The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL WORK.

Besides much new work, which is
being placed on the calendars, there
was left unfinished at the end of the
last session consideration of several
important measures. A bill to reor-
ganize the navy was under way, and if
the proper agencies may be found
with which to entrust it's advance
ment, there can be no doubt it should
become law. A bill to suspend the
issue of silver certificates and the
coinage of the silver dollar
was under discussion, and this
bill should be allowed to remain
just as it was left-unfnished. We
have had enough of this attempted
legislation in favor of single none
tary standard. The bill TO establish
postal savings banks should be taken
up without delay and made law, and
the one to create the territory of
North Dakota and the state of South
Dakota, should be kept unfinished on
the calendar, since it will be very
great stretch of constitutional power
to allow it at this time to pass. A
bankrupt bill was under consideration,
and the passage of such law, in proper
shape, is deemed necessity. 1t
would deliver many persons from
hopeless financial pressure, and then,
too, it would allow few languishing
lawyers to become more active.
There was q bill to admit Washington
Territory; one TO build vessels of war
and create construction fund for the
navy; one to grant subsidies to Amer
lean ships in foreign trade; one as to
the presidential succession, another
as to the electoral count; a Japan
csc indemnity bill. and host
of others. Some of these bills
ought to pass, others ought to be de-
feated or allowed to die. Already sew
eral of these bills have been called up,
and others have been introduced. But
it begins to look as though the house,
with its Republican majority, is going
to pay very little attention to meas
ures absolutely beneficial to the coun-
try. Tax bills will be considered,
more with the intention of forestalling
purposes of the Democrats than
for the people. while through them
bold attempts at frauds upon the
public purse are to be attempted,
and they can be defeated only by the
combination of few Republicans
and Democrats. As is suggested by a
cotemporary, the people have confided
to the members recently elected the
task of effecting retrenchment in the
public expenditure. The present
house cannot do it effectively. A
thorough retrenchment would falsify
the legislation of last session. 1t will
be as much as can be expected, if the
present house refrain from any fur
ther pluuder. Things have been run
ming in a special groove for the past
twenty years. The country has out
grown the only system the practical
politician knew, and suddenly he is
left behind. The unfinished business
of congress is part and parcel of the
trade of the politician, who is expected
to use it as stock in trade. But the
popular revolution. has admonished
such men that they must retire soon
and there may consequently be some
very reckless work. Jobs are on hand,
the biggest kind of jobs, and it will
take hard work on the part of honest
congressman to prevent their accom-
plishment. The next congress will be
composed greatly of new men, who
will sweep out the Hobbies, and the
present hay making will have to be
busy while the sun shines.