The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-03-10
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1883.
End of the 47th Congress.

On Sunday last the Forty seventh Congress
expired by constitutional limitation at II
O'Clock noon. For forty eight hours previous
to adjournment both houses were in almost
continuous session, and the closing scenes on
Saturday night and Sunday morning were
ANYTHING but crcdtable to the legislative branch
of the government. Many members INDUCED
in strong drink, and sat in their seats and
smoked cigars, amusing themselves by throw
ing documents and paper balls across the hall
at doing members.
The Forty Seventh Congress is no more
and its acts have passed into history. At its
first session, lasting nearly nine months, its
extravaganza of the public money and disre
gard of the demands of the people were
shameful. The session was wasted in dilly
dallying with measures of Importance to the
country, and in useless debate, and in putting
through river and harbor bills and other meas
ures to rob the treasury. When the people
spoke through the ballot in November, the
Republican party was dumb-founded and be-
gan to realize that it had been too long pre-
Stunning upon its former prestige and too long
had regarded the people merely as machines
to vote them in power. When Congress met
for its final session it gave evidence of an in
tenton to reduce taxation and to pass neces-
sary reform measures, but the good intentions
were soon forgotten and the session ended
with but little done toward meeting the de-
mands of the country. The tariff bill, with
its internal revenue clauses, the most impor-
tant act of the session, does not please any
one. The protective men do not like 1t, the
revenue reformers do not like it, and the free
trade advocates do not like it. 1t was only
passed at all because it was the best that
could be hoped for at this season. The re-
duction effected by it is only about S50,O0O,-
600. about 81 900, 900 of it on the tax on
sugar alone This will leave a surplus in the
treasury of some fifty sixty millions to
tempt jobbers and treasury raiders. The
government ought not to collect more money
than it needs all over that amount is down
right robbery of the people.
The civil service reform bill is not what
was needed, but still it is an entering wedge
that may open the way for real and substantial
reform of the service.
Beyond these two bills, and the usual APP
preparation bills, nothing of special impor
lance was done, and the next Congress will
have to take up these measures anew next
winter.
The aggregate amount of the appropriations
is, 1926, 227, 511.36, made up as follows:
Pension, $50, 1915, OOO Military Academy,
1913, G57 so; Notifications, 100000; Con
suar and Diplomatic, 81 ,296, 1856 Navy,
1884, 4S423; Army, 24,G81, $50; Post
Office, S44, 499, $50; Indian, $5,862, 655.91;
Legislative, $40, AGA ,29G,22; Sundry Civil,
S23, 9O6, 147.47; District of Columbia, ST.
G99, 967.23; Deficiency, $2,Sl3, 1880; Ag-
ricutural, S4O5, $40; miscellaneous bills, in
volving appropriations of money, S75O,OOO.
The aggregate of the appropriations for
last year, including $18, 738, 1915 for the River
and Harbor bill, was 1926, 500, G39, and for
the preceding year, including S1l AL 300 for
the River and Harbor bill, was $2l9,367,-
$685.
When it is considered that the last year
of Buchanan's administration only cost $780,
DOC, 1000, these figures must appear appalling,
and yet it was said the Democrats were ex-
travagant. ...