The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-02
National Bank Notes dis
posed OF.
Eleven
Month. Months
1OS,3l3,5OC
4,457,100 35,639,6CC
The Democratic Programme.

kilograms from Washington say that on
Saturday the two advisory commit
tees of the house and senate democrat
ic caucusses held joint meeting, and
reached substantially unanimous agree
ment as to the course of action that
should be adopted by the dominant party
in congress with regard TO the appropria.
ton bills. There were present Senators
Thurman, Salisbury, KerDaD, Eaton,
Bailey, Lamar, Voorhees, and Vance, and
Representatives Chalmers, Carlisle, Rea-
gan, Phelps, and Bicknell, Judge Thur
man presided. Messrs. Hampton and
Goode were absent. After very full iu-
terchange of views, and especially a min
ute examination Of the Presidents veto
message in connection with sundry existing
statutes prohibiting interference by the
army with elections, it was decided to
recommend the immediate passage of
bill making the usual appropriations for
the support Of the army throughout the
next fiscal year, but containing a proviso
that no portion of the money therein ap-
pTOpriated shall be used for the pay trans
portation, equipment or subsistence Of any
troops used for police purposes to keep
the peace at the polls. 1t was further de-
cided to recommend tho passage of the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill in substantially the same
terms as last years bill and for the same
amounts, except that they shall be more
minutcly specified, and except also that it
mi n NV 4or
of supervisors or deputy marshals of cleo
toUs. The new bill will, however, contain
clause providing that no officer shall lie
appointed or obligation incurred for any
object for which a specific appropriation
shall not have been made by congress.
This clause is already on the statute book.
with the exception of the words cor
obligation incurred, and there is also
an existing law which prohibits the
diversion OF any appropriation 10 q
purpose different from that for which it
has been specifically made. The com
mlttees next agreed to recommend
the passage of a separate measure embody-
ing those sections of the vetoed appropria-
ton bill which provide for the amendment
OF the law concerning the method of draw
ing iuries, ard for the total abolition of
that the President in his veto message
makes no comment on these provisions, it
is believed he will promptly approve them
when presented to him by an independent
bill. 1t was also argued to day in behalf
of the adoption of the programme above
outlined that the President cannot iusti-
fiably withhold his signature from an ap-
preparation bill merely because it omits to
make provision for particular objects,
and that in the anticipated event of his
approving the present bills the Democrats
will have accomplished for next yea.
exactly what they would have accomplish
ed for an indefinite period of time by the
former bills, and what they may continue
to accomplish by similar legislation as
long as they remain in power. In re-
spouse to an objection made by a few of
those who participated in the meeting to-
day that the adoption of this policy would
be construed into "backdown" on the
part Of the Democracy, its advocates made
the point that, although there have been
individual utterances in favor Of withhold
ing supplies in the event of failure to Sc
cure the enactment of the political clauses
originally embodied in the appropriation
bills, 1t Is not true that any such stand has
eNeE Deen taken py tue authority or the
party. On the contrary. the question
whether such stand should be taken has
never been acted upon by the democratic
caucus of either branch of Congress, or by
the caucus committee, until this after
noon. The joint meeting was adjourned
until to day, by which time the recon-
mendatons agreed upon will have been
formulated by the subcommittee, Senators
Thurman, Eaton, Vance and Bailey, and
Representatives Springer, Ewing aud Rea-
gan, and submitted for approval prepare
tory to presentation to the joint caucus of
the Democratic members OF both houses,
which will probably be held on Monday.