The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-08-20
LnnE ON THIS pLCrLREt

The Republican papers are striving to re-
call some of their severe but Just comments
on % this profigate Congress-" seeing the eff
feet likely to be produced on the elections to
take place in the next few months. But it
is too late. They evidently spoke then out of
honesty of heart and from Overmastering in
dignation; now, with regard to mere party
eXigency and the retention of patronage
The people will attend to the earlier remarks,
which bear all the evidences of sincerity, and
it is plain that the moral to be drawn from
them is that Republican majorties are no
longer to be trusted with control of the pub
lie funds, and that return ofthe Opposition
is needed in order to correct current abuses.
Senator Plumb, of Kansas, made in the clos
ingdays OF the session one of the strongest
arraignments possible of the majority of his
own party in the lower House. Being a
member of the Appropriations Committee of
Senate, his anxiety to defend that body from
responsibility for tardy and ill-digested leg
islation made him "speak right out in
"meetin regardless for the moment of CON
sequences. He said:
There reason, physically or mentally, why
every appropriation bill should not have been properly
constructed and laid before the House during the first
thirty days Of the session. Take the Deficiency BIZ
for example. Every deficiency was created before the
rst day Of this calendar year that entered into the bill
as passed And yet the Deficiency Blll did not get to
the Senate until the sth day Of June last. The Navy
Bill passed the House the 18th day OF July, twelve
days after 10y Its terms, II TO take effect and be-
come operative. The Legislative, Executive. and
judicial Bin passed the House the 10th day OF
june leaving the Senate only ten days, in point OF
fact to consider and report and pass that bin In order
to make Its provisions effective when they should
have taken effect. The sundry Ciyl Bill, which
touches every department OF the Government only
In Washington but out of Washington, every mile
Of coast In every haTbOr of this country Ia
every custom-house everywhere, embracing more
legislation than any other bill that has passed this
Congress, 10 the Senate the 18th day Of Juy
that Is passed tho House that day, aud probably
days after II should have taken effect 1t to the
senate for consideration. Tho River and liarbOr BIN
came here tho l7t day OF June. II was passed by
the Senate the 9th Of July, Ave days after It's pro-
visions should have taken effect. Every step IN the
legislation OF this Congress which has been retarded
has been due TO the datOry action OF the House In
gard 10 the great appropriation bills Take, for In
stance the bill 10 correct tue error In the duty knit
goods. That came 10 the Senate on the % Of July.
The bin In regard 10 Internal revenue taxation came
here on the 2sth OF June, and along with IT, to hide
iourn the 10th Of July, giving tho Senate no time
whatever under the terms OF that resolution to COn-
slider either Of these very important measures, The'
House has trnsd deliberately aud Intentionally, as
believe with every Interest of this country, fOr pnr
poses which, not being apparent Will not speak Of,
but which not 10 be- laid al the door NJ the Senate
iu amy way whatever.
II will further De remembered that the
House, II 1t was slow, was mighty, and that
these appropriation bills were apparently
held back for the purpose, among other
things ,oiincreasing expenditures SIS, 100000
and then passing them with a rush.
The majority Of the citizens Of this ooun-
try are in moderate, even struggling circum-
stances, In their own affairs they are
obliged to be sef-denying, economical, and
far-sightel in expenditure. This is what
they also demand from their Representatives,
who control the spending of the money
gathered up by onerous taxation, and there
can be no better argument for Democratic
orators and writers this fall than to show
where and how money has been flung away
by the reckessne5s Of Republican committees
and voting maiorties, and that their return
10 power for another two years win be re-
garded a8 q license for still further extrava-
gauee. For it is certain that what we have
seen during the past session is but an earn
est Of the things that win yet be done if the
party IN power have reason 10 believe that
the people condoue, OF perhaps even approve
such proaigacy-unless, that Is, a thoroughly
effective reDuke is administered at the polls.