Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-03-01
WAshlnglon, reb. 81, lbNg

WNoVIVusvV Ss'
Washington, Feb, %, 1889,
Now that the apporionmeat question
l. disposed of, the two subjects eSc''
Ing most interest aud discussion here
both under the dome aud In iIs shadow
are tho Utah contest and the Dakota
division. John Logan's Grant pen
sion bill Is dead cock In the pit,
think, aud the advent OF Lent has
Knocked social questions higher than
cooked hat. Advocates Of the PROPOSE
ton to carve q large-sizcd and sParsely
settled State out of one side Of the
Territory of Dakota are making the
most tremendous efforts, II Is nothing
more nor less than political scheme
devised chiefly to give tho Republican
party two more U. s. Senator's and
originated largely by selfish, aspiring
politicians who hope TO gobblc up the
benefits. Outside of this there is no de-
mand for action ut this time and re-
liable adyices from the territory in
dicate that large majority of the peo-
pic who represent its industry and
material prosperity do not desire I"
State government. They regard it an
unnecessary burden aud expense, But
the Republican party is committed to
this rotten borough system us means
of perpetuating its power. Nevada
with its little handful Of mining pros
poets, and Colorado with less than one
half us many inhabitants as are requir-
cd to elect Il member Of Congress in
other States were admitted in pursu-
ancc of this policy and for these ends.
The apportionment as finally made is
nearer to fairness than there was reason
at one time to expect. The most OBJ
iectionablc feature of it is the large in
crease in the number Of Representa-
tives. Adding thirty-two members to
a body already unweildy is not wisdom,
especially asst will be almost impossible
to properly accommodate them in the
present Hall. If this increase is to go
on through every decade, simply be-
cause of the selfish desire Of members
to increase their chances of reelection,
we shall have to build u new Capitol.
One means Of Temporary relief will be
to adopt the plan Of the English House
of Commons, remove all desks from
the Hall and seat members in rows on
plain benches. Some Senators who
have served in the lower house and
realize the truth of the situation would
have been in position to bring out the
objections to this measure but Tor the
need of passing it without delay. Sen
ator Hoar pointedly referred to some OF
the difficulties of transacting business in
the House, and the manner in which its
rules destroy the freedom of debate and
amendment, which he said had grown
out of the large membership, and gives
the control of legislation into the hands
of the speaker and few veteran men,
bers. There is no question as to the
great difficulty of getting measures be-
fore the House. Thousands Of bills
die in committee and on the calendar
every session, because the authors and
supporters are unable to get them con-
sidered. Many of these measures are
meritorious, though perhaps they affect
very few persons. There is one class
of legislation that especially Suffers
Private claims against the Government
rarely ever receive attention, and it has
become a recognized fact that it is al
most worth the amount of claim
against the United States to collect it.
Notwithstanding these facts, there are
those who pirate of Congress spending
too much time in session, and talk of
imaginary benefits that follow biennial
sessions. The truth is Congress does
not remain In session long enough to
attend properly to public business
The rapid growth of the country in
creases the business before each reopr-
ring session, and the sessions should be
heightened. Especially should Con-
gress adopt some means to relieve it
self of class of business which belongs
properly to the courts. T.
n The national greenback party
are to hold convention at St. Louis,