New-York tribune., 1879-06-04
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
A LACK OF HARMONY N THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BELIEVES IN DYING SWORD IN HAND-MR.
TuURMAN'S VIEWS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGTON June 3.-The Democratic Commit
tee of Safety remained in session until nearly 3
o'clock this morning, and The majority finally
agreed on programme regarding the approximation
bills. There was considerable dissent by several
members to the conclusions of the committee aud
it is understood that two of them withdrew on
finding that their views could not prevail Mr..
Clvmer is said to have protested in strong terms
against any surrender by the Democrats Of the
position they took at the beginning of this session.
The conclusions of the committee provide for
three bills:
o. IN Executive and legislative Appro-
priatIon bill which contains items for about
S15 600 600 and does not contain any political
legislation OF restrictive provisos.
(2l A Judicial Appropriation bill which contains
items to the amount of 81, 10000 This amount
does not include the salaries ofjudgcs which pro-
yided for by the Legislative bill, but embraces the
compensation Of witnesses and Jurors, dstrct-attor-
ncys etc. This bill contains proyisO that none of
the money appropriated shall be expended to pay
the salary of any officer provided for by title 90
of the Revised Statutes. under which title
all election officers are included. This bill
also repeal5 the test oath, and changes the
| law relating TO the selection OF jurors lsec-
tioas $50 and s21 Revised Statutes). There
is provision that no department officer or agent
of the Government shall make any contract or in
cur any liability until an appropriation therefor
shall have been previously made"
! t3.) An Army bill which appropriates about T2G.-
| OOO.OOO and which will contain clause that none
of the money appropriated shall be expended for
Transporting troops 20 or subssting them at any
places for the purpose of preserving the peace at
| the polls.
Having thus decided on a new method of trying
to effect the purposes of the Democrats the commit
| fee mustered up sufficient courage to call
| n Joint caucus to meet this afternoon.
| The caucus remained in session about three
! bours Efforts have been made to create the i'm
preston that its proceedings were entirely har-
| monious and that the programme Of the committee
was accepted with perfect unanimity 1t Is learned.
nevertheless, on the best authority, that such
not the case.
Mr. Blackburn was again called to the front as
the leader of the revolutionary wing of the party,
and bitterly assailed the position, charactcrz-
ing 1t as a dIshonorabe surrender He may not
| have repeated that famous sentence, He who
dallies is bastard, and he who doubts is damned"
but it is understood that he did offer a substitute
for the report OF the committee substantially the
political legislation contained in the bills which the
President has vetoed. Mr.. Blacllburn's substitute
was defeated by an overwhelming majority.
| leading Southern Representative, who sup
ported the report of the committee said tonight
| that Mr. Blackburn could not muster moro than
about twenty votes for his substitute, two or three
from Pennsylvania one or two from New York. two
or three from Louisiana, and a few from Kentucky
and elsewhere. The same gentleman said
that il is quito possible that Mr.. Blackburn
| and his followers may oppose the Army
and Judicial bills in the House, but he did
not believe they would dare to vote against them.
He said he believes they are trying to place them
selves in the attitude Of not being responsible for
the backdown by declaimng against it, but that if
they try to play that game and then vote for the
| bills he would expose their hypocrisy.
Senator Thurman made the principal speech on
the report of the committee in the caucus. He said
that he had at first been in favor of attaching the
pohtical legislation to the appropriation bills, but
novy I'm view of the fact that the President had de-
| feated that plan, he saw wisdom in adhering to
it, The restrictive provisions proposed con
| tanned the same features and accomplished the same
objects that were sought in the bills already vetoed,
| and in his opinion they would lead to renewal OF
the contest. 1t is however, stated on the author
! ity of a leading member of the caucus that Sena-
! tor Thurman finally advocated in warm terms
! the report of the committee.
Senator Bayard is reported to have made an
| earnest and pathetic appeal TO the Democ-
racy to refrain from destroying the party and TO pass
the appropriation bills pure and simple. lie re-
| ferred to his past course and opinions in favor of
| passing the political measures separately, ana
| SAID that events had Justified him. He believed
! that the Democrats would yet be compelled 10 re-
trace their steps and pursue the course he hadadYo
| Gated.
have made a very statesmanlike speech, in which he
! advised the mmedat passage of the Appropriation
| hills without the riders and restrictive clauses.
| RcpTesentative stephens, OF Georgia, noped thc
committees report would be adopted lie said II
met his views entirely.
| Messrs. Morrison aud Casey Young also advocated
its adoption. ~ . -
tions concerning some OF the features OF the pro-
General Joseph f. Johnston Characterized the
restrictive clause of the Army bill as OF no conse-
! ouence aud said that the President would brush
| through it rs easily as a buii wOud march
| through cObweb" 80, >,
Speaker Randall preferred that the bills should
be ircmized but In view Of the fact that IT might
take two weeks TO debate an ltemlzed bill this pref
erence did not prevail.
| Another authority respecting Senator lhurmans
position represents him as saying that lie thought III
| would be unmanly and useless 70 pass q section
| that had been twice vetoed.
| TIE APPROPRIATION BILLS.
THEY ARE NOT TO BE REPORTED UNTIL FRIDAY
| A TALK WITH MR.. ATKINS.
| IpY TELEGRAPH To THE TRBUSR.i