Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-07-24

that New England will lose two or
more, while the Northwestern states
will gain a number. This is a new
thing sprung upon the democrats, but
there are various reasons why they will
most bitterly oppose it ; 1t would knock
them out of all they hope to gain in the
gerrymandered Ohio districts because
it would make it necessary to hold cleo
tions in the same districts lis at the last
Congressional election while in
the South it would inJure that
party very much. The republi-
cans insist that it will be done if
the Superintendent of the census can
get his returns completed in time, and
he says he can.
Of late years the tendency in Ameri-
can legislation has been in the direction
of curtailing consideration and utilizing
all possible speed to secure the enact
ment of laws. On all sides there is Il
popular disposition to frown down any.
thing looking to elongated discussion
and debate, and the school of states
men which clings to the oldfashloned
IDEAS in this respect find it quite diff
cult to secure audience for what they
have to say. There are many good
reasons for the adoption Of this abre-
waited style Of legislation, but, on the
other hand, there is grave danger that
it may be as much abused as the old
method from which the legislators and
public seem so anxious to escape. Tn.
fortunately the American orator is not
so constituted that he is able to adapt
himself to the different public questions
with the correct moderation. He is
generally found at one extreme OR the
other either too serious at one time or
too frivolous ut another. Very often
he INDUCES in lengthy and weary
speeches on a subject when few words
would suffice, and then at times the
most momentous questions do not re-
ce,ve the time or thought that they call
for.
OF late years the last evil pointed out
seems to be the rule. Measures of the
gravest import are huraied through
Congress by means Of special ru es and
impromptu decisions Of the presiding
officers, while those OF MINOR Importance
are taken up to be discussed and con
sdered at leisure. All along the line
there seems to be lack of ability to
strike the happy medium in legislation
The trainers of the Constitution were
Of course, unable to foresee the tenden.
cy OF latter day craftsmanship, else
they would probably have provided for
a more marked policy in this respect
but it Is quite certain that they did not
intend the country to be governed by
such Il loose method in its Legislative
bodies. The example of our earlyday
legislators cannot be followed to the let
ter with safety, as the change IN times
precludes that, but to certain extent
their rules governing the consideration
of public business can be studied and
much benefit derived. Congress can
do no harm, even if the principle is
sometimes abused.
1t Is safe to say that there is no con-
suming desire on the part of the Senate
either by the adoption Of strin gent rules
or in the ordinary course, to crown It's
work with the enactment of an election
law such as would be not only purely
partisan IN its character, but Of doubt.
full partisan expcdlcncy, Not that the
Senate is in the habit Of being outdone
by the House, when 1t comes to ques.
tons Of partlsanship. but there are a
number of Republican Senators who
like to see their way clear to safe and
Gel tain results before committing them
selves to the support Of Legislation 50
radical AS to be revolutionary, and it is
extremely doubtful whether quorum
can be mustered to pass the force bill
excepting us an heroic measure, necessi.
tatcd by the obstructive tactics of the
The tariff bill is yet to be
disposed Of as by all odds Of more i'm
poatance to the country than the force
bill, even if the latter be conceded all
the merit hat its advocates CLAIM for it,
and the tariff discussion is certain to
consume good deal of time, prolonging
the session to period when it would
to apply the machinery
of the galvanized Davenport law 10 tins
iAll's elections.