The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-12-29
A BUSINESS CONGRESS.
The Record Remarkably Good
in Many Respects,
THE HOBBIES OF MEMBERS
Prevent Much Practical Work Isping
DOnc..Thc Interstate Law Does
Not Go Far Enough.-Otlier
Washington News.

Special Di,pGtch to The IR!sUiqeHcer.
WAsHiSdToS, Dee. 2S.-"It 10 a great
pity that there has been this delay on
the election bill, II for no other reason
than that ii will interfere with the mag.
nilccnt business record made by this
Congress-" gaid Senator Paddock, OF
Nebraska, to-day. There probably
never was 4 Congress which has done
more important business than this"
continued the Senator, "and il it were
not for the delay being caused by the
discussion OF the election bill, this
record would be far better than that
made by any other Congress, and would
probably rank all Congresses for many
years in the future. We have adopted
great deal of important legislation be-
sides tho tariff bill. There are now on
the Senate calendar u large number OF
the most important measures the mind
Of Congress could conceive, and the
country is anxious f0i them, but this
talk oil the election hill iS playing hobby
with everything. Oicour5e | Bh Ill vote
for the adoption OF tho election bill il |
am presented with the opportunity,
whether believe it is Just the proper
thing at this time or not. | am Re-
publican and will not break away from
my party.
We could not only have passed
general financial measure and the ship.
ping. several lands and lot OF other
bills in the time We have taken up on the
election problem, but we could have
gotten out OF the way an enormous
plumber OF private measures, the Justice
OF which can be questioned by no one"
-
The record made By the Fitiy.frst
Congress will be remarkable in one re-
spcct at least. 1t will show the final
success OF less number of private bilts
than any Congress for many years. On
the House calendar there are not lc.s
than Gil private bills to-day. There is a
strong prejudice growing against private
bills, and il is almost IN impossibility to
get private bill through Congress new,
although it is CT the highest meritorious
class An officer, iOr instance, may pay
out money at the direction OF his suPe-
rior, plainly under the authority Of the
law, and Congress will seldom reimburae
him il it is questioned. 1t often occurs
that a disDursiDg CiliCer OF the Govern
ment will follow the law and will be
overtaken by some procedure OF some
lapse OF time which will force him to
lose the amount disbursed, and there
are number OF instances OF this kind
where the present House has refused to
reimburse. The House calendar has al.
together l,l47 in various stages o! COM
pletion. The private calendar OF course
leads. 1t always does. The adoption OF
the General Pension bill at the first sts-
sion OF this Congress made the into
duction OF large humber OF private
pension measures unnecessary. Tne
last Houee had private calendar nearly
twice as large aB this period o. its exist
eace. Had it not been Tor the superb
courage and magnificent order OF bual-
ness shown by Speaker Reed, not one
fourth rs much business would have
been accomplished by this Congress.
Then the President has facilitated busi-
ness very greatly By prompt reconmen-
dations and action. When the Election
bill is ont OF the way there will b. a
great deal OF business done within a
very short time.
1t is ve.y provoking 10 note the dis.
position OF lien in Congress TO stop
needed and nui.c!sally demanded lesis-
ia,ion, simply TINT t. hobby OF an indi.
yidual may be carried oat. A general
financial bill could have gone through
both branches OF Congress some weesa
since had it not been for the demand OF
4 number OF Senators that certain indi-
vidual ideGs should be recognized. This
trouble does not rest alone with tae free
silver advocates. There are men who
have all sorts OF professionally all Of
them nfeasihe-which they want 10
see upon the statute books OF the Federsl
Government, and they have insisted
upJn eugraitiug theic idea. 1t is be
lieved that there will be no financial leg.
islation, and il the caucus bill should
fail it will ta On account OF the unwI!l'
ingness OF Senators 10 yield from inGi.
yidual hobbies that the wish OF the
masses may DO fulfilled. There are a
number OF Senators who think the bond
ed indebtedness OF the Governlhc.
should bs refunded, and they are con.
stantly sgi,s!ins the question OF the is
suance OF two per cent BOND. Other
Senators have various ideas about baES-
ing which they insist shall be given rec
ogni.ion. Nearly every Senator has his
individual idea about silver, and be is
unwilling to let any financial measure
60 through unless something is done fol
silver.
There has been n great need ior the
reorganization OF the army ior many
years. There is not m officer or man in
the army who will say our present or.
snniza!ion is very lame, even ior the
skeleton OF an army in civil life.
Senator Maudersoa and Senator Haw.
ley and others have proposed reorgani-
zation schemes, but they have been de-
fea:ed because some man who never
smelled powder in war nor read page
Of war history i1r practical purposes has
IN idea which he insists shall be Gu.
grated upon any bill looking toward the
/, reorganization OF the army. Tho conse
.luence has been that all propositions 81
this character have been loaded dow
with impracticable ideas. This seems &c
be time calling i1r se!i,abnegation-
action from Senators upon the practlca
propositions OF others. 1t also seems (
;ime when each individual Senotor !ee!
called upon to proaulgsse and urge his
own ideas to the detiimento oi everything
else.
The fact that the Fi.tysecond Goa
sress will be crowded with men who oS'
their election 10 the Farmers Allianc
movement is likely to lead 10 seveic
very important SBendments to tat
Interstate Commerce laS.
Up to tho present time tho expteE:
companies have no. been brought with
in the provisions OF this act, owing t
:, the construction Of the same by th'
Boald OF Interstate Commerce Com
missiouefs. and The se&u!, is That ta'
long and short haul clause Of the tntor
y Ststc Commerce NJ. has no terrors fol
tha syorpss ccmpan.C5 Daring thu