Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-03-24
The Democratic Programme.

The ITO committees appointed respectively
By the H5;=e aud Senate Democratic caucuscs
TO make g5oamDepdators concerning Tho Or
der of business for the extra session hold
joint meeting last Saturday.
There were present Senators Thurman.
Whyte, Kernau, Salisbury, Jones, OF Florida,
FaIc, and Bailey, and Representatives Cbal.
mers, Carlisle, Cox, of New York, Ewing,
Springer, Tucker Atkins, Clymer, Resgao,
Bcknell. and Phelps. Senator Thurman
presided.
The first question dicussed was whether tho
political legislation desired By the dominant
party 10 Congress should be effected by the
passage ofa separate measure or by the lEcoI-
pcratiou Of repeating clauses, &e., 10 the ap'
proplia!i9n bills.
|: was f1alIy determined that the latter
course would be most expedient, especially tor
the reason that it seemed likely to save time,
there being general desire to ioish the neces
ssry busiats3 OF the season at aa early day as
possible.
The determination WAS reached by vote Of
Is agaost 5; two Senators and three Repre-.
senatiy3s vOliog 10 the negative.
The next question considered was whether
the political porliops OF the appropriation bills
| should GoW be passed in the same terms which
they we're passed at the las. session, or whether
| the repeating clauses in regard TO the Federal
| election laws should b., modified so as 10 re.
peal ooly those sections which suhorlz, tho
| appointment oil chief supervisors aud deputy
marshal! for elections, together With toe sec
| liOos coafcTIlng police powers 90 the superb
sors, thus continuing the authorization Tor
tho appointment Of two supervisors ct differ
eat politics to serve 10 testim oDlal capacity
at cach poll CO Witnesses at the count OF votes:
After CO exhaustive discussion il was decided
10 recommend the adoption of The modified
proposition above described. Tho 7ole was IA
against 4, there being two Senators aud two
Representatives 10 favor of total repeal.
The Joint meeting then authorized Senators
| Thurman, Salisbury, Bailey and kernan, aud
Representatives Chalmers, Springer, Carlisle.
aud Atkins to formulate provisions 10 acc5r'
darco with this decision 10 regard to the cleo
ton laws. ard also provisions for the tota! re-
peal of the jurors test oath ard tho existing
authorization of the presence OF troops at the
poIls fer Incorporation 10 the legislative, eye
cuiive and judicial, and the army approprla
tioo bills, together with such additional pre-
visons as they may deem necessary to secure
free and fair elections fur Representatives and
Delegates to Congress-, They we're also espe
cialy authorize to consider the proprlety CT
framing substitute for section 1922 Of the
Revised Statutes, which prescribes penalties
for violations of tho election laW!. MIR. Sprln
ger proposition to provide. in addition 10 the
repeal of tho law concerning the presence Of
troops at the polls, for tho enactment OF the
existing Euglish statute Of George II. 90 that
subject was very tavorably received and the
ioint subcommittee will probably recommend
It's adoption.
1t prhbits any soldier stationed within tao
miles Of a voting place from lesviug bis Q1sr
ter5 CO an election day, except to relieve guard
or 20 60 to the polls to vote, and reqnlrts hin
Lila tho latter case to return to his quarters i'm
uedately stterward. The joint suoc)nnt'c &C
met ct three o'clock 70 day AID expect TO 70
port t, another joiot mectog OF the Two caucus
| committees 10 morrow.
After appointing tho subcommittee the jont
mecIog proceeded to consider the Question
whether the legislation OF tho prescott session
should be strictly conf ocd to the appropriation
! bills, iDc'u ilog tho measures above Indicated,
| or whether geoeral business should be tra6s
acted by either Hons, whoa not engaged on an
| appropriation bill.
| Il decided majority OF the Soa ate csEcus conf
mttcs favored restriction Of The business o! TIC
session TO appropriation bills and to tho enact
| ment of what is known as the yellow-foyer bill.
| & '1sjoriIy OF the House committee insisted
| thst tho opportunities for traneacting general
| business should be improved, without. however,
prolons ing tho eessio. sf.sr tho appIo priatlon
| bills ball have been disp Jsed o..
| It WAS finally decided 10 report q Disagree
Inont or this subj oct - ONT caucus, and leave
the ssttlem ent CT tho question ~ u majority ct
| tho Democratic members OF both Houses.