Year: 1877




Monday. So far the country has mani
tested but little interest in the coming
session. One reason of this is found in
the fact tha. the Administration has
sought, ane will seek, to circumscribe the
business of the extra session IS much as
possible. The appropriation for the sup
port of the army, some additional pro-
vision for the Courts, an appropria-
tion for the Paris Exhibition, and
one for the repair of the portion
of the Patent Office recently burned,
are things which require immediate
attention. 1t is the desire of the Ad-
ministration that the attention OF Con-
gress shall be limited, at this extra ses-
sion, to these matters and possibly few
othera, and that general legislation shall
not be attempted until the regular win
ter session opens. We see no reason for
| this, and do not understand the motive
which actustes MIR. hayes. 1t seems to
US be might as well come forward with
his whole programme, and let Congress
90 to work. October is the proper time
for the long session of Congress to begin,
and it would be we'll for this Congress
to propose an amendment to the Constl-
tuition making this change.


The first thing which will excite inter-
est will be the organization Of the House
which, however, is q subject OF less inter-
est than two years ago. At that time the
Democrats had jusl got control OF the
House, and had no experienced presiding
officer in their ranks. Then there was
corrupt administration to be investi-
gated, large reductions to be made in
appropriations, and now President to
be elected Now we have several men
of some experience in presiding, and the
Investigations into the corrupt practices
of the Administration will be neither so
numerous nor so difficult. We cannot
think it is OF much Importance who IS
elected Speaker of the House. There are
several candidates, all good men. Mr..
RANDALL is still clearly in the lead, but
desperate efforts are being made to COM
bine sll unfsvorsble elements against
him. The Administration is intriguing
against him with the hope of etfecting
such a fusion between the Radicals and
few Southerners as 10 give 1t the control
OF the House.


The Administration ia pledged-by
the mouth of Mr.. HAYES himselt-to
material aid for the South, by way OF
liberal appropristions-snd the South is
crazy for appropriations of all sorts
The Administration is also in
favor of an increase OF the
srmy to 10000 or $4,000 men, which will
involve an additional expenditure OF SlO,-
600 600 to s15,OO0,O0O. The advocates
of public buildings and river and harbor
improvements will band together with
the advocates of an increased army and
increased appropriations for all depart
ments, and control Congress. Nowhere
is the Administration pledged to strict
economy in the public expenditures, and
every influence will be brought to bear to
secure "libersl appropriations" this win
ter


In the Senate, the political parties will
BE- so nearly evenly divided that 1t would
look to be but tair thing for the DEM
ocrats to insist on reorganization oil the
Committees upon basis of giving them
q fair proportion of the chsirmsnshlps'
They are substantially even with the Re-
publicsns, and could doubtless secure the
whole of the chairmsnships by trade
with some of the Republican carpet bag
Senators, if they chose to do SO.


This, however, would be no real sd-
vantage to them, and they will not
likely entertain the idea for a moment.
The action of the Senate upon the nom.
nations that may come before it, gives
the Administration great deal OF soliei-
tude, but we have no idea that it will
meet with any serious trouble in this di-
rection. The Democrats compose about
one-hslf the Senate and they will doubt
less vote in a body for the the confrms-
ton of sll proper appointments.