New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-06
REVIEW OF THE SESSION.
WORK OF THE LIND CONGRESS-
IN LARGE PART, RECORD OF INSIN
CERlTY AND INCAPACITY.

TIE LEGISLATION EFFECTED CONTRACTED WITH
THAT OF THE PREVIOUS CONGRFss-TT;E
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN TIE BorsE
PARALYzEn DY ITS OWN BECKER
INGS AND PUERILrTY-T7fR
YEAR IN DETAIL
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE,
Washington, AuA. 5.-The time has come wien
the proceedings and achievements of the first SOS.
sion Of the Lid Congress can he reviewed and
fair end intelligent Judgment Termed as TO re-
suits Probably no candid and intelligent oh
server will contend that the session has been
prolific OF wise and beneficial legislation, or deny
that II has often threatened 10 do serious mischief
Indeed whep everything is taken into consiiera-
ticn the country will find reason 70 congratulate
itself because little was done. The enormous
party MAJORITY in the House Of Representative
consisted mainly Of now and inexperienced mem
bers many of whom were inspired and controlled
by visionary, inpracticabe and dangerous theories
which they were not only willing, but eager 70
smbody in legislation. The danger from that
source. however was much less serious than il
would have been if The majority had NOT been
from the outset divided by bitter factional
quarreis as TO prevent and defeat harmony d
respect
q few measures.
In the Senate the difficulties that were on
ceuntered were due mainly to the slender majority
by which the Republicans controlled that body
q majority so meadrc that four Republican Soma
tors by uniting with the opposition on any meas
could carry defeat IT, And Yet. small az
the majority was, the Republican Senate by its
firm and patriotic attitude prevented the doing
of nuch mischief and sometimes forced the House
to listen to reason and yield to demands inspired
ands supported by a decent rcg1ri for the public
interests and the honor and welfare of the Nation
In considering the results of the session. o com
parisen with the work of the first session Of the
last Congress naturally suggests itself, but it
should be Remembered that the value Of such com
parton is impaired, to some extent by differ
encc in conditions In the last Congress the Nc
eublicans controlled both branches the maioritiee
were small but united in regard TO most OF the
legislation proposed. and the Heuse was governed
by code Of rules which enabled the majority to do
business In this Congress the House has an over
whelmina but unwieidy Democratic majority,
which IS split into factions which appear 10 have
only ono purpose in conmon--a desire and detcrmi-
nation to seize upon The spoils and Is governed by
code Of rules which hinders and obsructs ies'sIa-
lion and which il has usually bern found ncces-
gary IN suspend in order n do anything. And
yet the failure of the present majority 70 keep
it's pledges and fulfill the expectations OF the
voters who placed it in power, has been d"e III
a large degree TO its own lncapacty ana lhelhcei'S
and lack OF competent leadership The majority
sdopted its own rules ana is responsible for the
results In the Lth Congress, the Senat" was
Republicap by a larger majority than OF present
and the Democratic majority in the Houee was
loss than onc-sevcnth as large as II is In thls
Co,cTc,s bn, the latter majority framed ana
Missed the Mills BILL and made an honest RECORD
DESPITE the fact that IT was handicapped. as 'uiS
one is. by a cole of rules which encouraged HI
clustering and INSTRUCTED legislation
4 CL,R1HG CONTRAST.
During the frst session Of the last congress
nearly 1900 bills and joint resolutions "'f'
introduced, and Of these 1850, or nearly Fl
cent. became laws Among them were fn"n'
wise and beneficial measures Of great Importance
TO cnumeratc them would require too much space'
hut in order to contrast the work OF that session
nth tlc results Of tic present one, few may
be specified:
r-s+ +Lore was the Customs Administrative
NJ. = measure which had been urgently reconi-
mcnded by n number Of Secretaries OF the Treas
urv irrespective Of party, and tho WISDOM VI
which has already been amply vindicated nv On
norjence: second, the Tarin and Internal keFehu'
LAVE we're revised, duties raised or lowered IL
tbc welfare Of th2 people and the interests o'
trc Government required, and internal 'aNauon
reduced third. Tho act for the proper classhcaa'n
- ,rors.cd goods under the Tarif laws
fourth. the Dependent Pension act which rescued
thousands Of dieah'cd ard destitute Union
..., from, alushouses and proviHcl for the
Granting of pensions, based on the present
nbveic,I condition Of claimants: fifth, the Anti
Iot,orv Act which has resulted in the virtual de-
struction of the greatest and most demoraiiz'na
Gambling establishment in the world; SIKH
the Antitrust law seventh, the Worries fair ac'
.iph,b the Ocean Mail act: ninth, the Mca'
Irsncction act which has reopcned markers WHOM
had lonc been CLOSED 70 American meat produces
tenth the net authorizing the pnrchaS" OF sHNc'
bullon. and the issue Of Treasury notes al 'he
rot, ~ Ga u0o 600 a wear eleventh. the act ia
e.,,h,ish AN intermediate Court OF Appeals
twc,f,h the original act: thirteenth the Land
c., ro,foi.,re act fourteenth the act TO Great
the court Of private land Gains; h'tech'n' 'n'
.c+ to carrv ont rho recommendations OF the IN
tcrn,.ionol maritime conference; sixteenth the
FicbtUour act: seventeenth, the act TO amend
Inc FOREIGN Contract Labor law, and many o'he'S
During tlc first session If this Congress a'ou'
1880 bills and Joint resolutions were ih"o''0'"
o. which 4li or about per cent "c'"' "'
The prnortion Of important pnbic ac'e was "
treme,y small About 70 per cent OF the n'IiS an
Joint resolutions reported by House comim'nS'
during The session werc Of private nature ana %
the measures which became laws. private pie
and resolutions and public bills o! local or hin"
interest formed about the s1me proportion I'm
lis Of pibc acts Of general interest or importance
which i~casne laws ia rot long one. II comprise
the ac. N continue in force tho Chinese hNc'nslo'
law. which the nousn subsequently, tried to nnihn
by refusing the appropriation necessary for us on
forcement: an act. which originated IN the N'ha'
10 incrcac The pay Of keepers ana crews NJ 'i'e-Na