The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-23
THE DEMOCRATIC POLICY.
DECIDING ON THE ORDER or BUSINESS
FOR TINE EXTRA SESSION

DECIDING ON THE ORDER OF BUSINESS
FOR TINE EXTRA SESSION
Political Legislation Probably 60 be Attached
to the a Appropriation BIlIs-Mo difyInR the
Proposed Repeal Of the Election Laws.
WAsHISGToN, March GA caucus Of Dem.
ocratlc Congressman will be- held curly next
week. At this caucus the order OF business for
the extra session will DO decided The pr sent
Indications are that Congress will remain in
session for n month or ak weeks. To-day the
caucus committees Of the Senate and House
met together The object Of the conference was
to agree VI IN some definite plan OF action to DO
recommended to the majority Of both Houses
for their guidance. Two questions were brought
TO the attention OF tho Joint committee. One
question had reference to tho repeal OF the
laws which permit Federal oniceholdsrs
to manipulate elections. The other question
WINS "a to the advisabilIty OF transacting
general legislative business at the present
session. The members Of the House Commit
tee met early In the morning. All favored the
repeal Of the election laws. with certain modih-
cations. In the Legislative. Executive and Judi
cial and Army Appropriation bills. Two gentle
men. Meesrs. Springer and Cox first desired an
attempt to be made to repeal those laws in sep
arate bills. All but three members Of the Com
mittee favored general legislation at the extra
session pending tho final disposition Of the APP
preparation bills. In Joint session the House
Committee adhered TO the programme pre-
viousy marked out by its majority Mt its meet
Ing. After much discussion respecting the repeal
OF the election laws pending which proposition
10 repeal those laws In separate bills was re-
jected. 10 10 8. the Committee agreed to insist
upon the repeal Of section 1920 and all OF the
succeeding sections down TO and including SEQ
ton 2,O27, and section b.522 OF the Revised
Statutes IN the Legislative. Executive and Ju-
than was contained In the bill which failed last
session is recommended, in the hope that a
compromise with the Republicans may be
much of their iniGuity. The occupation OF John
l. Davenport and all other chief supervisors
OF election and special or general deputy
marshals OF election will then be gone. The
laws prescribing their duties and powers and
| from the statute book. Section $500, which
the Democrats propose 70 repeal, provides that
every person. with or without authority or pro-
| cess. who obstructs. hinders. assaults. brides
| or solcits any supervisor. marshal or deputy
quired OF them by law at the polls or places Of
registry. shall be liable to instant arrest with
out process. and be imprisoned for not more
| than two years. nor fined not TO exceed 5000.
The Committee will recommend tho caucus
| not to repeal those sections Of the statutes
which. under prescribed regulations. permit
| the appointment OF supervisors TO witness fair
| elections in eli s OF over twenty thousand in
habiiants. but the supervisors are not TO hold
magisterial powers. All laws for the punish
ment OF election frauds are TO be retained. Men
| OF the Davenport stripe will not be empowered
| TO arrest thousands OF voters. without a shadow
| Of law. for political purposes. The only re-
| sirictlon to be placed upon the method Of APP
pointing supervisors. OF election is that they
| shall be residents OF tho polling precinct in
which they are designated to serve.
There was a decided division between tho
| Committee OF the House and the Committee OF
| the Senate on the question OF general lcgisla-
| ton u, the present session. The House Com
mttee. with three exceptions, was OF the opin-
| ion that the country needs relief and that gen
| eral legislative business should be TRANSACTED
| until the appropriation bill Are passed. The
| Senate conierees, excepting Mr.. Thurman.
| thought that the country wanted to be relieved
| OF Congress, and that no Legislation outside OF
unless some exceptional measure like the yell
| low Fever bill lmperatively demanded action.
| A subcommittee. consisting Of Senators Thur
| man. Salisbury. Herman. and Bailey. and Rep
| resenthtives Carlisle. Chalmers. Springer and
| Atkins. was appointed TO reach II possible an
agreement on the points in dispute. also to de-
| eide whether Affirmative legislation concerning
| the election laws. as proposed In Mr. Springer
The debate in committee indicated that the
House will proceed with general legislation
aud that the Senate will not. Bulls passed by
| the House will be allowed TO rest In the Senate
| comm .ttees until the regular session next De-
| cembcr. The clause prohibiting the use OF
troops at the polls will be retained in the Army
The sections Of the Election laws which II ID
| proposed 10 repeal are those only which author.
| ize the appointment Of chief supervisors auL
deputy marshqls for elections. with the sections
| cnnierring police powers on tho supervisors
| The section authorizing the appointment Of two
supervisors Of different politics 10 serve In
testimonial capacity at each poll rs witnesses o
the count of votes II retained. The vote on thii
modified proposition was IA against 4, there
being two Senators and two Representatives II
favor Of total repeal. The Committee To- formu
late provisions in accordance with this decision
IL also authorized to draw up provis on
for the total repeal Of the Jurors test oath an'
| the section authorizing the presence OF troop
| nj the polls Tor incorporation in the Legislative
| Judicial and Executive and the Army Appro
printion bills with such additional provision
| us they NAV deem necessary to secure free an
| fair elections for representatives and delegate
90 Congress. Mr. Springer's proposition L
| provide. in addition TO tho repeal OF the lay
| concerning the presence OF troops at the polls
for the enactment OF the existing Engisl
statute OF George III. on that subject was yer
favorably received and the joint sub Committe
| will probably recommend Its adoption. IL pro
| hibits any soldier stationed within two miles
| a voting place from leaving his quarters on II
election day. except TO relieve guard OF TO 20 I
the polls to vote. and requires him In the latte
case Ia return 20 his quarters immediatel
| aftcrward.
The Joint subcommittee will meet at 8 o'cloc
on Monday. and expect to report to anothe
Joint meeting OF the two caucus Committees o
| Tuesday.