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at 263；778。 As his friends and admirers were numerous； the elective sheriffs； prosecuting attorneys； and judges in the area of his activities were unable to stop him by any means within their reach。 Meanwhile； the frightened burghers of the small towns in his range of operations were clamoring for deliverance from his raids； and finally Governor Crittenden of Missouri offered a reward of 10；000 for his capture dead or alive。 Two members of his own band shot him down in his own house； April 3； 1882。 They at once reported the deed and surrendered themselves to the police； were soon put on trial； pleaded guilty of murder； were sentenced to death； and were at once pardoned by the Governor。 Meanwhile； the funeral ceremonies over Jesse James's remains drew a great concourse of people； and there were many indications of popular sympathy。 Stories of his exploits have had an extensive sale； and his name has become a center of legend and ballad somewhat after the fashion of the medieval hero Robin Hood。
The legislative blundering which tied the President's hands and made the Government impotent to protect American citizens from desperadoes of the type of the 〃cowboys〃 and Jesse James； is characteristic of Congress during this period。 Another example of congressional muddling is found in an act which was passed for the better protection of ocean travel and which the President felt constrained to veto。 In his veto message of July 1； 1882； the President said that he was entirely in accord with the purpose of the bill which related to matters urgently demanding legislative attention。 But the bill was so drawn that in practice it would have caused great confusion in the clearing of vessels and would have led to an impossible situation。 It was not the intention of the bill to do what the President found its language to require； and the defects were due simply to maladroit phrasing； which frequently occurs in congressional enactments； thereby giving support to the theory of John Stuart Mill that a representative assembly is by its very nature unfit to prepare legislative measures。
The clumsy machinery of legislation kept bungling on； irresponsive to the principal needs and interests of the times。 An ineffectual start was made on two subjects presenting simple issues on which there was an energetic pressure of popular sentimentChinese immigration and polygamy among the Mormons。 Anti…Chinese legislation had to contend with a traditional sentiment in favor of maintaining the United States as an asylum for all peoples。 But the demand from the workers of the Pacific slope for protection against Asiatic competition in the home labor market was so fierce and so determined that Congress yielded。 President Arthur vetoed a bill prohibiting Chinese immigration as 〃a breach of our national faith；〃 but he admitted the need of legislation on the subject and finally approved a bill suspending immigration from China for a term of years。 This was a beginning of legislation which eventually arrived at a policy of complete exclusion。 The Mormon question was dealt with by the Act of March 22； 1882； imposing penalties upon the practice of polygamy and placing the conduct of elections in the Territory of Utah under the supervision of a board of five persons appointed by the President。 Though there were many prosecutions under this act； it proved so ineffectual in suppressing polygamy that it was eventually supplemented by giving the Government power to seize and administer the property of the Mormon Church。 This action； resulting from the Act of March 3； 1887； created a momentous precedent。 The escheated property was held by the Government until 1896 and meanwhile； the Mormon Church submitted to the law and made a formal declaration that it had abandoned polygamy。
Another instance in which a lack of agreement between the executive and the legislative branches of the Government manifested itself； arose out of a scheme which President Arthur recommended to Congress for the improvement of the waterways of the Mississippi and its tributaries。 The response of Congress was a bill in which there was an appropriation of about 4；000；000 for the general improvements recommended； but about 14；000；000 were added for other special river and harbor schemes which had obtained congressional favor。 President Arthur's veto message of August 1； 1882； condemned the bill because it contained provisions designed 〃entirely for the benefit of the particular localities in which it is proposed to make the improvements。〃 He thus described a type of legislation of which the nation had and is still having bitter experience： 〃As the citizens of one State find that money； to raise which they in common with the whole country are taxed； is to be expended for local improvements in another State； they demand similar benefits for themselves； and it is not unnatural that they should seek to indemnify themselves for such use of the public funds by securing appropriations for similar improvements in their own neighborhood。 Thus as the bill becomes more objectionable it secures more support。〃 The truth of this last assertion Congress immediately proved by passing the bill over the President's veto。 Senator Hoar； who defended the bill； has admitted that 〃a large number of the members of the House who voted for it lost their seats〃 and that in his opinion the affair 〃cost the Republican party its majority in the House of Representatives。〃
Legislation regarding the tariff was； however； the event of Arthur's administration which had the deepest effect upon the political situation。 Both national parties were reluctant to face the issue； but the pressure of conditions became too strong for them。 Revenue arrangements originally planned for war needs were still amassing funds in the Treasury vaults which were now far beyond the needs of the Government； and were at the same time deranging commerce and industry。 In times of war； the Treasury served as a financial conduit； peace had now made it a catch basin whose excess accumulations embarrassed the Treasury and at the same time； caused the business world to suffer from a scarcity of currency。 In his annual message on December 6； 1881； President Arthur cautiously observed that it seemed to him 〃that the time has arrived when the people may justly demand some relief from the present onerous burden。〃 In his message of December 4； 1882； he was much more emphatic。 Calling attention to the fact that the annual surplus had increased to more than 145；000；000； he observed that 〃either the surplus must lie idle in the Treasury or the Government will be forced to buy at market rates its bonds not then redeemable； and which under such circumstances cannot fail to command an enormous premium； or the swollen revenues will be devoted to extravagant expenditures； which； as experience has taught； is ever the bane of an overflowing treasury。〃
The congressional agents of the protected industries were confronted by an exacting situation。 The country was at peace but it was still burdened by war taxes； although the Government did not need the accumulating revenue and was actually embarrassed by its excess。 The President had already made himself the spokesman of the po