The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-04
A GREAT CONTRAST.

A GREAT CONTRAST.
The United States Senate as thu Old Man
of the Sea in Dragging Down Good Leg
islation.
The record of the Forty-ninth Con-
gress is particularly interesting in
showing very important points of diff
ference between the Democratic House
and the Republican Senate. Whatever
may have been the sins of omission on
the part of the former, and the neglect
to carry out certain measures of re.
form in fuliilment of platform pledges
and in accordan", with the earnest de-
sires of the people, the House evinced
a spirit of economy, and lent in many
notable instances its hearty co-opera.
ton with the reform work of the Adj
ministration. 1t responded heartily to
the appeal Of Secretary Lamar and
Land Commissioner Sparks for legisla-
ton to correct the widespread abuses
and swindling connected with the pub
lie lands. 1t displayed commendable
zeal in furthering Secretary Wbitney's
plans for the construction of navy
worthy of the Nation, and spoiled many
seductive job brought before it, backed
by powerful and INSCRIPTIONS lobby.
On the other hand, the Republican
Senate exhibited wanton disregard
for the interests Of the public and en-
deavored to thwart the economical and
conservative policy of the lower House.
The Republican Senators made stout
fight for the steamship subsidy lobby,
and nothing short of the unbending,
determined opposition of the Demo
cratic House defeated this shameless
waste of the peoples money. Tho
Senate neutralized the efforts of the
House to reform the land laws and
save what remains of the public do
main from the harnies who are after
it. The Anderson bill, requiring the
immediate adjustment of railroad land
grants was SO altered by the Senate
that it became to all practical purposes
null and void.
The repeal of the Presumption, Tim
Der Culture and Desert Land laws was
also SO manipulated by the Republican
Senate that the situation now is worse
than before and more favorable to the
land grabbers. Secretary Lamar called
the attention of the country to the i'm
portance of repeating those laws. In
regard to the Desert Land laws the Sec
rotary said: Good government seeks
to secure to the citizen the undisturbed
enjoyment of his natural rights.
Among these is the enjoyment Of his
lawful acquisitions. Land, lawfully &C
quired, is among the most important Of
his possessions. Its security depends
upon the certainty of its title, litiga-
ton and contention depreciate its
value, disturb the peace, waste the
means and mar the prosperity of 8
community or nation. Laws exist on
the statute books which violate these
principles and are Objectionable. The
Desert Land acts are subject to this
criticism. Fraudulent titles to gooo
lands, have been the result of these
acts. I would, therefore, suggest theil
repeal"
/ The Democratic House acted in &C
cordance with this suggestion, but TIN
Republican Senate blocked the desired
reform. Shameless extravaganza
amounting to open robbery, has beer
shown by the Senate in the pension
bills, in the vast increase to the Rive
and Harbor bill and in other unneces
sary additions to other appropriation
measures. Not only is the Republican
, Senate eager and willing to squande
the peoples money, but it resents
; with indecent spleen, any interference
on the part of the President to protec
! the treasury. Mr.. Charles Nordhofl
. an experienced and observant Wash
ington correspondent, who can not b
, accused of partially towards the Dem
, ocratic party. thus alludes to the con
duct of the Democrats and Republican
in both Houses:
, The cry of the Republicans In the canvas
, of 1884 was that If the Democrats were a
lowed to come in they would do too much
they would carry the country to the dog
The complaint now is that they have NJ
done enough They have certainly somitte
to 40 some things which needed &c doing ing an
: they controlled both Houses. But the skilfl
and unscrupnlOus obstruction of impOrtar
measures by the Republicans in the Senat
shows that. no matter how active, determine
ih the House. their measures would hav
5 been defeated in the Senate. They have ce
tainly not been harmonious party in tt
House. but If they had been that would NJ
have helped them, as many instances prov
o What is to the credit of the Democrats
that they have done no harm and have q
:. lowed the Republicans to do no harm, an
: they have shown in the Administration ar
| in 10 1tSnnSifiOn
: with the peoples atfairs.-Albany Argus.