The New York herald., 1879-03-20
The Political Legislation Pending
Before Congress.
FAIR PROSPECTS FOR A COMPROMISE.
Proposed Modification of the Federal
Election Laws.
Gradual Repeal Of the Recon.
StructiOn Laws.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,

FOR COMPROMISE MODERATE CoUNsELs
PREVAILING.
There is a fair prospect this evening of a brief
session and sensible action. Senator Edmunds. who
has been credited with helping in his adrot and
calmly pertinacious way to bring about the extra
session, to-day introduced resolution adopted
at his instance in the republican caucus which was
apparently intended to spoil Senator Thurman
temper Its object is to conne legislation solely to
tho passage of the appropriation bills. Mr.. Ed
munds' purpose, of course, is to get his DEM
ocratc friends into a debate. Otherwise it
is of no consequence, as the initiative
now lies with the democrats and these have not yet
determined on their policy. The House democrats
meet in caucus tomorrow, and will appoint an ad-
visory committee to meet with similar committee
of the Senate democrats to determine the order and
extent Of business or there will be general
discussion in the caucus. and Mr. Springer Of Illinois.
has prepared the following BILL which he will perhaps
introduce in the House tomorrow, and about which
the discussion may gather
SECTION BE it enacted, &C., That the following
sections of the Revised Statutes-namely section
2O2l and all of the succeeding sections down to and
including section 2,O27 and also section 2,O31.
and all other sections and parts OF sec
tions of said statutes, and all laws or parts
of laws authorizing the appointment of chief super
vsors of elections and special deputy marshals of
elections. general deputy marshals of elections,
and prescribing their duties and powers-be and the
same are hereby repealed.
SEC. 2-That section 2O2O of the Revised Statutes
shall be amended so as to read as follows:-
SEC. 2,02o.-When in any election district or
voting precinct in any city town ror which there
have been appointed supervisors of elections for any
election at which representative delegate in Con-
gress voted for the Supervisors of election not
SLOWED to exercise and discharge fully and
freely. by of bribery, solicitation,
interference. hindrance, molestaton, violence
threats thereof on the part of any person. all the
duties obligations and powers conferred upon them
prompt report under oath. within ten days after the
dy of election to the court appointing them Of the
manner and means by which they not
allowed to fully and freely exercise and
discharge the duties and obligations required and
imposed herein; and upon receiving any such report
the Court shall forthwith examine into all the facts
and may subpoena witnesses and take testimony in
respect to the charges made and prior to the assem-
bling of the Congress for which any such represent
ative delegate voted for, the Judge of said
Court shall cause to be hled with the Clerk of the
House of Representatives all the evidence by him
taken all information by him obtained and all the
reports to him made.
SEC Sat all elections hereafter held Mt which
Representatives or delegates in Congress are to be
the ballots to be used at suck elections shall
be printed upon plain white paper. such is COM
monty used for the publication of daily and weekly
newspapers and there shall be mark design or i'm
preston whatever. written printed on tho back of
such ballots except in States where ballots
required to be numbered by the laws of such State
in which ballots may contain such number only;
and they shall be printed in plain types with straight
lines and with sufficient space between each name
said ballot for the interlineation of another
face thereof no device, mark. printing writing by
which the same may be identified and shall contain
only the designation of all the offices to be filed
whether national, State or municipal, and the names
of the persons voted for at said election, which
names may be either written or printed on such bal
lot: and at Presidential elections there may be
printed on such ballots the names of candidate for
President and Vice President Of the United States
Said ballots shall be not less than twelve inches in
length and not less than three inches in width All
ballots not printed in conformity with this act shall
be rejected and not counted so far they relate to
the election OF Representatives or delegates in Con-
gress, and all ballots found in any ballot box of
less size than indicated in this act printed
which persons voting the same could be identified
Mt the time such ballot cast thereafter, shall
not be counted by any Judge or inspector or can
vassing officer OF any election so far as such ballot
relates to the election OF representative or dele
gate in Congress.
SEC. 4.-Nothng in this act or in any oct of Con-
gress heretofore passed shall be so construed as TO
authorize Supervisors of Elections United States
Marshas their deputies to arrest any citizen of
the United States without process or warrant
issued in pursuance of law, and
rest OF citizen on election day or
shall deprive such citizen of his right to exercise
the elective franchise at any election where Repre-
eentatives or Delegates in Congress being chosen
aud all persons, whether with or without color of
authority, who shall prevent. hinder delay in
TO vote at any election at which Representatives
Delegates in Congress are chosen except by peace.
ably challenging the right of such person to vote
before the judges or inspectors OF such election.
shall on conviction be punished by imprisonment
not more than two years or by fine of not more than
$4,000, or by both such fine and Imprisonment, and
shall pay the cost of prosecution.
1t will be observed that this bill seeks prevent
such ballot box frauds and intimidation of voters at
the polls as comes from the use of tissue paper
tickets and tickets so conspicuousy labelled or
marked on the outside to destroy the secrecy
OF the ballot. II any ono bushes to find
such guards against ballot box frauds needed in
this country he wind well to remember that the
notorious tissue ballots invented and first used
by republicans in Florida in the Presidential election
OF 1876 and that the device of making the outside of
tickets in such manner that every mans vote could
be known was also first practscd large scale by
Southern republicans, called, in Louisiana and
other States in order make sure OF the negro vote
which they manipulated
The democrats have certainly been apt pupils in
this disgraceful business, but IL their credit
that from their side comes the first effort to prevent
these crimes.
Mr. Spr!ngcrs bill also fixes heavy penalties to
violence and intimidation intended 20 prevent the
exercise of the elective franchise, whether it is
done with or without the color of law, which is
intended to cover also such proceedings as those
OF Mr. Davenport in New York. 1t is. of course about
the deputy msrshas that the dispute will arise. and
here there is possibility Of sensible aud just com
promise If the republicans willing. number OF
moderate democrats think well OF a proposition 10
limit the deputy marshals for election purposes to ten
for each precinct voting place TO be appointed by
the United States District Judge the nominations
of the Congressional candidates and thus 20 be
rs the supervisors OF different political parties
A proposition OF this kind will be made
by the democrats to the republicans. and II
Is difhcult TO how IL can be rejected
Several republicans to whom IL has been
mentioned have said freely that they think IL fair
and deserving of support. There is good deal OF
vehement talk and bluster. among the Congressional
rif-raf Of both sides. each violently adiuring his
side to 'never give an inch, but stand solid ms a
rock" but there Is good deal of common sense on
both sides OF both houses and all the signs now
point to amicabe and speedy settlement after tho
contestants have gone through the preliminary
fencing for position.
ccNrnM ALAcLIINHIOM nEcpArGlrc