New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-07
THE lNCAPABLES.

In two months more this incapable Do-Noth-
ing Congress will have vanished from the
earth, and the country well may hope never
to see another like it. On Saturday, again,
Democratic leaders fought all day to prevent
ANYTHING being done, and their only excuse is
that they were anxious to prevent mischief.
II thew insist upon it, no one has the right to
deny that this Democratic House is incapable
of doing anything without doing mischief but
each day that passes must lessen the chance
of accomplishing either of the many Important
or ncedful things which it is the clear duty OF
this Congress to accomplish. If its failure or
refusal makes an extra session unavoidable the
responsibility will be placed by the people
where it belongs.
Two months of hard work-and the present
House has not shown itself capable OF WORKING
hard at any time-would not suffice to accom-
plish all that ought to be done. There mas
been an incompetent Do-Nothing House for so
many years that needful public business mas
fallen far behind. The question whether an
extra session is desirable or polite is therefore
not unlikely to be solved by such failure OF
legislation as to make it necessary Even IL
no great appropriation bill should 1aii' tnere
are now many measures OF such importance
that it would be unsafe to defer action ON them
for another year, and the more dangerous De-
cause, with the House very closely divided ana
nth Democratic leaders inclined to filibuster on
the slightest occasion or no OCCASION it would
be by no means certain that any wise measure
could be passed within two or three months
after the next House should be organized
Whether one looks at the Interstate law from
the point Of view Of the Western producer or
trader, or from that Of the Eastern shipper or
investor In either case it is equally evident
that the law needs to be modified. IL IS de-
feating the purposes Of those who urge It's
enactment, and yet the majority in the present.
House is tolerably sure not to confess, by SUCH
amendments as are needful, that the leaders
who framed the measure were incompetent
Still less is that body likely to eliminate from
the law those features which threaten inc
solyency Of many railroad companies wltnou'
any corresponding benefit to producers or snip
pers. But there is reason to hope that the new
Congress, composed less largely OF demagogues
Of the Democratic stripe, would have the sense
and the courage to do something that ought TO
be done. II is only the truth that results more
serious than many imagine-resuits even more
hurtful to Western business men and farmers
than to investors-are likely to come within an
other year, if the act in its present blunder1ng
form remains in force so long.
Much has been said Of the Importance OF re-
ducing the revenue, and the situation has been
modified only by the extravaganza appropria-
tons of the present Congress. BY the time this
short session has passed the appropriations for
another year should be made, it is true, but
there is a strong probability that partisan ma
Iiority will be disposed to make less liberal pro-
vision for the first year Of President Harrison's
| Administration than was made for the last
year of President Clevelands. change in the
amount of revenue may therefore become essen
tial, and not some time next year. after mis-
chief has been done. but before the next fiscal
year begins. Unless some change is made az
| the present session. of which there is now little
| prospect, this matter alone may render an extra
session expedient. But there are many others
the admission Of States. the preparation for the
census, the provision for foreign mail service,
the provision for more honest elections. De
lay on all these matters will involve some seri-
Gus loss, so that q session Of the new Congress,
| for speedy attention to the public business,
may be generally welcomed unless needful
legislation goes forward far more rapidly than
| is now expected