The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-06-06
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.

WASHINGTON, May 99.!The following
message of the President was delivered to
the House Of Representatives to-day:
SiRs-after mature consideration of the bill
entitled, " An act making appropriations ior
the legislative, executive and judicial ex-
ending June so. 1850. and for other purposes"
Herewith return Il to the House OF Repre-
sentatives, in which IL originated. with the
mS t. ss
ate money required TO support during the
next fiscal year the several cava ae.
appropriated exceeds in the aggregate $ls,-
OC0oOO. This money Is needed TO keep In op.
GRAFTON the essential functions Of allthe great
departments of the Government, legislative.
executive and judicial.
If the bill contained no other provisions.
no objection to its approval would pe maoe:
It embraces, however, number OF clauses
relating to subjects of great general interest,
which are wholly unconnected with the ap-
preparation which It provides for cs,,.,.r.-.
al legislation to appropriation bills. especial
" when the object Is to deprive CO ordinate
branch OF the its on and iudsment
touching such general Legislation, were set
forth in the special message In relation 20
the House bin No: which vas tSs astS Of
regret that the objections which were then
EXPRESSED TO THIS m6tuOu "a lCSiSlusAoAA
not seemed to Congress of sufficient weight
to dissuade from this renewed 1ncorpoIa.ion
of general enactments in an appropriation
bill, and that
MY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY
In respect to the general legislation thus
placed before me can not be discharged with
out seeming to delay, however briefly. the
necessary appropriation 0y Goneyf tSo a i Te
peaiing those objections, 1 respectfully refer
TO that message for a statement of my views
advocates of this bill. VIZ: that "to withhold
appropriations Is q constitutional means ior
the redress" of what the majority OF the
House of Representatives may regard Is q
the bill contains the following clauses,
viz: And provided further, that the following
States, namely, sections 2,0l6,s ,als and 2.t20,
and all of the succeeding sections OF said
statutes down to and including section 2.el
repealed, and that ali the other sections of
the Revised Statutes and all laws and parts
of laws authorizing the appointment OF chief
shsis of elections or general deputy marshals
having any duties to perform In respect
any election n ana pre sGd aIs
lowing them compensation. be and the
same are hereby repealed. 1t also CON
tains clauses amending sections sni7' III Is,
sections OF Revised Statutes which the BILL II
approved, would repeal or amend, are part
of an act approved May So; $50, and IA amend M
force the rights of citizens of the United
States to vote in the several states OF this
Union. and for other purposes: All , OF me ie
is proposed in this bill to repeal or mooily'
relate to
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.
The remaining portion of the law which
ment Of this measure is that which,
provides Hsse tsr .s the cnspas oenr
Elections e in each election district at any
Congressional election, on due application OF
citizens who desire, in the language OF tine
scrutinized" The duties of supervisors will
be to attend at the polls at all Congressional
elections, and to remain after the polls are
open until every vote cast has been counted,
but they will have no authority to make ar.
rests or to perform other duties than to be In
the immediate presence of the officers hold
ing elections, and to witness all their pro-
ceedfngs, including the counting OF votes
and making q return thereof. The part OF
the law h h win be ss
lions which give authority to the Supervi
sors of Elections to personally scrutintze
seeon ana
States Marshals and Deputy Marshals In con.
nection with Congressional elections.
The enactment of this bill will also repeal
section 5.522 OF the criminal statutes of the
United states, which was enacted for the
protection of United States officers in the
elections. This section protects supervisors
and marshals in the performance OF thetI
duties by making the obstruction. or assault
them by bribery, or solicitation, or other.
wise crimes against the United States. The
true meaning and effect OF the proposed leg
Supervisors with authority to observe and
witness the proceedings at Congressiona al
elections will be left; but there will be no
NVpfn
ference with their duties. or to punish any
violation of law from which their powers are
derived. This bill, If approved, only the
SHADOW OF THE AUTHORITY
of the United States at national elections will
remain. The substance will be gone.
Supervision of elections will be reduced to
mere inspection without authority on the
ever to make the election a fair one. Ali tina,
will be left to the supervisors Is permission
to have such oversight of elections as poiitf-
without any authority of Law, in order to
prevent their opponents from obtaining any
unfair advantages. The object OF the bill
Il to
DESTROY ANY CONTROL
whatever by the United States over Congress
sional elections.
The passage of this bill has been urged
upon the ground that the election of mem.
beers of Congress is a matter which concerns
the State alone; that these elections should
be controlled exclusively by the States; tina,
IUeT6 are anu Cin DC no euCu clcCtlOho u
national elections; and that the existing law
of the United States regulating Congressional
elections Is without warrant in the Constitu
ton. 1t is evident, however, that the trainers
of the Constitution regarded the election Of
members of Congress in every State and In
every district as in q very important sense
justly a matter of political interest and con-
Germ to the whole country.
THE ORIGINAL PROVISION
of the Constitution on this subject Is as fol-
lows: "Section 4, article !. The times, places
and Representatives shall be prescribed in
each State by the Legislature thereof, but
Congress may at any time, by law, make Oh
alter such regulations except rs to places Of
A further provision has been since added
which is embraced in the Fifteenth Amend
SECTION l. The right of citizens of the
United States to vote shall not be denied OF
abridged by the United States or by any
State on account of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude.
Sec. 9. The Congress shall have power te
enforce this article by appropriate legisla
UNDER THE GENERAL PROVISION
ofthe Constitution, section 4, article !. Con
gress in 1856 passed . comprehensive law
ton for the election Of senators for the Leg
islatures of the several States.
This law has been in force almost thirteen
Of the present Senate of the United State.
mold their seats. Its constifut1onahty IS no
called in question. It is confide atly believed
mort of the constitutionaliry OF the nRtfOna
regulation of Senatorial elections which vii
not show that the
ELECTIONS OF MEMBERS
of the House Of Representatives may ais
be constitutiOnally regulated by national au
The bin before me itself recognizes the
not State elections but national elections. II
leaves in full force