The Penn's Grove record., 1882-05-06
LETTER,
WAsmINaroN. Ma @. 1ss.

ADAAlNh kCA JzL 4 LlNs
WAsHTNGToN, MAY g., 1882.
As We approach the latter end of the
session of Congress it is possible to es-
innate its probable results. Two of
the larae schemes which have been ex-
tensively canvassed may be said TO
have practically failed. for the present
session at least-the new navy and the
steamship subsidy. And it is safe to
predict that the gigantic scheme of
Capt. Eads will meet with no better
fate in the end, though there has been
what Mr.. Tilden would call a ''futile
dalliance'' on the pa t Of COMMITTEES in
beth houses. The naval scheme. Which
involved The expenditure OF sixty mill
lion dollars in the construction Of six
steel ships Of war, WIS evolved from the
fertile brain Of Mr. Robinson ard was
to have been carried out hy Mr. char
der. But the DeToeratslo lost faith in
the thing after ChaBdl + became Secre-
tary, beearse the latter is a pretty stiff
politician, and the political poSsibili-
ties that could he carved out OF $50 COO
coo rather paralyzed them. 1t was com
mon rumor as early as December that
the Naval Committee would lie made
up with a view toa liberal expenditure
for ships and that Robson would he
the controlling force. Because Of this
understanding and the harmonious re-
suits that followed in lie election Of
Kiefer there was great joy in the lobby,
and every ~ship-yard has been lavishly
represented in anticipation OF the good
things to come. but the jig IS up for
the present.
People throughout the country who
receive a public document occasionally
from some member Of Congress have
very little idea of the amount Of money
expended annually TO cary on the Gov
eminent Printing Office, or lie vast
amount of printed matter turned OF
the pressed of that establishment.
There was some sensible talk ia the 5 n
ate one day last week on that subject +,
pending the discussion of the deficiency
appropriation. 1he amount called fer
was S45,GO0. Senator Beck wanted TO
know what the demand for this large
sum meant. Two millions and a-hali
had been spent already during tie fiscal
year, and recently in urgency bill for
$3.50, 600 was under consideration.
which the Printing Committee vetoed,
and now the demand %reappeared i,.
| creased to nearly half a million. 1t
really seemed as if Congress would
print everything that anybody asked
for. There was the census, which
would not be printed for years. as il
was proposed TO print, everything writ
ten for it. and The prospect was that
they would not get a compendium un
til 1885. The illustrations Tor the as
ricu,tural report for 1880 cost 500, 900,
and the whole work was very costly,
yet in distribution it was virtually
thrown away. "The amount of trash
which tins Government prints" said
he, "would break any Government II
| the world but this. OF course, you
can't break this Government" Mr..
Anthony protested that the committee
on Printing could not be held to blame,
for much of the printing was regulated
by statute. "Oh, no." answered Mr..
Beck, Il hold Congress responsible;
hold myself responsible" Condemn
ing the tendency to print all sorts OF
things, he said, looking at the printed
calendar: Here We have a PROPOSE
tion to print a report of the trial of The
murderer of James A. Garield-God
knows how many copies. The msxt
thing WE shall be asked to print will bt
the trial of Mason, with a fine engrav-
ing of Betty and the Baby" MIR. Baw
ley supplemented Mr.. Beck's remarks
by speaking of the lack of appreciation
of works issued by the Government
the agricultural reports, which cost 81
cents, teing offered for sale at 10
while other works were disposed of al
a like sacrifice. Mr.. Hoar declared
that most of the documents printed by
the Government were used as marks OF
personal attention by members of Coz
gress, and we're distributed without ref
erence to their usefulness in the dissen
nation of knowledge. He thought
there should be some provision made
by which the elaborate census report;
should be supplied complete to public
lioyaries. instead of being scattered
broadcast. The new Public Printer
whom | knew in the West, and once
bought material for "a country printing
Office of, has invited Inc to come upanC
'.go through" the Office, whith l sllal
do by and by for the benefit of my
readers. =
The dilemma in which the Hous,
binds itself, when the project tn refer t.
the Court of Claims the accumulated
mass of private bills is considered, is :
curious que 1t is feared that if ths
scheme Should become a law, a vast
number of old claims, covered with the
dust OF ages and half. foi gotten by theil
original holders, would be endowed
with new life. Then, again, the Repub.
licans fear that class of claiims known
rs war claims' would he dumped in
to the court by the cart-load'' and
would be thrown back upon Congress,
Briefly, however, it is apparent that
Congress lis unwilling to part with any
of its prerogatives, while it is also UNI
able ID exercise these in the matter of
settling private claims against the Gov
eminent. Congress cannot do the
work, but is willing to put it out to
any other department OF the Govern
ment. This Is not credilable state of
things. The just claims should be paid.
and the unjust claims should be forever
dekarred. This work will involve a
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