Daily globe., 1879-04-30

puDnc money nave IN this way Crept into ap-
preparation bills. The public opinion of the
country is against it. The States which have
recently adopted constitutions, have generally
provided
REMEDY FOR The EVIL
by electing that no law shall contain more than
one subject which shall be plainly expressed in
its title. The constitutions of more than half
the States contain substantially this provision.
The public welfare will be promoted in many
ways by return to the early practice of the
government and to the true principle of legis-
lation, which requires that every measure shall
stand or fall according to its own merits. If
it were understood that to attach to an appro-
priation bill a measure irrelevant to the general
object of the bill would imperil and probably
prevent its final passage and approval, an
INVALUABLE REFORM
in the parliamentary practice of Congress
would be accomplished. The best justification
that has been offered for attaching irrelevant
riders to appropriation bills, is that it is done
for convenience sake, to facilitate the passage
of measures which are deemed expedient by all
branches of the government which participate
in legislation. 1t cannot be claimed that there
is any such reason for attaching this amend
ment of election laws to army appro priation
bills. The history of the measure contradicts
this assumption. majority of the House of
Representatives in the last Congress was IN ia
vor of the sixth section to this bill, 1t was
known that majority of the Senate was op-
posed to it, and that separate measure it
could not be adopted. Itwas attached to the
army appropriation bill to
COMPEL THE SENATE
to assent to it It was plainly announced to
the Senate the army bill would not be allowed
to pass unless the proposed amendments to the
election laws were adopted with it. The Senate
refused to ass ent to the bill on account of this
irrelevant section. Congress thereupon ad-
journed without passing the appropriation
bill for the army, and the present extra session
of the Forty-sixth Congress became necessary
to furnish the means to carry the govern
ment. The ground upon which the action of the
House of Representatives is defended has been
distinctly stated by man.: of tit its adoo sroe
of the last session of Congress the doctrine in
question was stated by one of it's ablest de.
tenders as follows: ''It is our duty to repeal
this law. 1t is not worth while to attempt
repeal except upon an appropriation bill. The
Republican Senate would not agree to nor the
Republican President sign the bill for such
repeal. Whatever objection to legislation upon
appropriation bills may be made in ordinary
cases, does not apply where free elections and
The liberty of citizens are concerned. We have
the power t. vote money, let us annex cOndl-
tions to it, and insist upon redress of the
grievances.
By another distinguished member of the
House it was said the right of the representa-
tives of the people to
WITHHOLD SUPPLIES
is as old as English liberty. History records
numerous instances where the commons, feel
ing that the people were oppressed by laws that
the lords would not consent to repeal by ordi-
nary means of legislation, obtained redress at
last by refusing appropriations unless accom-
panied by the relief measures. That question,
of the gravest magnitude, and new in this
country, was raised by this course of proceed
ing. 1t was fully recognized also by its de-
tenders IN the Senate. It was said by distin-
guished Senator, perhaps
NO GRAvER QUESTION
in the form we are brought to consider it was
ever considered by the American Congress in
time of peace, for it involves not only the
merits and demerits of the laws which the
House bill proposes to repeal, but involves the
rights. the privileges, the powers and the du-
ties of the two branches Of Congress and of
the President of the United States. It is a
| question whose Importance scarcely be
estima: ed. It is question that never yet has
been brought so sharply before the American
Congress and the American people as 1t may
be now. 1t is question which sooner or later
must be decided. and the decision must deter
mine what are the powers of the House of Rep
resentatives
UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. President, I should approach this question,
were l in the best possible condition to speak
and to argue to it, with very grave difhdence
and certainty, with the utmost anxiety, for
none can think over it as long and carefully as
have thought of it, without seeing we are
beginning, perhaps, a struggle that may last
longer in this country, as a similar struggle in
| what we are accustomed to call the motherland
The struggle lasted for two centuries before it
last 80 long here, but it may last until every
man in this chamber is in his grave. It's
question whether or not the House of Repre-
sentatives has the right to say we will gran
supplies only upon condition that
GRIEVANCES ARE REDREssED.
We are representatives of the tax payers of tn
republic. We the House of Representatives
alone have the right to originate money bills
We, the House of Representatives, have alon
the right to originate bills which grant th
money of the people. The Senate represent
the States. We represent the tax payers of tn
! republic. We therefore, by the very terms {
originating bills which grant the money of tt
people. We claim the right which the house
commons in England established after two Gel
turies of contest, to say we will not grant tn
: money of the people unless there is redress c
grievances"
!. Upon the assembling of this Congress
pursuance of the call for an extra session
!. = which made necessary by the failu
J of the Forty-ffth Congress to make needf
;, appropriations for support of the governmen
- - the question was presented whether the attem
- - made in the last Congress to engraft by co
~ structlon
NEW PRINCIPLE UPON THE CONSTITUTION
| ~ ho S%oI ;,,o
3. has ample opportunity and time to pass t
IS appropriation bills, and also to enact any pol
It ical measures which may be determined up
Is by separate bills by the usual and ordina
'1 methods of proceedings. But the majority
y. both houses have deemed it wise to adhere
10 the principle asserted and maintained by
ns last Congress by majority of the House
D. Representatives. That principle is that t
House of Representatives has the sole right
originate bills for raising revenue, and the
IN fore has the right to withhold appropriate
" upon which the
to EXISTENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT MAY DEPEND
ce unless the Senate and President shall give th
of assent TO any legislation which the House n
of see fit to attach to appropriation bills. To
n tablish the principle is to make radical, d.
IT. gerous and unconstitutional change in
al character of our institutions. The various
CD partments of the government and the arm
as; and the navy are established by the consti
ed tion or bylaws passed in pursuance ther.
OF Their duties are clearly defined and their 8
lat port is carefully provided for by law. !
OF money required for this purpose has been
aot lected from the eople, and is now in the trt
nal nrv readv to he Maid ont as soon as the anr
the priation bills are passed. Whether the app
ION priations are made or not, that collection
taxes will 60 on, and the public money will
cumulate in the treasury. It
to not the intention of the fran
re- of the constitution that any single branch
the tne governme9s snouio naVe S!e power 70
way should be applied to the purposes for whic
,ro- was collected. Any such intention if it