Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-08-14
CONGRESS AND ITS WORKS.

CONGRESS AND ITS WORKS.
The session of congress just closed
did not accomplish all that was ex-
pected of it by any means, int it did
some good things, and ought to have
full credit in that direction. The
bank charters extension act, with its
provisions for refunding bonds at
three per cent. and of great service
IN steady and reassuring the financi-
=. and business interests of the coun-
try, and the bill aimed at Norman
polygamy is long and much needed
step in the direction of indicating
the law and authority of the United
| States government. Those two are
perhaps the most important measures
that have been passed, and it is
worth remembering that if the demo-
Gratis had had q working majority In
either branch of congress neither of
| these acts would have become law.
The provisions for tariff and shipping
interest commissions are also worthy
measures, which will at least result
in public discussion of important
matters and help prepare the way
for intelligent action upon them.
The anti-Chinese bill is not a meas
ure to be proud of, though the presi-
dents veto and the public sense of
the fitness of things compelled a
much less Objectionable measure than
was at first passed.
The experience of 1876 and 1877
emphasized the need of further legis-
lation concerning the electoral count,
but nothing has yet been done about
it, although legion of bills for that
purpose has been introduced. The
return of the japanese indemnity
| fund has been admitted for the last
ten years to be simple act of JUS
tice, but through a disagreement be-
tween the two houses, as to the rate
of interest to be paid, this fund re-
mains in the United States treasury
where it does not belong. There
ought to have been a judicious reduc-
ton of internal revnue taxation in
the removal of some of the taxes ne
cessitated by the large expenses of
the war 20 years ago, but the demo
Gratis insisted that if there was to be
any legislation Of that sort it should
be in the interest of the whiskey and
tobacco interests, and hence tax re-
duction failed. Several other i'm
portant matters failed of passage,
as the two cent letter postage bill,
but on the whole the country has
reason for congratulation that the
legislation of the session was nc
worse. This is said not in deprecia-
ton of the honest work done by
many members of both senate and
house, but in view of the closeness
of both branches politically and the
multitudinous influences that affect
congressional action.
The appropriation bills passed al
the last session amount in round
numbers to $3.50, 100000, nearly
SAG, 100000 more than the appropri
tons for the last fiscal year. The
back pensions bill, for which this
congress is in no way responsible
caused $34, 000,0 900 of that increase
and the river and harbOr bill contain!
the larger part of the balance. 1t il
greatly to be regretted that the re
publican congressman did not sustain
President Arthur's veto of the eX
: travagant river and harbor bill, anC
go to the country upon that issue
for it is high time that the custom
fortified by precedent, to be sure
but none the less a vicious custom
of making the river and harbor bill
| an omnibus load of grabs at tn
treasury, should be stopped. Tn
, republicans could have done it, ant
it was a serious mistake both on pub
lie and party grounds that they di'
not do it.