The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-08-12
Congress and Its Record.

From the baltimore SIN Of Monday:
Much was expected of the first session of
the Forty seventh Congress, which assembled
on the 9Th of December, 1881, and is now
about to adjourn, after protraeting its labors
through eight months. The two Congresses
preceding, being democratic. were at the dis
advantage of having their measures of reform
rather frequently vetoed by a republican
President, so that 4 severe arraignment of
their deeds and COMMISSIONS would not bejust
The present Congress, however, encountered
no such obstacle. Senate, House and Chief
Executive were all of the same political faith,
and abundantly able to carry such laws Tor
the reduction of the public burdens and the
improvement of our civil administration as
the intelligence and morality of their party
demanded. The maiorities of the dominant
party were. it is true, small in both houses,
and in the upper house control of legislation
was secured only BY the scandalous dicker
with Malone and the honor of the presidency
of the Senate conferred on Mr.. Davis, of Hi
nois. One of the first acts of the House after
the heart burnings and scandal attending Mr..
Refers election to the speakership and the
appointment of committees was to pass anew
apportionment bill. fixing the number of its
members at 325. The result of the change Is
that the West and South obtain increased in
{ HuencG IN nAllOlal dHdAiSs NHiAC thot VI VIC
New England States is somewhat diminished.
The Japanese indemnity bill, returning to
Japan $1,5l6, 1854 improperly eXtorted from
her in 1868, was a eommendable though tardy
act of Justice but the two houses differing as
to the amount ofinterest, if any, to be allowed
on the money, the bill went over to the next
session. Ola different and rather question
able character were the anti-Chinese and anti
polvgamy bills, the first straining and distort-
ing the provisions of our treaty with t;send-
" pc&ser in reference to the immigration OF
Cinnamon; the other, out of a weli-meant m
tention of suppressing polygamy, carrying IN
reference with the local selfgovernment of
the people of Utah to the verge of tyranny.
/ The tariff commission bill came next in order,
a measure the object of which was ostenslbly
TO secure for congressional use in December
next a well-eonsidered scheme of tariff reyl-
sion. but in reality designed, according to the
prevalent view, to defer the reduction of tariff
I duties indefinitely. or at any rate until after
the fail elections The expulsion and agto-
cratic selection Of its members has been a
7 marked feature Of this Congress. Cannon,
the Mormon representative of Utah, was de-
prived Of his seat in Difference 10 a sentiment
/ more popular perhaps than just, but the
adoption By the House Of new rule which
I enabled bare majority to override the rights
of a minority for the special purpose OF en-
ahling partisan majority to increase ats num-
bers bv unseating members Of the opposition,
was q procedure which does not admit OF con
demnation sufficiently severe. The contested
( election case of Lynch vs. Chalmers turned
unon a Mississippi election law which had
been construed by the supreme Court OF that
State. hut neither law nor eyidense-suiiced Ia
deter the republican MAJORITY from nnseatlng
+ the democrat Ia favor Of his republican opPo-
nent Five other contested election cases
we're similarly disposed Of. the democrats IN
+ each ease losing a vote. and the republican
majority gaining one more toward y quorum
Of partisaa soliaity The Geneva award bill
as passed provides method at distributing to
claimants what remains Of the Sls. 90, 900
indemnify received from Great Britain IN
1873, hut has the serious fault u ncgieeiing
the rights OF a class 1T claimants recognized
bv the arbitrators who made the award The
bin extending the charters Of the national
banks was aa important p1een Of legislation,
mich improved ia is passage by certain
amendments secured BY Mr.. Beck. Il hen+
tucky. Army officers over - years were, BY
another bill made Snhjecs 10 compulsory re.
tirement. The House bil creating an exec.
utire department Of agriculture, whose chief
should have seat in the cabinet, ~as killed
IN the Senate. To the credit 81 the House
was il ppvopriatian--theB<h Only after
mach urginE-of SiE.oe1 70 fe-essabiish the
civil service examinations suspended sinee
1878 Tor SAINT u congressional favor and aid.
Among the bills whose failure i % be Spec
ially regretted arr the bankruptcy bin and the
one framed by SesataF Davis, % Illinois.
creating an intermediate appellate eoaFt. 10
relieve the Supreme Coarf af some Of H. da-
hes. Among the insiineideHts Of the session
was the r,assagc of the knit goods blii. an act
designed, a. alleged b. Is friends. - correct
+ an error Of the eamgsiieTs st the Revised sta
sntos los which the tariff GA ~ important class
4 of goods was uudaiy lowered. bat IN the view
& 81 Is opponents 4 was fresh legislaslon u The
interests ST ultra psosectianisas. Exirava-
eance and partisan aiekersuE hare been the
great vices % the Forfy-scyrnsh Congress ia
ia iirsi session, although tbs SESSION has passed
With less exhibition u an iusaAeFAnt party
spirit Ga the part u the MAJORITY than foEni-
erly Il now goes before the c01nsFy Tor q
verdict upou is wurk extending tkrnagh two
thirds 81 : wear and i alay fairly BE- expected
that this verdict. as expressed in the caBgres-
sionai elections. wiH be rehaks % The party
which has the maioriiy 10 the hoase and
senate, and Is therefore responsible fer The
character of the legislation Of The session
What viii he feekGaed most 60 is discrcdit
vii b. is neglect - modify existing laws 80
IS 70 sbate some part Of The Siao,tssl-tsS 81
surplus revenue drawn unnecessarily from the
people. A ridiculous hiil reducing taxes "a
perfunery. &c, but uoi relieving the people
81 any important gars u their barienA. Wa,
Il j. true. hreaghs forward in the senate, and
gave Fise 70 a pFosgacied debsse. The ball
failed 10 become q law, bot the debate attract
cd general attention. and may b. pronounced
the most impegsauf incident of The SESSION
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