The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-23
POLITICAL LEGISLATION.
Partial Repeal OF the Election
Laws Decided Upon.
NO TROOPS AT TIE POLLS.
The Extra Session Not To Be Extended
by General Business.
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, Marcn ~, 1917
JOINT DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS DECIDES UPON
THE BUSINESS OF THE EXTRA SESSION.
The two committees appointed respectively by the
House and Senate democratic caucuses to make rec
concentrations concerning the order of business for
the extra session held joint meeting to-day of five
and half hours continuous duration. There were
present Senators Thurman. Whyte Herman. Sauls
bury, Jones. of Florida; Vance and Bailey. and Repre-
6entatives Chalmers Carlisle, Cox, of New York
Ewing Springer Tucker, Atkins Clymer, Reagan
Bicknell and Phelps Senator Thurman presided
The first question discussed whether the po
litical legislation required by the dominant
party in Congress should be effected by
the passage of n separate measure, or by
the incorporation Of repeating clauses, &C., in the
appropriation bills. Nearly every present par
ticipated in the discussion. 1t finally deter
mined that the latter would be most expe-
dent especially for the that it seemed likely
to save time there being general desire to finish
the necessary business of the session at early
day as possible. The determination was reached by
vote of 10 against 5--two Senators and three Re-
representatives. voting in the negative
The next question considered was whether the
political portions of the appropriation bills should
now be passed in the terms in which they
passed at the last session. whether the re-
pealing clauses in regard to the Federal Election
laws should be modified to repeal only those
sections which authorize the appointment of chief
pervisors and deputy marshas for election together
with the sections comforting police powers the
supervisors, thus continuing the authorization for
the appointment of two supervisors Of different pol
itcs to in testimonial capacity at each poll
witnesses of the count of votes After an exhaustive
discussion it decided to recommend the adoption
of the modified proposition above described. The
vote IA against 4-there being two Senator's
md Representatives in of tots
repeal. The joint meeting then authorized
Senators ThRSman, salisbury, Bailey and Herman,
and Representatives Chalmers, Springer Carlisle and
Atkins to formulate provisions in accordance with
this decision in regard to the Election laws and
provisions for the total repeal Of the jurors test
oath and the existing authorization of the presence
of troops at the polls for incorporation in the Legs
lative Judicial and Executive and the Army Appro-
priaton bills. together with such additional pro-
visions as they may deem necessary to secure free
and fair elections for Representatives Delegates
to Congress.
They also especially authorized to consider
the Fropriety of framing substitute for section
b522 of the Revised Statutes, which prescrbcs pen.
nles for violations of the election laws. Mr..
Springers proposition to provide in addition to the
repeal of the law concerning the presence troops
Mt the polls, for the enactment of the existing
English statute of George II. that subject was
very favorably received and the joint subcommittee
will probably recommend its adoption. II prohib-
it's any soldier stationed within miles of vot.
ing place from leaving his quarters election
day except to relieve guard to so to the polls to
vote. and requires him. in the latter case, to return
to his quarters Immediately afterward. The Joint
subcommittee will meet at three O'Clock
Monday and expect to report to another
Joint meeting of the two caucus committees
Tuesday. After appointing this subcommittee
he ioin me al 10
question whether the legislation OF the present SEES.
sion should be strictly confined the appropriation
bills. including the measures above indicated or
whether general business should not be transacted
by either house when not engaged on an appropria-
ton bill. decided majority of the Senate
caucus committee favored restriction of the
business OF the session to the appropriation
bills and to the enactment of what is
known the yellow fever bill" majority (but
not large one) of the House Committee insisted
that the opportunities for transacting general busi
should be improved, without. however, pro-
longing the session after the appropriation bills
shall have been disposed of. 1t finally decided
to report disagreement this subject to a joint
and leave the settlement of the question to
majority of the democratic members of both houses
This meeting of the joint caucus will probably be
held next Tuesday evening.
QUARANTINE on ITALIAN RAGS
Two Italian barks the Giuseppe de Abunde and
the II Cacceaore, arrived at New York recently from
Trieste with cargoes of rags, and passed ut
Quarantine under the usual certificates. The certin-
Gates not having the approval of the local health
officer as required by the recent circular
of the Marine Hospital service Collector
Merritt called the attention of Health OH
Ger Vanderpoel to the subject, and subse-
quently the reported to DR.. Hamilton,
acting Surgeon General of the Marine Hospital SER
vice at Washington who. on being informed that no
information could be given to where the rags
originally from. directed the vessels to be de-
tanned at Quarantine until che rags had been taken
off lighters and disinfected, in compliance
with the recent circular instructions from
the bureau Italian ports not considered
rs infected, but the practice has prevailed of
sending rags from Black Sea ports to the Medtcr-
ranean for reshipmcnt and in the absence Of any
evidence that these rags not rcshipped there
precautionary measures advisable. A similar
course was pursued in the of shipment of
rags from Leghorn. which arrived in Baltimore
few days since, and will be pursued in like cases in
the future.
BUSINESS on THE SPANISH MAIN.
Mr.. Pellet United States Consul at sabania trans
mits to the Department of state copies Giro ular
in the English and Spanish languages setting forth
the advantages the merchants of the south Ameri
can States would derive by importing their goods
from the United states rather than from Europe.
1ho importers who have adopted these recommends
tions already express their satisfaction with the re-
suits. They are particularly attracted to the United
States at this time by the successful resumption of
specie payments. IL is a financial achievement that
commands the respect and admiration of south
American merchants generally.
TREASURY NOTES.
Tho Treasurer holds 35i.oio,aoo in United
Statcs bonds TO secure bank circulation Amount of
United bonds deposited for circulation for the
week ending to-day, sl,9O7,5Oo Amount of United
States bonds held for circulation withdrawn during
the week ending to-day, 81 $40 500. National bank cir
culation outstanding notes, $685. .2iO;
cnII notes. Al go 900