Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-10
Too SLOW.

Congress has sat more than three
months. 1t has Matched nothing, and
one may doubt whether many of the
eggs are good. No Congress ever had
greater reason to devote itself to
earnest effort for the aid of industry
and commerce and the promotion Of
the public prosperity. Democratic
neglect and p%artisanship had left a
vast amount of work to be done. The
greatest interests and the most i'm
portant industries had suffered sorely
from neglect. A disguised people
had ousted Democratic partisans, and
sent a Republican majority to take
charge of affairs. Because all the
wise legislation of the past twenty
years, under which marvellous pros.
perity had been attained, had been the
work of the Republican party, and
because that party had especially de
served and gained the public conf
dence by its fidelity in matters of pub
lie faith and to financial and indus
trial needs, there was reason to hope
that this Congress would strive to do
well. Is it possible to speak with
praise of its work?
An Apportionment bill has been
passed-which ought not to have oc-
cupied two days. 1t was not a very
good bill, but the business interests of
the country would not have suffered
if the whole subject had been Ignored.
A Funding bill, which might have
been a great deal worse. but ought to
have been a great deal better, than it
is, has passed one House-and is not
expected ever to see the light in the
other. One or two appropriation bills
have passed, not marked by any fea.
ture deserving especial blame or praise.
1t may be said with truth that this
Congress has done very little to CEN
sure. Possibly that is in part because
this Congress has done very little.
All the great interests of the coun
try are still neglected. There is
urgent need, now that gold begins to
60 abroad, of legislation to arrest the
coinage Of silver, and the issue Of sill
yer certificates. Clear headed men
do not like to point out how near and
serious the danger really is, because
discussion might bring it nearer, and
Congress seems both indifferent and
wrong headed-apparently disposed
not to act at all, and inclined. if it acts
at all, to act wrongly. The tariff
question has been family and timidly
touched upon, without serious dis.
cussion, and with much apparent
aversion to such remedial action as is
sorely needed by great industries.
Congress even seems averse to provide
for investigation, as if afraid that hon
estinquiry might force it to take action
Of some kind. The Arrears of Pen
sions bill has been debated long and
hotly, but with the result that one
House barely escaped indOrsing the
great robbery. Neitter House has
found time to consider a simple meas
ure that would help to prevent part
OF the enormous robbery, by remedy
ing defects in the law. -Four hundred
miles of rich land in several States are
now deluged and devastated, while
comparatively inexpensive measures
for the Improvement and confinement
of the great river are sleeping in
pigeon-holes. American shipping
dwindles away almost to the vanishing
point, while England makes greater
efforts than ever to keep for British
manufacturers and merchants exclu.
siye advantages in trade with foreign
lands. In fact, a catalogue of the
Interests that are neglected would be
a catalogue Of the interests of the
country.
What is Congress doing? Talking
some. 1t is nearly all barren tall
about order of business, or points
OF order" or personal explanations"
and there surely never was a Congress
that had more trouble to get al the
proper order of doing nothing.