Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-30
NUMBER THREE.
VETO OF THE LEGISLATIVE APPR0-
PRlATl0N BILL.
Why the People Should Pay Campaign Ex-
penses of the Republican Party
A Plea for Hired Elec-
ton BummerS.

After mature consideration of the bill
entitled AN act making appropriations
for legislative, executive and judicial
expenses of the government for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1880, and for
other purposes herewith return it to
the House of Representatives, in which
it originated, with the following Objec-
tions to its approval:
Objections to Riders Reiterated.
The main purpose Of the bill is to ap-
propriate money required to support,
during the next fiscal year, the several
civil departments of the government.
The amount appropriated exceeds in
the aggregate eighteen millions OF dol
lars. This money is needed to keep in
operation the essential functions OF all
the great departments OF the govern
ment, the legislative, executive and ju-
dicial. Ii the bill contained no other pro-
vision, no objection to its approval could
be made. 1t embraces, however, num-
ber OF fclauses relating to su bjects Ofgreat
general interest, which are wholly
uncOnnectcd with the appropriation
which it provides for. Objections to the
practice OF tacking general legislation TO
the appropriation bills, especially when
the object is TO deprive a coordinate
branch of the Government OF its right to
the free exercise of its own discretion
and judgment touching such general
legislation, were set forth in the special
message in relation TO House hill No. l,
which was returned to the House OF
Representatives on the 18th OF last
month. | regret that the objections
which were then expressed to this
method of legislation have not seemed
to Congress OF sufficient weight TO dis
suade from this renewed incorporation
OF general CnactmcntS in an apprOprla-
ton bill, and that my constitutional
duty in respect 70 the general
legislation thus placed before me
cannot be discharged without
seeming TO delay, however briefly,
the necessary appropriation by Con-
gress, for support OF the government.
Without repeating those objections, Ire
spectiully refer 10 that message Tor
statement Of my views on the prln-
ciple maintained in a debate by
the advocates OF this bill, viz: that to
withhold appropriations is a conStitu-
tional means for the redress OF what a
majority of the House OF Representa-
tiyes may regard rs grievance.
Effect of TIE Bill.
The bill contains the following clauses,
viz: And provided further, that the fol-
lowing sections Of the Revised Statutes
OF the United States, namely, sections
2.OI6, 2.OlS and 1920, and all of the sue
ceeding sections of said statutes down to
and including section 2,027, and also
section 5,522, be and the same are here
bv repeated, &c, 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
elections or general deputy marshals,
having any duties to perform in respect
To any election and prescribing their
duties and powers, and allowing them
compensation, be and the same are here
by repealed.
II also contains clauses amending sec
tions 2Ol7, 2,Olg, POPS and 2,O3l OF the
Revised Statutes. The section OF the
Revised Statutes which the bill, il ap-
proved, would repeal or amend, Is one
part of the act approved May 30, 1870,
and amended June 2S, 1871, entitled
"Anact 10 enforce the rights of the cltl-
Zpus of the United States To vote in the
several States ut this Union, aud Tor
other purposes" All OF the provisions
of the above named acts, which 1t is pro-
posed i'm this bill to repeal or modify, re-
late 10 Congressional elections. The re-
manning portion of the law, which will
continue in force after the enactment OF
this measure, is that which provides for
the appointment by a Judge OF the Cir
cult Court of the United States OF two
supcrvisors of elections in each election
district at any Congressional election,
on due application OF the citizens who
desire, i'm the language OF the law, TO have
such elections guarded and scruumzed.
The duties OF supervisors Will be 10 at
tend at the polls at all Congressional
elections and 10 remain after the polls
are open until the last vote cast has
been counted, but they will have 40
authority to make arrests or perform
other duties than 10 he in the lmmedi-
ate presence of the officers holding the
election. and 10 witness all their pro-
ceedings. including the counting OF the
votes and making 4 return thereof.
M 4 81 .,l,..t1nY, Il "a tIsh "a
be repealed. by the approval OF this
bill, includes those sections which give
authority t. Supervisors of elections 10
personally scrutinize the count and can
yaSs of each ballot, and all the sections
which confer authority upon the United
States MarshalS and Deputy MarShals IN
connection wtl Congressional elections
ThcenactmentO of this bill will alSOrepeaI
section +. .522 of the criminal statutes OF
the United States, which was enacted
for the protection of United States
officers engaged in the discharge OF their
duties at Congressional elections. This
section protects the supervisors and
marshals in the performance OF thelI
duties bv making the obstruction or as
saulting of these officers, or any inter
ference with them by bribery or sollcl
tation or otherwise, crimes against the
United States. The true meaning and
effect of the proposed legislation are
plain. Supervisors OF elections will be
left, but there will be no power TO pro
tect them or to prevent interference
with their duties, or TO punish any vio'
lation of the law from which their pow
ers are derived. II this bill is approved
only the shadow of authority o
the United States at national elections
will remain. The substance will bt
gone; supervision OF election will bC
reduced to mere inspection, without au
thority on the part OF the supervisors tC
do any act whatever TO make the elec
ton fair one. All that will be left tc
the supervisors is the permission tC
have such oversight OF elections a. 20
litical parties are in the habit OF cNyr
cising without any authority OF law
to prevent their opponents iron
obtaining unfair advantages. Tht
object OF the bill is to destroy any con
troll whatever by the United State:
over Congressional elections.