The Osceola times., 1886-07-24

olarcd
Messrs. Randall and Morrison are
credited with this plan to .preven:
"jobs" getting through in the hurry
of the last days of the session. If
they succeed, think Of the disappoint-
ments aud blasted hopes that will
fall at the heels Of the Forty Ninth
Congress. Even should this session
be marked in 40 other way than with
a defense of the National Treasury.
1t would have an honored place in
the nations history.
But there are other ways in which
the present session is remarkable. If
the House itself has not completed
all the Legislation that was hoped for,
the committees have done more work
by far than the committees Of any
previous House. They have consid-
cred and reported to the House over
3,lOO bills, during this first session.
In both sessions of the Forty- Eight
Congress, only 1906 bills were thus
acted on. Tho food of bills that has
been poured upon the present Con-
gress is also unprecedented, over
10000 having been presented into
the House alone.
After repeated attempts and fail
ures, the House has succeeded in
passing one little private pension
bill over the Presidents veto. Speak
ing Of adjournment, 1t is probable
that the last days of the session will
be involved in heated political de-
bate at the senate end Of the Capi-
toi. The Senate is expected to pas
a resolution for the printing OF Press
idential veto messages from the or
ganization of Congress to the pres
ent day. They will probably be in
the hands of the Senators within a
week. This is the prelude to a fight.
Referring to the prospects for ad-
lournment, representative Bland,
the silver man OF Missouri, declared
that the Senate was moving even
more slowly than the House in fur
nishing prospective "veto material" !"
for US such he characterized the Riv-
er and Harbor bill The length Of
time the Senate consumed in potter
ing over this measure made him think
the Senate seemed more anxious for
the grab than the House. snow"
continued he, "if the President sees
tit TO veto the measure, no power can
prevail upon Congress to pass the
bill over his opposition" Represen-
ta,ive Hatch, also of Missouri, and
one of Oleomargarine's bitterest foes,
has said that he strained his con-
science in voting for the River and
Harbor bill when it.frst passed the
House, and that he will not do it a
second time.
Congruss has voted to reduce tho
mil &c of army officers from s cents
to 4 cents mile. That is about
twice what it costs tLeln to travel.
But the allowance Of Congressman
is still 20 cents mile, the same as
in the stage coach era. The clamor
"On what basis of right or reason is
this?" has tailed, SO far, III impress
ing Congress with the necessity of
doing something for itself in this re-
spect. kor short distances, 20 cents
mile does not amount to much, but
on long distances, it counts up to
almost criminal extravaganza.
Take, for instance, the trip to the
Pacific slope. The entire expense
both ways for one person need not
exceed $500, including the best Of
everything. Yet the Government
allows Congressman i POO and
upwards, and thus he is allowed to
make from 5000 To 81 900 on two
weeks run. The New York mem
bers are allowed sl6 each to come
here and 20 home from ashington
aud the Chicago Congressman get
sl70 each way, and travel on passes,
The gayest legislator at the Capt.
tol, ii asked to present bill for his
personal expenses, when not travel.
ing officially, would not dare TO run
the figures up to the present legal
allowance. If he should, it would
be likely to cost him his seat in Con-
gress as soon as the people in hi.
district learned the fact. a fair
mileage rate, actual necessary ex.
penses, would probably not be oh.
jected to from any quarter; but tn.
20 cent rate is an ineNcusabic eNtrav
agance. Democratic enonomy i.
perineating every branch Of the Gov.
crnment's service, however with d
slow, but, sure and steady purpose
Sooner or later it will reach and re.
move this outgrowth Of a long period
of corruption.