Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-01-30
Che callfastcr 1rtelli9enfeT.
LANCASTER, JANUARY 80, 1856.
The InefIiciency Of Congress.


The inability of Congress to pass laws
which the country demands has become so
apparent as to bring many intelligent men
to the conclusion that the body is utterly
useless for the purposes of its creation. For
several years it has been impossible to Sc
cure healthful and necessary changes in the
laws, while Congress has been in contin-
nous wrangle over the most inconsequen-
tial matters, and has succeeded in doing
nothing except TO pass bills for getting
money out of the treasury.
The sentiment Of the country, as well as
Justice, have long demanded a declaration
on the part of Congress Of the forfeiture of
unearned land grants. Although the de-
velopment of the evil was made manifest
three or four years ago, and the demand
was at once made that this wrong should he
remedied, Congress has done nothing.
Bills introduced into one branch TO be re-
ported favorably and passed, have failed to
secure consideration in the other house, and
as result not single acre of land has been
declared forfeited. And yet party plat
forms and public sentiment have demanded
aswith one voice, that reform was necessary
in this respect and that the lands should
be held for actual settlers.
The same is true in all fiscal matters.
The national bank system has been per-
mitted to remain in thoroughly unsatis-
factory condition, in spite of a general sem
timent of friendliness and an urgent de-
mand for a more definite and better estab-
lished basis for future operations. The
silver question has failed to receive any
consideration, so that the government has
gone onpaying good money for bullion and
piling up silver dollars in the vaults of the
treasury, when nothing was more certain
than that they could not be utilized or
drawn into circulation. The trade dollar
is even palmer case. A swindle on the
government and the people, it has been
absolutely impossible to secure any legisla-
tion to redeem or withdraw it from circu-
lation. Evils in the levy and collection of
revenue have gone uncorrected, under
valuation and smuggling being practiced
continually and openly. Still Congress has
done nothing and is, to all appearances,
utterly obliviOus to these simple business
questions.
On the other hand Congress has mani
tested readiness to waste the money of
the country and to indulge in bad or doubt
full legislation. The pension legislation of
the past few years has been little better
than absolute swindling, while the river
and harbor bills have too often been in
effect conspiracy to take money
from the treasury. Public buildings
have been authorized when no demand
existed for them, i'll violation of recognized
business principles, while places far more
deserving of them have been entirely ne
elected and shut out in the log-rOlling
which generally controls this legislation.
Educational bills, appropriating immense
sums of money, have been introduced and
have excited as much discussion as if they
We're practical and constitutional Last
but not least, time has been wasted on
buncombe resolutions of sympathy with
people, nations or individuals, whose busi-
ness was no concern to the United States,
or it has been devoted to weak and useless
euloges Of weak and useless statesmen who
have had the good senSe or misfortune to
die.
And yet not senator or representative
has risen in his place to protest plainly and
bluntly against this waste of time OF the
recognized failure of Congress to do the
work entrusted to it. 1t must always be
the case that the real affairs of the country
are entrusted to few men. We have these
in both houses of Congress; but they fail
TO do their work. If half dozen men
should start out to take that leadership
which character and ability naturally con-
fer upon them, and insist upon Congress
settling itself to real, decisive, earnest
work they would not only find general sup
port in the country, but they would give
themselves power which was formerly
exercised but has now fallen into desuetude.
They would not only establish their own
reputation as useful men, but they would |
do something to make the Congress of the
United States other than the reproach it
is becoming SO rapidly.
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