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Show CONGRESS GROWN CAREFUL. Mr. Boutwell is imbued with an earnest desire to pay the public debt. He does not seem to be particular in how short a time, 'fit can only be done qm'ck enough to meet his views. He appears to have a sort of horror of reducing re-ducing taxation, and clings to the income in-come tax as to a panacea that will cure all public ills. The country wants commerce and industry less burthened than at present; and it has demindfd mo-t emphatically that the income tax be abolished. But the country speaks through the ballot box mire po'ently than in any other way; and the prospects pros-pects are that only by that means will it secure full acquiesence with its wishs. Meantime, Con:rre:s has a heavy piece of work on hand, in deciding how the revenue is to be disposed of. If it could get Mr Boutwell to modify hi.-, financial policy, or the public to b"-quiet b"-quiet concerning it, the task would be le-s difficu't. But as it cinnot do either, it mu-t be as careful and cautious cau-tious in the matter of appropriations as possible. And so the different appropriation appro-priation bills are occupying tho clo-e.-U attention of that legislative body. am3ndment following amendment, and debate leading to increased debate, often acrimonious, and sometimes bitterly bit-terly so. Frauds are being unearthed; members of Congress are openly accused ac-cused of participating in some of them; huge "jobs" rise to the surface, and a general system of corruption is exposed; until one would be almost inclined to think the first duty of a man on entering office under government was to perfect him-elf in the art of stealing, if he had not acquired proficiency profi-ciency in it before he became a public servant. All this i.s sad to contemplate; but the care with which Congress is looking look-ing after su ;h matters i.s encouraging. It shows that members of both houe.-are houe.-are keenly a'ive to the f.ict that the public eve is following them closely. If the country is taxed beyond its wi-hes, it intends to watch sharply what disposal is made (f the revenue, determined that if the public money goes to enrich dishonest men, those who are re-ponsible fur such dispo.-al will find their fate at tho polls, and be thrust from their po-itions of political offi ; and con.-egncd to obscurity. Congress i.s growing careful, but there i.s need I'jt more c;ire much more or the elections for the Congress following the one that will meet fin the Hi of March, will show a wonderful overiiiriiitiL' of the political balance. |
