The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-04
VETO THE THIRD.

VEVO THE 1n1RDs
Mr.. Hayes Insists that United States Deputy
Marshals and Supervisors Shall Control the
: Elections.
: WASHINGTON, May 29-The following mes
sage of the president was delivered to the
House of Representatives to-day:
Message to the House of Representatives,:
SrRs-After mature consideration of bill
entitled an act making appropriations for
the legislative, executive and judicial ex-
pepses of the Government for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1880, and for other pur-
poses, 1 herewith return it to the House of
Representatives. in which it originated, with
the following objections to its approval:
The main purpose of the bill is to appro.
pirate the money required to support during
the next fiscal year the several civil depart.
ments of the Government. The amount
600, 900. This money is needed to keep in
operation the essential functions OF all the
great departments of Government-legisla
tive, executive and judicial. If the bill
contained no other provisions no objection
to its approval would be made. 1t embraces,
however, number of clauses, relating TO
est Which are sA Wholly s uncon.
nected with the appropriation which 1t
provides for. Objections to the practice of
attaching general legislation to appropria-
ton bills, especially when the object is to
deprive coordinate branch of tie Govern
ment Of its right to the exercise of its own
discretion and judgment touching such
general legislation were set forth in the
special message in relation to House bill No.
L, which was returned to the House of
Representatives on the 10Th of last month.
I regret that the objections which were then
expressed of this method of legislation have
,nf mi I'D IN ConCrocS Of snfficiant waipht
to dissuade from this newed incorporation
of general enactments in the appropriation
bills, and that my constitutional duty in
respect to general legislation thus placed
before me can not be discharged without
seeming to delay, however briefly, the
necessary appropriation by Congress for the
support of the Government. Without re-
peating these objections, respectfully refer
to that message for a statement of my views
on the principle maintained in debate by
the advocates of this bill, viz, that "to with
hold appropriations Is a constitutional
means for the redress of what the majority
of the House of Representatives may regard
as a grievance" The bill contains the fol-
lowing clauses, towit:
And provided further, that the following
sections of the revised statutes of the
United States-nameIy sections 2O17 to
2.O1s, and 1920, and all of the succeeding
sections of said statutes down to and lnclud
ing section 1927 and also section 5 $50 be
and the same are hereby repealed, and that
all the other sections of the revised statutes
and all laws and parts of laws authorizing
the appointment of chief supervisors of
elections. special deputy marshals of cleo
lions or general deputy marshals having any
duties 10 perform in respect to any election,
and prescribing their duties and powers.
and allowing them comp ensation, be and the
same is hereby repealeG
1t also contains clauses amending sections
or 01Q . 0oS and 021 Of roviead
utes. The sections of revised statutes which
the bill, If approved, would repeal or
amend, are part of an act approved May 80,
1870, and amended February 20, 1871, emil
tied can act to enforce the rights of citizens
of the United States 10 vote in the several
States of this Union, and for other pur-
poses" All of the provisions of the above
named acts which it is proposed in this bill
to repeal or modify relate to congressional
elections The remaining portion OF law
the enactment of this measure
is that which provides for the appoint
ment by the judge of-the circuit court of the
United States of two supervisors of election
in each election district at any congressional
election on due application of citizens who
desire, in the Language OF Law, TO have such
election guarded and scrutinized." The du-
ties 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 arrests or to per
form other duties than to be in the imme-
diate presence of officers holding the cleo
tIon, and to witness all their proceedings,
including the counting Of votes and making
a return thereof. The part of the election
law which will be repealed by the approval
of this bill includes those sections which give
authority to the supervisors of election ito
personally scrutinize, count and canvass
each ballot" and all the sections which con-
fer authority upon United States marshals
and deputy marshals in connection with
congressional elections. The enactment of
this bill will also repeal section 1922 OF
the criminal statutes of the United
States, which was enacted for the protection
of United States officers engaged in the dis
charge of their duties at congressional cleo
tions. This section protects supervisors and
and marshals in the performance of their
duties by making the obstruction or assault
ing Of these officers or any interference or
bribery, or solicitation or otherwise, crimes
against the United States. The true mean
ing and effect oil the proposed legislation are
plain. The supervisors with authority to
witness and observe the proceedings at con-
gressional elections will be left, but there
will be no power to protect them or prevent
interference with their duties, or to punish
any violation of Law from which their pow
ers are derived. II this bill is approved only
the shadow of the authority of the United
States at national elections will remain; the
substance will be gone Supervision OF cleo
tons will be reduced to mere inspection
without authority on the part of supervisors
to do any act whatever to make the election
a fair one. ALI that will be left to the
supervisors will be to have such oversight oil
elections as political parties are In the habit
of exercising without any authority OF Law
in order to prevent their opponents from
obtaining unfair advantages. The object OF
the bill is to destroy any control whatever
by the United States over congressional
| elections.
| The passage of this bill has been urged on
| the ground that the election of members oil
| Congress is matter which concerns the
| States alone; that these elections should be
controlled exclusively by States; that there
/ are and can be no such elections as national
elections, and that the existing law of the
United States regulating congressional cleo