National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-06-07
FORTY-SIxTH CONGRESS.
Jury Bill Discussed and Passed by
the Senate.
The Democrats Placed III n Ridiculous Posi-
tion-Nr. Coke Anxious 10 Get at the
Silver BnI-water supply OF the
District to DO Investigated
Tho Army Appropria-
ton bill Reported.
NENITE.

was considered and passed. |
Mr.. ROLLINS, from the Committee on the District |
of Columbia. reported a resolution authorizing the
committee to sit during the recess of the Senate TO
investigate the best means of securing the cities OF
Washington and Georgetown all ample supply of
pure water, to ascertain the cost Of the present
waterw orks, the estimated expense of works that
will give such ample supply, &C.
Mr.. EDMuNDs moved to amend by extending the
inquiry to the amount of the income earned by the
present watcrworks and their general financial
condition. The resolution US amended was
adopted.
Mr.. LAMAR. from the select committee on the i'm
proycment of the Mississippi River aud its tribu-
tnrcs reported with amendment, House bill TO
provide for the appointment of a Mississippi River
commiSsion' Placed on the calendar. ,,.--.,,,.-
Mr.. COKE said he had heard that the Committee
on Finance had agreed TO postpone consideration
2f House bill j6i Warner silver bp until next
resolution on the subject He asked MIR. Bayard,
chairman of the committee, what action had been
Mr. BAYARb did not feel ut liberty to disclose the
actionof the committee without being instructed
by them to do so.
Mr.. COKE then asked leave TO offer resolution
dscharging the committee from further considera-
ton of the bill and declaring the bill before the
Senate for action.
Several Senators on both sides objected aud the
resolution went over under the rules. Mr.. Coke
said he would call itup Monday
On motion of Mr.. MAXEY the Senate concurred
in House amendment to Senate bill Sic to extend
the time of special postal service until service can
be, obtained by advertisement, said amendment
being TO limit the extension to one year.
The morning hour having expired, the unfinished
business being the bill relating to uries and to re.
peal sections SOL 800 and ST. Revised Statutes, was
taken up, and Mr. Edmunds continued his remarks
thereon.
Abiding to Mr.. Bnyards citation yesterday of
Judge Fields language in a recent case, that these
laws are as invalid and unconstitutional as 1t
would be to quarter troops IN a dwelling in time of
peace. Mr.. Edmunds said this language was in
mere dissenting opinion, and was not decision of
the supreme Court. In further comments on 1t he
characterized It as slip of the tongue IN the great
pressure of business crowdmg upon the learned
Judge and with all his respect for Justice Field he
did not regard II as good
Referring TO the assertion that there were no State
laws discriminating against colored men rs jurors.
Mr. Edmunds read the law OF Maryland, where ju-
rors are drawn from list of white taxable male
Mr.. WHITE snid they were also drawn from
poll-lis Of untaxcd citizens, including coored citi'
zens.
Mr.. EpMUNDs thought If this were so there's
to be another kind of discrimination
In NE course Of Mr.. Edmunds' remarks Nr. THUR
man Interrupted to say that unanimous consent
could probably now be obtained to reconsider the
vote by which third reading of the bill was or
dered; SO that 1t might still be amended. He init
mated that Mr.. Edmunds' amendment offered yes
terday, while considered unnecessary, would not
again be antagoniZed.
Mr. EDMUNDs said he would like to move to re.
commit the bill If 1t could be arranged otherwise
he would go Oh.
Continuing he asked Mr.. Hampton II what he
stated yesterday about judge in Charleston being
himself unable to take the oath, while even Re-
y,
came under his own observation.
Mr.. HAMPTON said he stated 1t upon the informa-
ton oihis colleague, who was present.
Mr.. EDMuNDS thought committee ought to he
appointed to Investigate the matter in all its lights;
then we could get more satisfaction than from
mere statements by observers.
In regard TO the exclusion of jurors who had
given the cup of cold water" to Confederate
Soldiers, Mr.: Edmunds declared that the kind OF
aid or comfort contemplated in tho statute, and
which would call for the discretion of the court
was only accessory aid-that which was intended
pointed out what he thought the absurdty and
viciousness OF introducing politics into the jury
system. Twas the beginning of a practice he said
that would end in recognizing all other mental
differences in the selection Of jurors Presently we
would have Catholic opposed to Protestant, and
would have to provide for Ce-traderS Know
thinkers.
Mr. THURMAN thought Mr. Edmunds was gener.
ating another veto message He was again fur
nshing sophstrics for people who were not sharp
enough to invent them for themselves, In order that
they may come back here In sort of shuttecoCk
and battedore from the other end Of the avenue.
lLaughterl
Mr. BAYARD did not think the bill contained any
provisions under which discrimination on account
of race color, or previous servitude could be made
since 1t did not conflict in any way with existing
laws on that point But as he only wanted the bill
substantially to be successful to prevent any posi-
bic ground for criticism In any quarter as TO the
action Of the committee, or the supporters OF the
bill, he moved to reCommit II.
Mr.. CoSKLINd thought this move valuable nd
dition to the Comedy of Errors" for which this
Mr.. THURMAN said there was no occasion for ex.
hibllions Of petty triumph. Every word In the Ply
was right but there was somethihg wrong in thl'
fore. The majority were obliged to look not only
to what is right but what Is practicable They did
not propose to leave room for the Sophlstres of this
chamber to be echoed from the other end of the
Avenue They could survive the sneers of thC
Senator from New York.
bill, asked Mr. Thurman how he knew the PreSi
dent would veto the bill If passed as reported from
Mr. THURMAN said he had no such information
and, if he had, 1t would be violating plain rule o.
Mr., BLNISF The Senator has already violated tn,
rules He has said the bill should be amended sc
as to encounter objections at the other end Of the
Mr., THURMAN only spoke of my own infer
enCes, and those differences were simply founded
on me ss Gi my b To SI bH &Ee GSG
of the Republican party in both Houses of Con
gress by no means very friendly to the incum6en
slang language Of the day. will not talk abou
bull'dozing-but have coerced the Executive.
Mr.. EDMuNDs raised the point of order that Mr.
Thurman was ont of order.
The words were taken down and read by the re
MIR EDMUNDs stated that his point was that III,
words imputed unconstitutional and imprOpe
conduct ~ the President and also the members o
the Senate. lie would not regard the words rclat
SIr HoUsroN asked under what rule the poin
was made. We were getting to point where nC
Executive, but he did not know we were forbidden
TO speak of HIM.
MIR WrYTE, The other side have been making
charges ofCoerclon against us all along,
Mr., EUMuSDs, II Is one thing to say what the OF
feet of measures Will be, and another 10 say in 81
many words that Senators have cOerced the Presi
dent thus charging them with political crime.
Mr. THURMAN referred 10 his own decision on III
point of order raised against Mr.. Chandler SOM
time ago namely that the charge that Senators hclt
their seats by fraud did not imputo motives to tn
Senators themselves
He then said that by coercion he did not meal
his Judgment, and he was willing to 90 to his dealt
upon 1t, Republican Senators and Representatives
by the course they had taken on these bills, b.
leaving the merits of the subject raising the cry
revolution" waving the bloody shirt" t0lkln
about this being question between secession am
the Union, and by their whole course on the subeC
had made man-he would not say a weak mar
for he meant to DO respectful to the Presidenl-bu
made man veto bills that II left to his own Iudq
mont no would not have vetoed.
In the discussion that followed several Demo
cratic Senators poSltod out cases where Repubica
members had denounced President Andrew JOIN
son as u despOt, &c, and Mr., THURMAN alluded to
decision by Mr.. Blaine, when Speaker Of the Houst
that member was not out OF order in using az
cusatory words OF the President,
Mr. BLAINE said there was a latitude allowed
10 the immediate Representatives of the people
who could only present for impeachment, whlc
was forbidden to The Senate, who might be Gale
on to sit as n court of impeachment
Mr. EDMUEDs finally said he was satisfied wit
Mr. Thurmans explanation of the sense in whlc
he used the words objected to, and he withdrew hi
point of order In doing so he wished TO deprecat
The growing freedom with which the actions mn