The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-04
THE rwo CONGRESSES.

year OF 1850, and u was sNpecttd th~t tue
country would find in II u means OF cor
recting much IN the administration OF
Affairs needing correction, and the removsl
of many burdens that had begun 10 pres
the people heavily. In the five or six years
preceding the meeting Of the Forty'seyenih
congress the legislative aud executive
branches we're, unfortunately, opposed to
each other, and the consequence was an
utter inability on the part OF either to carry
to successful! operation any policy or prin-
clpes about which the parties were divided,
and as the difference between the republi-
can and democratic parties applied TO
nearly all the treat questions of the hour.
legislation thereon was for the time on o
stsnd-still. With the Ferty'seVenth con
gress, the country passed egain into the
hands of the republicans, and the hope was
therefore entertained that having the reins
OF government entirely in their grasp once
more, they would accomplish something OF
general Importance TO the nation. Now,
however the Forts seventh congress expires
without having existed to any practical
purpose, NO far as the nation is concerned.
1t is doubtful II any preceding congress
In political accord with the executive has
done so little of general benefit. Without
exception, the bills that have been passed
are only such as are calculated TO operate
in certain localities, ana in the interest of
certain classes Of citizens. Nothing IN the
way of national legislation, legislation that
would extend with beneficial effect from
Maine to California, has been enacted,
None OF the departments of the govern
ment have been Improved or rendered more
efficient, aud so far as the people vs. Il
whole arc interested, the Forty
seventh congress might as well have
not met, The anttChueso bin
was passed for California, the anti
polygamy bill only Affects Utah, the river
aud harbor bin was gigantic steal Ior q
thousand Insignificant points and the
tariff bill Is only q repetition Of what we
have had all tue time, SO with all the other
revenue aud pension and deficiency bulls.
Nothing new, nothing rel0rmatory, moth
ing that can be regarded as the liGung Of
burden from the masses and making gov
eminent stronger, better, purer aud more
progressive. True, civil service bill has
been passed, but has not yet been tried,
and il IS matter of doubt what its effect
upon the country is going to be. The rest
OF the legislation has been exclusively con
fined to local aud personal matters, And
during all this time the surplus
revenue has been increasing, and the
country demanding less taxation, indirect
~ well rs direct. Much talk has been n
dulged In, Investigations have been ordered,
commissions appointed, contestants seated,
and y vast Amount of money expended,
bu, the questions of the reduction of tariff,
the presidential succession, the efficient
reorganization of the judiciary, the revival
of American shipping, the Improvement OF
the Mississippi, the solution of the Indian
problem, the correction of abuses in the
naval and postal departments and the
great question of tho equalization OF ixa'
ton ard adjustment of The revenues to the
actual expenses OF the government have
only been discussed, not settled. In other
words, the sins OF the congress Just
expired are those both of commits.
sion and omission, Had pREstpENr GAR
FIELD lived, statesman full of magnetism,
resources and suggestions much more
might have been accomplished, owing 10
his Efforts and influence but his successor
has been without u policy and congress
without a leader The Forly.eighth con.
gIess commences its lile under auspicious
circumstances, but the house being demo
cratic and the senate and executive repuh.
lican, much cannot be hoped Tor In the way
of roiormatory legislation, or the adoption
or even Inauguration Of policies calculated
to improve the status of affairs. The coun.
try Ia, therefore, to he congratulated that il
is in such fortunate situation that, If
| nothing can be done to better 1t, nothing
can DO done to work oppression or IN.
crease the exactions of government
or the burdens OF labor. The total
| number of representatives in the
house which has just finished its legal term
of existence was s9S. The republicans mum.
bered AZ members, or just n majority over
all, The democrats numbered 1856. OF these
DS members of the Forty-seventh house lS9
have been reelected the democrats rc.elect.
ing Il and the republicans O.. In the Forty.
seventh congress the republicans had q ma
jority in the congressional delegations Of
twenty states, In the Forty.eighth congre 5
there are S25 representatives. OF this mum.
Der the democrats have l0l and the republi.
cans 10, thus giving the former n majority
over the republicans and n majority over
all of5o, The democrats have also major
lily OF the delegations of twenty-five states.
Unless called together sooner by the presl.
dent, the Forty.elghth congress, though the
term of its service commences from, to-day,
will not meet and organize until December
next.
-------- to- q --'a ----.----