Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-21
From Our Regular. Correspondent
Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, D. c., May Is, 1879.
j Since the last new veto no caucas has
been held to decide upon plan of action.
The idea of the majority seems to be to
allow the matter to rest for the present,
and to 90 ahead with other legislation.
Senator Thurman and Representative
Chalmers, the chairmen of the respective
caucus committees in the Senate and
House, have agreed in the opinion that
nothing further should be attempted on the
army bill until the legislative, executive
and judicial bills shall be passed. The
speaker of the House, however, is of the
opinion that a joint caucus should be
called, to consider the emergency created
by the veto, at once, and it is probable
that the committee will meet before the
end of the week. 1t is admitted by the
democrats that their phalanx is not as
strong as it was at the beginning of the
session, and that if those who are disposed
TO yield will combine with the greenback-
ers and republicans they can pass the
army bill without any of the restrictions
that have heretofore been attached to it.
Mr. Stephens of Georgia is the leader of
clique that is disposed to recede from
the uncompromising attitude that has been
so far maintained by the democrats. Mr.
Stephens thinks that an army bill can be
devised that will receive the presidents
signature and still be SO worded that it
will keep troops from the polls. 1t is said
that he wishes TO have the eciat of me-
diator to draft bill himself, and achieve
the fame of rescuing his party from a di-
lemma. The leaders Of the majority pro-
TESS to have little faith in Mr.. Stephens
meIiatorial or diplomatic ability. They
think that if an army bill shall be reported
with even the mildest proviso to keep
troops away from the polls, attached to
it, that majority can now be rallied to
strike out the proviso and pass the appro-
preparation without any restrictions.
Unless there shall be decided change
in the opinion of large majority of the
democrats, there will be no other regular
army appropriation bill reported from the
committee during the extra session. There
has been much talk about extending the
last years appropriations until the first of
January, 1880, but this can be done only
By two-thirds vote, and it may be said
with certainty that Il two thirds vote can
not be obtained for this plan. The next
important question will be that of ad-
journment, without passing the appropri-
ations. The republicans will, of course,
oppose adjournment until the usual sup
plies have been voted. The greenbackers
will oppose adjournment because they are
anxious to sit all summer, and to 90 heavi-
ly into financial legislation. Mr.. Stephens
clique opposes adjournment because they
also are in favor of immediate financial
and general legislation. This opposition
will make q majority, and dead lock APP
pears inevitable.
If the president shall veto the legislative
bill, and it is now expected he will, and
also the supervisors and deputy marshals
repeal law when presented in separate
form, as well as the jurors test OATH it is
expected that congress will present u
Joint address to him. Under the rules
this can be done, and, if it shall be done,
the address will be drawn up as q petition
to be used for campaign paper. The
rules prescribe that: " When the Senate
and House of Representatives shall deem
it proper to make joint address TO the
president, it shall be presented to him in
his audience chamber by the president of
the Senate in the presence of the speaker
and both Houses" Senator Thurman,
president pro tenn of the Senate, will pre-.
sent the address. C.