The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-12-07
MAKE IT a BUSINESS SESSION 4.

MAKE IT a BUSINESS SESSION!
While it is wholly true that this Congress, at
its second session, has, under the letter of the
Constitution, every right to originate and per-
feet such legislation as a majority of its mem
bers approve, it may well be questioned whether,
in the circumstances, it is either wise or expe-
dent to attempt the enactment of any measure
for which there is no popular demand, but
which may seem to be called for by the e1igen-
cies of party warfare.
Since the Force bill was passed by the House
and introduced into the Senate general Con-
gressonal election has been held, in which it is
not unfair to suppose that the people acted in
the cognizance of and with full reference to
the proceedings of the first session of the Fifty
first Congress. That they did not approve of
all those proceedings would seem to an impair
tial observer neither an unintelligent nor I'M
Just conclusion from the results of that election.
A month ago the people declared in the most
emphatic manner their reputation of the
present House Of Representatives and elected
new body, which, in political composition at
least, will differ from it very considerably.
Any one who is not an extreme partisan cannot
fail to understand that the people by their
choice meant to show their desire that another
set of men should make their laws. They
could not take from the present Congress the
power TO complete legislation of which they
disapprove, but they could and did give over
whelming evidence of their disapprobatlon.
In view of that disapprobation, and of the
further fact that legislature truly performs its
functions only when it reflects the will of the
people, it would seem expedient for this Con-
gress TO devote the short period now remaining
to it not to discredited partisan measures, but
InSi0aSS q m 10 n
to the country.
That there is no lack of such business is
shown by the number of measures now pending.
The Supreme Court needs relief Commercial
interests demand a bankruptcy law. Labor
seeks the due acknowledgment of its rights.
Public buildings and Improvements are re-
quired al different points. The District of Co.
lumbia stands in urgent want of long-delayed
but indispensable legislation. The several ap-
preparation bills have to be thoroughly consd-
cred, and various other measures Of a purely
practical and non-partisan character await dis
posal The present time would seem to be
more favorable for accordant action on such
matters than for the adoption of doubtful
schemes for ostensible party advantage.
These considerations are applicable to the
Senate as well as the House 1t is very true
that the late upheaval did not as directly affect
the upper as the lower chamber, but the terri
tory concerned in it is represented in both, and
its indications should not 60 unheeded in either.
1t is curious fact, and it is here presented
for the consideration of the majority in the
Senate, that in the forty-four States for which
the Fifty second Congress will legslate only
twelve will send to the lower House delegations
in which Republicans have a majority. These
twelve States are California, Colorado, Idaho,
nal
sylvania South Dakota, Vermont, Washington,
and Wyoming, containing in all population
of 9,2l7,44l. Assuming that the late elections
reflect the sentiment of the people on national
issues, it follows that only twenty-four mem
bels Of the dominant party in the Senate are in
full and direct accord with the States they rep
resent II further follows that this dominant
party, whatever its numerical strength may be,
represents closely and directly only little over
nine millions of people-that is, so far as the
Senate is concerned, One-seyenth Of the popula-
tion legislates for the remaining ffty-three
millions.
II seems reasonable TO suppose that political
change so sweeping in its range as to produce
the extraordinary result referred to might be re-
garded by the Senate as an admOnition against
preferrin@ an extreme and impractcable
scheme like the Force bill, to other useful leg
islation which is urgently demanded. There is
no demand for the Force bill Exciting cleo
tious nave just been held in all parts of the
country, with marvellous revcrsals Of former YER
diets, bat without suggestion of fraud or vio-
lence The present is, therefore, very mop
portuIe time for pressing measure to take the
control Of their elections from the people of
the States. It is, on the other hand, most op-
portune for bringing up the arrears of practi-
cal legislation, about which all parties are
agreed, and it is TO be hoped that the majority
in the Senate will read the signs Of the time
Alright and do its duty in the premises wisely
and patTiotcally,
The current number Of BelfordS Maga@ne
will be of more than common interest to the
historian and military student. 1t contains
IL. hirn.r I...l "