New-York tribune., 1879-05-07
LEGISLATION BY CAUCUS.

,,,, rr,foCRATs PASS THEIR BUNCoMBE ARMY BILL
n THE HOUSE WITHOUT ALLOWING WORD or
npp,rr-TgE REAL CHARACTER OF THIS MODE
OF LEGISLATION.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
yv,suIxGToN. MAY 6-The beauties OF legislation
..'.o,ors yccre never more strkngly illustrated
tban in the House Of Representatives to-day
The Democrats spent the better part of week IN
,o~foc+inc their buncombe bill to meet an improb-
abe if not impossible contingency. Ihey dis
orssed if in caucus after caucus and in joint caucus
oommittee. They amended and revised it, all in
che Greatest secrecy; and finally, when they had
1r,tb much labor and pains got it into shape. they
introduced it into the House on one morning ana
rassed # under the operation of the previous queS
toD. without one word of debate, on the next
There WAS no excuse for tins preclpl-
.,+e nroceeding. and the previous question
was never established for any such pur-
nose. If was intended to enable the House 10 come
to a vote on pending proposition when IL shoulu
nave been sufficiently discussed, or when' owing
IN want of time, continued debate py tne
minority might place the passage OF measure III
ieoparlv. No such condition of affairs existed To-
dov There had been no debate OF the pendlng
,,ro,osition no explanation even Of Its provisions
in omen House. The Democrats had met last week.
closed the doors and windows, placed sentlneS at
oll approaches to the hall, and then like gang Oh
conspirators. sworn not to disclose their proceed
incs. They had Matched up the measure
in sublued whispers. They all understood
what the bill meant or what they
meant it should mean; but they never told the
House of Representatives or the country. The Re-
nnblicans. knowing that they would have no op-
nortuDity TO debate the measure in the House,
also net and exchanged views on the subject, The
arguments of neither party have ever been la'd
before the other or given to the country. Inc
Democrats were bound by q solemn agreement TO
vote for the bill en- masse and the Repuollcahs
were forced to record their judgment upon 1t With
ont having it explained by its authors and without
being given an opportunity to explain their own
course. If il was not for free and independent
press. the proceedings in the House to-day would
have been an enigma to the country. FOR
tunately in one branch of the legislative Depart
ment of the Government, ruled though it may be
nv n caucus there is still preserved the semblance
of delbeTatiOn.
The Democratic caucus programme was inter
-upted to-day only once OF twice. Mr.. Knott, who
had charge of the bill, graciOusly allowed an
amendment prepared by Senator Edmunds and
Renresentatlves FRYE and Robson to be voted
upon. but not to be discussed, and then he shut
down the gates Mr. COnger had an amendment
proydnc for the repeal of the two sections Of the
Revised Statutes which the Democrats are seeking
70 amend, but the Democratic managers would not
allow il to be read much less to be voted upon. In
order TO emphasize this refusal, the Republicans,
under Mr. Conger's lead, filibustered for about an
hour, and then gave up and allowed the bill TO pass.
The Democrats expect the President to sign this
bill and many of the Republicans arc of the same
opinion. The former think that if the bill is ap
proved the Republican party in Congress Will be
placed in rather an awkward position, and that a
bitter controversy between the Executive 'nd bis
party will eusue In this they will be greatly mis-
taken. The Republicans who voted against the
bill to-day did 1t for varlOus reasons. some OF them
thought il was very dangerous measure, serl-
ousy interfering with the constitutional powers of
the Executive. Some opposed II because 1t was so
vague in its provisions that they were not
sure what the effect of its passage might
be. No one, not even the author OF the
b can tell what laws the last clause of 1t repeals.
Some voted against it because IL was unnecessary
and uucalled for, Just enactment of the law OF
gravtatiOn would be. Some of these objections
NAV be removed by the discussion that will
probably take place in the Senate, and by the time
The bill reaches the President he may have infOrma
tiOn that viii enable him to act intcigently upon
il, which no Republican member OF the House had
to-day. But, whatever may he the fate of this bill,
the Republicans look upon 1t as the result OF
complete surrender by the Democrats, and VIII not
fail TO take advantage of the backdown of their
political opponents.
Whether the bill becomes a law OF not, it was
framed for the purpose OF making il acceptable to
the President and that purpose is the essential
thing whe ether it is accomplished or not.