The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-06-20
A COsTLY BODY.


gress has been in session and we are now
told that in a few days it is likely to adj
iourn. The announcement of its adjourn
ment is not likely to cause the country any
great regret or impress the people with the
idea that they are losers by the absence of
this celebrated body from the seat OF gov
eminent, Nearly every state in the Union
has some one special legislature. which is
regarded as worthless par excellence
and it looks as if the forty-seventh
congress were entitled to that
distinction in the history of national
legislation. No congress has had to face
greater questions of moment, and no con-
gress has done less to settle them. The
press and the people have been loudly de-
handing that certain important matters
should be attended to, but no heed has
been given their requests and the forty
seventh American congress will adjourn
with very unsatisfactory and meaningless
record. The actual expenses in salaries
and sundries during these seven
months spoken of amount TO
over million dollars considera-
ably and yet not that much money has
been saved to the people by the representa-
tives of the people in all the time they have
been in Washington. A business man who
would keep worthless and expensive
clerk would be justly regarded as wanting
in common sense and business principles,
but the people continne to submit to costly
but do-nothing congresses. 1t is the fault
of the people that they experience from
year to ysar so little that is ben
eticial to them in national legisla-
ton. The questions of greatest sig
nificance are not sufficiently agitated,
and no strong and universal expression is
heard from the masses. Party and per-
sonal predictions swallow up everything
else. A vexed question of great importance
at the opening of the session, was that of
presidential succession, but it remains as
great an uncertainty to-day as then, and
may arise at any time to work us confusion
and harm. Then there was a large surplus
in the treasury, and it was generally and
nationally supposed that taxation would be
reduced at any rate, to the level Unnecessary
government expenditures, but while
the former has been frittcred away and
bounced upon by congressman for innu
merable private claims and schemes, the
latter has remained TO operate as of old at
II heavy burden upon the great masses
The only efDrt made to handle the all i'm
portant and widely discussed matter of the
tariff and government revenue system was
to push il Off to an indefinite period. The
. postal system in which it was hoped 70
forms would be made and reduction in
postage reached, has received no impress
from this congress. In the naval de
partment not q step has been taker
though the necessity therefor is, every
where admitted and was practically demon
strated in our little misunderstanding will
Chill. No improvements or reforms hav,
been made i'll the war department. ant
, such is also the case in the treasury. Thu
we see that literally nothinghas been dom
in any Of the great departments of tn
government, and rs people we remain
as poorly situated as we did one year ago
and many millions have yet beeen granite,
and expended. The only labors performed o
measures perfected are those which wer
clearly for political effect, and others neces
sary, absolutely, for running the machiner,
of the government. We refer to the pass
age of the anti.C Chinese and anti.Polygam,
bills, and the apportionment and appro
priation bills. Further than this the mem.
bers Of the torty-seventh congress have no
gone, and they will certainly not feel puife,
, with rride and satisfaction as upon adjourn
mont hey look back upon their records
The repubticans are mainly responsible fol
this state of things, but had tho demo
Gratis done their duty sufficient number
= from the other side could have been oh
tanned to cut down taxation, strike dow
monopolies and give to their constituency
some practical evidences of usefulness an,
reform upon which they could have sale
, swell done, good and faithful servants.
, We are as a nation in the support of con
i, gress paying out tremendous sums for pre-
cious little return, but such is our frame o
government and we must make tn
r hest of it we can. The barcnnes
f OF legislation Of which we have been speak
p ing is only another evidence Of the para
Q mount necessity which exists evcrywher
y for dropping personalities and private dis
puteS and differences, and bringing broadl
and openly into the national canyassc
which occur from time to time the que,
u tons and matters upon which action
: especially desired by congress. Until til
people set the example of attending first I
the weighter matters, We can antcpat
, nothing more promising than the lazy an
unimportant legislation of this first session
= of the forty.seventh congress which is no,
!. drawing to close.