Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-07-30
The Adjournment of Congress.

1t is expected that Congress will adjourn
on Monday next and the first session OF
the 49lh Congress be thus brought to a
close. Although the session has been even
further extended into the heated term than
is customary with the first or unlimited
session, our law makers DO not appear to
have much to show in the way of iegisla-
tion for the time they have spent at the
Capitol.
Aside from the regular appropriation
bills, upon which action must necessarily
be taken, the Presidential succession bill,
bills OF private character, very little has
been done in the way of legislation by the
10th Congress. No action at al, save
fruitless debates, has been taken upon i'm
po;tant measures like tariff reform, silver
coinage, interstate commerce, The Mormon
question, the electoral count, the public
lands, the labor question and other meas
ures of general Importance to TIE country
at large.
The unproductiveness of the present SEES
sion has been due in large measure to
the adverse Republican Senate, hich lab
ored for partisan ends to restrain the Dem
ocratic majority of the House in the en-
actment of any beneficial legislation.
There were, however, other causes which
operated to produce discord among the
Democratic congressman themselves there
by impairing party harmony and unity
upon important measures. In the matter
of tariff reform, the action of the Demo
cratic majority of the House in carrying
out as far as it was able the policy of the
party, was forestalled by the schsm of the
few alleged Democrats who, fol owing the
lead of Mr.. Samuel J Randall, combined
with the Republicans 10 that end. Upon
the question of restraining the coinage of
the anomalous silver dollar which on '
serves to disturb the balance of the tinan-
cial system of the country, the sectional
delusion of the West in the matter OF in
f1ation proved to be stronger motive
power with many congressman from that
section than the policy of the party as so
we'll set forth by the President in his mes
sage.
/ But while for the reasons mentioned
some sins of omission may be chargesble
to the account of the 49th Congress at its
first session. yet it must at the same time
have credit for having restrained in large
measure the frauds and jobheIy which had
been 80 extensively carried on in past Con-
crosses. With Democratic maiorities in
all the House committees and under the
charge OF the we'll chosen chairmen OF
Speaker Carlisle, the atmosphere Of the
capitol has proved to be too pure tor the
lobbyist and the corruptiopIst TO abide in.
Aside from the much too numerous pri-
vate pension bills which the Democrat 5
negligently aud unwittingly permitted to
be passed 10y the Republicans, little leg
/ islation of a questionable character has
found place on the stature books during
the session about closing
j Upon the who'e it may be safely said
that the first session OF Congress closes
with the Democratic administration hold
ing its own in u very satisfactory manner
While the inaciion of the legislative branch
nt- the goxexament- -ppsa--Snaas-a -a-ass;i iAss
upon which the material interests Of he
country seriously demand legislation, may
be vaTiously commented on. the careful
conservatism which has been manifested
by the executive, AID that portion of the
legislative branch of the government
which is under Democratic control. viii
do much to inspire confidence among thr
business interests in the safe Y of he Dem.
ocratic party at the be III of the ship o.
state.