Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-05
Another Veto Message from Presi.
dent Hayes.

to the House of Representatives to-day
SIRs: After mature consideration Of
the bill entitled Gan act making appro,
priations for the Legislative, executive and
judicial expenses of the government fol
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880, and
for other purposes, herewith return il
to the House of Representatives, in which
it originated, with the following objec.
tons to its approval: The main purpose
of the bill is to appropriate the 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 DOLLARS.
This money is needed to keep in opera.
ton the essential functions of all the
great departments of government, legis-
lative, executive and judicial. If the bill
contained no other provisions, no objec-
tons to its approval would be made. II
embraces, however. d number of clauses
relating to subjects of great general in.
terest, which are wholly unconnected with
the appropriations which it provides for
The objections to the practice of lacking
general legislation to 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 bill
No. /, which was returned to the House
Of Representatives the goth of last month
l regret that that the objections which
were then expressed to this
METHOD OF LEGISLATION
have not seemed to Congress of sufficient
weight to dissuade from this renewed in
corporation of general enactments in an
appropriation bill, and that my constitu-
tlonal duty in respect to the general legis-
lation that is placed before me cannot be
discharged without seeming 10 delay
however briefly, the necessary appropria.
ton by Congress for the support Of the
government. Without repeating these
objections I respectfully refer to thai
message for statement of my views or
the principle maintained in debate by the
advocates of this bill, viz: that to with
hold appropriations is constitutions
means for the redress of what the MAORI
ty of the House of Representatives may
regard as a grievance. The bill contains
the following clauses. viz: ...
"And provided further, that the follow
ing sections of the revised statute of thu
United States, namely sections 2,016,2 ,01t
and 2,020, and all the succeeding sections
of said statutes, down to an including sec
ton 2,O27, and also section $500, be anG
the same are hereby repealed,
onH &hof oil tho. ofhor coo
tiOns Of the revised statutes and all law
and parts of laws authorizing the appoint
ment of chief supervisors of elections, o
general deputy marshals having any dutz
to perform in respect to any election, anC
prescribing their duties and powers, ant
allowing them compensation, be and tn
| same are hereby repealed"
REPEAL PROPOSED.
1t also contains clauses amending sec
tions 2,O17, 2,O19, 2,O29 and 2,O31 Of tn
revised statutes. The sections of the re
yised statutes which the bill, if approved
} would repeal or amend, were part of al
: act approved May 3Oth, 1870, ant
amended February 28th, 1871, entities
San act to enforce the rights of citizen
of the United States to vote in the sever
al States Of this Union, and for other pun
poses" All the provisions of the abov
, named act which is proposed in this bill
to repeal or modify, relates to Congress
| sional elections. The remaining portio
of the law, which would continue il
force after the enactment of. this measure
in that which provides for the appoint
ment by judge Of the circuit court g
the United States of two supervisors G
election in each election district, at an
Congressional election on due applica
J ton of citizens who desire, in the Ian
guage of the law, s'to have such electio
, guarded and scrutinized." The duties G
/ the supervisors will be to attend at tn
: polls at all Congressional elections an
to remain after the polls are closed unit
every vote cast has been counted, bu
they will have no authority to make al
, rests or to perform other duties than
. be in the Immediate presence of the Of
r fcers holding the election and to wit
ness their proceedings, including tn
counting of votes and making return
thereof. The part of the election LAY
| which would be repealed by the approvs
of this bill includes those sections whic
give authority to supervisors of electio
to personally scrutinize, count and car
? vass each ballot, and all the section
! which confer authority upon Unite
q State marshals and deputy marshals i
t connection with Congressional elections
!; The enactments of this bill will also re
! peal section $500 of the criminal statute
: of the United States officials engaged i
: discharge of their duties at Compression
e al elections. This section protects super
visors and marshals in the performanc
of their duties by making the obstruct
, ing or assaulting of these officers or an
& interference with them by bribery or sc
i licitation, or otherwise, crimes againt
Z the United States.
+ EFFECT OF THE REPEAL.
4 The true meaning and effect Of the pro
! posed legislation are PLAIN. Supervisor
! with authority to observe and witness tn
i. proceedings at Congressional election
d will be left, but there will be no powe
I to protect them or to prevent interference
with their duties and to punish any viols
: ton of the law from which their power
!. are derived. If this bill is approved
1 only the shadow of the United States a
f national elections will remain. The sui
! stance will be gone. Supervision of cleo
\ tons will be reduced to mere inspeC
s ton without authority on the part {
2 supervisors to do any act whatever t
! make the election fair one. All tina
will be left to the supervisors is permits
r SION to have such oversight of the cleo
|, lions as political parties are in the habi
of, without any authority oflaw, in orde
to prevent their opponents from takin