
sent up to congress-, and they, in turn, viii
have thousand measures to present, and
so Tho work Of piing Peion on 0ssT
will proceed. In fow years, If ,
stop is not put to such voluminous leg
islation, n thorough oycrhauling and new
codilication and digest of ional statute,
will become an absolute necessity in ordcl
that even the learned few may know wha
is aud what is not the law. Members shout,
DO limited in the number OF bills they ma,
pc entitled to introduce, or such strict con
struction OF tho constitution and statute
Hereunder should be adopted as to conGn
legislation absolutely to national theme
and purposes, Tho Federal government
rapidly becoming parent when II shout
only bc..a policeman, and the only rcmod
, is in the active interest AMI uprising of IN
people, So long as they. tolerate it, thi
abuse OF legislative privileges will coniinu,
II cannot but DO with sigh Of relief thor,
fore that the country wi
hail the adjournment of congress,
, Ono other fact becomes prominent In III
( contemplation OF this tremendous busine,
8 before congress, and while in OH
| D. a. 80. A.. A. A.