Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-03-17


the famous Jay Treaty; all the dictates
during the stormy administration ~
the elder Adams. all the debates for
the periods Of Jefferson aud Madison,
on the Embargo and the War OF
1919; all the proceedings for the
ten years following the treaty
Of Client; IN short, the entire proc,ei-
ings OF Congress, under Washington,
John Adams, Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe are recorded In $4,000
pages, actually less by two thousand
three hrndrsd than were recorded In
the debates ~ both sessions Of the FIJI
tieth Congress, and very little more
than tho words OF the fret session Of
the fif,y-nrt Congress, which al.
Journcd OH the first u October last.
Other comparisons Of interest may he
made reality. One Of tho most eAcit-
Ing 0ngresses--supposed 10 be the
most important ever held ia the ante.
6cilun porlod-wns the Thirty.fnt,
beginning March Z, ist0, aud ending
March Z, ISL. The compromise meas.
urcs Of 1850, involving MI the phases
Of the slavery question ns u then exist.
ed, called forth q debate which for
thOr0ughnes- aud ability has perhaps
surpassed, In the history OF the govern.
mcnt.
Men who naturally belonged 10 n
former period Webster, Clay, Cal.
houn. Benton, Cass-werc there In full
vigof; and the younger men Of prestige
aud powcr--Scwnnl, Douglas, Chase,
Jefferson Davlg, Rusk Of Tcxas-were
also there In all the strength of mature
manhood.
Four years later, the Twenty.thlrd
Congress convened, extending from
March =, 1853, 10 March 4, 1865. 10
was, " possible, even more exciting
and excited body than the Thlrty.ilrst.
\ was the Congress which repealed the
Missouri compromise - measure
which led 10 unparalleled acrimony
and recrimination In debate. All the
deep feeling which had BEEN exhibited
on the slavery question Ia the Thirty
iirst Congress was greatly intensified,
aud the debates lastei ON this single
question for many months.
Tho nrst session Of the Thlrty-nrst
lasted until September thirticth, aud
that Of the rhirty.third until August
seventh, and the proceedings of both
Congresses filled only twonty.three
thousand pages, less by onc thousand
four hundred pages than the record Of
the proceedings of the nfst session Of
the Fifty.flrst Congress.
To mako n comprehensive and most
suggestive comparison, let II bc stated
that from the Inauguration Of WASH
ington, Ia 1850, 10 the close Of the
Ciyil War, In 1885, the report Of the
proceeding. Of Congress, for the entire
scventy-slx years, filled onc hundred
and seventy seven thousand four hun.
bred aud Ninety pages. From the
close o. the civil War In 1865 10 the
iint day OF October last, being tween Is :
i've year,, the number OF wonis EN-.
ployed In tcrottiug Congress was two
hundred and cighty-one million.
Hence the Congressional reports for
the last twenty-five years contained
one hundred and three million 1--WE
hundred thousand words more thanall
the reports from 1850 10 1865.
IL should OF course he said that the
reports Of the seventy.six years were
not throughout IN a. full detail as the
more recent and current reports, hut
that i the very thing that makes the
mt elias valuable, and practically
ruins tue second class 10 the ordinary
reader hy It's inaccessIbllily. The an.
mails Of Congress In the first thirty-six
years named are readily accessible,
easily handled, aud well indexed, and
give an accurate report Of all the pro-
cce1ings and OF all the speeches that
had special value.
II the proceedings OF Congress for
the next thltty.slx years from this
time are reported upon tina Increasing
ratio that has distinguished the reports
since the close Of the war, the aggro.
gate will probably require four hundred
large volumes, or ak hundred million
words-equlvnlcnt 10 u library Of more
than twelve hundred volumes OF tn.
ordinary octave aud duodeclno obi.
tions.
This evil has grown 10 such gigantic
that every one will admit "A
reform Ia not only necessary hut in-
rvitablc. As 10 the various phases OF
that reform, much might 10 said. At
the same time, II would Involve person.
nj criticism, not Of individuals but OF
classes, and 1.-THE reports are limited 10
readable dimensions, tho remote, II
not the Immediate, effect would he 10
reduce the list Of eligibles for effective
service In Congress.
The methods Of reform might, there
fore, better be left 10 The day when
Congress Il ready TO enter upon the
work. II n sufficient ut present 10
tall attention 10 the abuse. and TO illus.
trat. it, magnitude Iouihs' Com.
rdHioa FOR iidrch.