The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-21
WHAT SHALL WE DO !?
Some Hesitation Among the Dem
Ocratic Members of Congress.
What Southern Members Want-The Re
peal of the Test Oath Presented As q
Separate Measure.
Jonas Speech on the Use Of Troops at
Elections in Louisana-Eads'
last Claim
Especial to the Democrat. !


WASHINGTON, May 2o.-There has been
some discussion among the Democratic lead
ers as to whether, after the Legislative bills
shall have been vetoed, the repeals OF the test
oath and election laws shall be passed and
sent to Hayes In one bill or separated Into
two distinct measures. This grows out Of the
fact that II the two are presented separately
Hayes is known to intend signing the test
oath bill and vetoing the other: and the ques-
tion Is whether 1t would not look like par
tial surrender for Congress to arrange It's
action to suit the previously advertised wishes
OF Hayes. Nearly all the Southern Democrats
hold that there is no logical conclusion be-
tween the test oath and the election laws,
and that the only proper way to repeal
them ID by separate acts. 1t now ap-
pears probable that this latter view will
prevail. and the test oath repealed as sepa-
rate measure without serious opposition. II,
however, it Is joined in the same bill with the
repeal OF the election laws it will certainly be
vetoed. There Is q growing disposition to
dispose of the Legislative bill at once by the
passage Of joint resolution continuing this
years appropriation until next December,
and then adjourn without taking any further
action whatever on the army bill. Advocates
Of this policy agree that in case Hayes should
recall Congress Immediately after such adj
journment, the whole issue would be brought
downfto that of martial law at the polls, and
upon that the Democrats believe they would
have the advantage. Many of them say that
on that Issue they could well afford to sit here
from now till the fourth Of March, 1881, In
ipYtT Y
No many reports and rumors have been cir
culated imputing q disposition on the part Of
Chairman Atkins, of the Appropriation Com
mittee, to recede and pass the regular bills
without the repeating clauses in order to
hasten an adjournment that your corre-
spondent thought it proper to consult him on
that subject this morning. Mr.. Atkins Is I'M
doubtedly anxious for adjournment, as he
fairly admitted, but bis comments On the at
tituds Of the Democratic party left no doubt
Of his thorough stalwartness, 50 to speak, on
all pending issues. 1t may be safely asserted
that Mr.. Atkins will be the last man to recede
The Ways and Means Committee this
morning had under consideration o resolution
fixing the day Of adjournment, and after
about two hours discussion the matter was
indefinitely postponed. A resolution was
adopted however, to postpone consideration
Of all matters of general Legislation Id com
mittee until the regular session. This action,
taken as q whole, means that the subject Of
adjournment Is not to be considered until the
relations between Congress and the Executive
are more developed and defined, but as soon
as that Is accomplished Congress will ad-
iourn Immediately.
The Erening Star says that the Attorney
General to-day submitted the opinion that
the iilstalIment of 100000 due Eads under
the last appropriation could not be paid until
the engineers reported on the depth Of the
channel above the head of the jetties. No
definite action was taken, but the Attorney
General thinks his decision will be sustained
by majority of the Cabinet. What effect
this decision will have remains to be seen
Mr.. Jonas speech to-day was mainly his
torical review Of tire Federal interference, |
civil and military, In the domestic affairs Of
Louisiana, and is generally regarded as the
most powerful and telling presentation Of
that phase of the case ever made here. Atone
point he was interrupted by Kellogg, who in
terposed an explanatory sort of denial to
break the force of Mr.. Jonas erpOse of the use
Of troops to carry elections. but otherwise
there was very little dissent from his sweep
ing allegations Of fact. Kellogg was showed
under in short order.
A member Of the National Executive Com
copies Of the speech would be ordered imme-
diately for circulation In the North as cam
paign documents. A. G. b..