The New York herald., 1879-03-29
WAS HIN CT ON.
Revival of an Old Custom
in the House.
IMPORTANT MEASURES TO Be DISCUSSED.
Evils Resulting from the Previous
Question Gag Law.
THE DEBATE ON THE ARMY BILL.
Stalw arts Troubled About the
Course Of the President.
The Absurd Reports About Rev.
o!utionary Projects.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT +
Evils Resulting from the Previous
Question Gag Law.
THE DEBATE ON THE ARMY BILL.
Stalw arts Troubled About the
Course Of the President.
The Absurd Reports About Rev.
o!utionary Projects.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.


WASHINGTON. March o. 1879.
THE DEBATE ON THE ARMY BILL IN THE HOUSE,
srALwAnTs UNEASY ABOUT THE COURSE OF
THE PRESIDENT.
The democrats in the House have wisely agreed
that the debate the political clauses the Appro-
pration bills shall be continued long as the re-
publicans desire. The ablest ON each side will
be heard therefore. and once more. after many
years, the House win become : speaking body. All
the bearing and relations OF the proposed measures
will be discussed, and the country viii, IL is TO
be hoped revive an old and almost forgotten custom
and read the speeches In that way It will be In
structed. not merely the questions at issue.
which are of little real Importance that either
party might surrender without the least harm to any
interest," but 1t will be able to what spirit
the leaders of the parties, which contains the
abest aud the most sincerely patriotic men. whose
advice the voters this fall and next year most
safely follow.
1t is quite m event that any pubic question is
once moro deliberately discussed In the House Of
Representatives. For many years 1t has not been
deberative body in any true sense for tho majority
have constantly choked off debate by the misuse Of
the previous question. and the most important
measures since the war have been passed with the
House deliberately gagged. 1t may be added that
many of these measures could not have passed
had debate been allowed. The evil GUS
tom of preparing bills in the secrecy
OF the committee room. introducingfhom under the
previous question, refusing to allow discussion and
passing them by the nero brute force of an unin-
structed partisan majority. is to blame for much of
the mischievous legislation which has kept the
try in needless turmoil since 1865 II the democrats
should be wise enough to abolish this custom and
q.
before voting. they would perform q SER
vice for which the country ought to be
grateful, and do what would once moro
make scat in the House worthy the ambition Of
really able men. More than this they would regain
for the House tho respect and influence which the
Senate, whore debate is free has gained at its ex-
pcnse.
The debate to-day was comparatively unimpor-
tant. concerned point of order that the politi-
cai lceislstion not gcrmane. This point will be
decided tomorrow, and then tho debate on the
merits will begin General Garncld heads tho list
on the republican side, and Mr.. Frank Hurd and Mr..
Carlisle. of Gentucky. among the democrats Poor
Mr. stephens Of Georgia. began to speak to the point
Of order this evening and will be heard tomorrow.
The only point OF Importance that turned up in
the debate to-day arose concerning assertion of
Mr.. Robcson on the republican side that tho pro.
quell riot q the polls Mr.. Carlisle. democrat,
replied ct once that this was not correct; that
the amendment proposed only to prohibit the
stationng Of troops at the polls in anticipation of
riot. which is true. Of course, and distinction of
the last importance. but a sapent republican, Mr..
Lapham. of New York. who will probably be kept in
The back ground hereafter by his friends re-
marked that in his opinion prevention was better
than cure; and IL was better. he thought to have
the troops at the polls in readiness to put down
orders. sentiment which the late Emperor Napo-
leon III. would have heartily applauded.
The republicans this evening are uncertain about
what the President will do and this uncertainty ir-
ritates many of them They sigh for the good old
times when they received their inspiration from the
White House, and on political questions pushed ON
with certainty that, whatever the merits Of what
they did, they had opposition to fear the other
end Of the avenue. The President has refused to
commit himself to any course beforehand.
and there Is report that he wants the ques-
tions thoroughly aud cxhaustively discussed in
tho two houses IN order that their merits or dcmeris
shall be made clear. It is known that he is careful
reader Of the Congressional debates, and that no
speech Of either side on any important question is
unread by him. He followed the long Senate debate
ON the silver question: for instance with unwoared
patience and interest. The stalwarts would rather
debates but If this report is correct and tho Prrs
dent docs read the debates. the responsibility is on
the democrats to convince him that they are in tho
right and II they fail they will have themselves to
blame.
The wild reports sent out from here of desperate
unconstitutional and revolutionary intentions ON
the democratic side IN of the Presidents veto
absurd and untrue. Thcy set a6oat for parti
purposes and largely In order to alarm the presi
dent. irritate him. and, as tho authors Of these
rumors say. ''to stiffen his backbone" The event
viii show that tho democrats do not intcnl 20
leave the government without appropriations.
and tho discussions in the democratic caucus
showed concusively that oven an attempt to repeal
tho Supervisor law would have failed In tho House.
because II would havo boon opposed by largo num-
bcr of democrats. Senator Lamar said in his caucus
speech that no held II TO be absolutely right that
Congress- should appoint of1ccrs. ik6 thcsc super
vsors DO present at federal elections TO witness
both tho registration and tho election and count Of
votcs. in order that the House might be able to
determine by it's witnesses 40 to thc rightful
Of tho election. and this speech greatly ap
plaudod and found but tr:ning opposition.
THE GREESDAcKRiS TRYING TO SAVE THE
NATION
The fourteen tailors OF Toolcy street. who call
themselves tho grecnback party In tho House, fol-
lowed tho prevalent custom and held caucus to-
night. Thcy werc presided over by tho celebrated
lrcndrick B. Wright. whose Pet scheme IL is 10 give
section Of land snd $500 to every abc-bodcd malo
citizen. Besides tho fourteen grcenbackors tho
caucus contained equal number Of democrats
and republicans. such Ewing. of Ohio; Kelley, of
Pcnnsyivania; Springer. Of Illinois. and Yokum, of
Pennsylvania. This noble army Of rcformcrs re-
solved to the hard times BY rcconng the trsto
dollar. ssuing unlimited silver retiring the national
bank notes aud substituting legal tenders end by
laying an income tax. This so-calIcd financial
measure thoy determined to present ~ tho Arst op
portunity in ordcr 10 savo tho country.
Mr.. Ewing is nursing the grcenbsck movement
with the hope Of e1octing combination Of tho DEM
serssiO party. to which, he nov bel9neg., with ths