Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-02-27
Our Washington better.

Saecici Correspondence Of he OBSERVER
WAsHINGToN, DC, Feb. 20, 70
Yesterday was the most excl
ting day eff the session in the
House. al appropriation bills
had PASSED that body except the
slIndry civil and the legislative.
The Senate was fer behind the
House in IFS general progress in
legislation. The House had sew
er'al days to spare. 1t apparent
undetermined to devote some of
them to political discussion, and
so, the Legislative bib being up,
the amendments suggested in
Democratic caucus 10 DAYS ago
were offered. The first repeal
ing the jury test cath law, re-
ceived nearly a two-thirds vote.
Hereafter, if the Senate follows
the Housc, it viii be possible to
get intelligent U. S. jurymen in
the Southern States.
Tie second amendment, re-
pealing the law under which
Federal officials are appointed
with power to supervise elections
in States, met with determined
opposition, was the subject Of a
debate which did net closg with
the day 5 session. Hale, of Maine,
led off in opposition, followed by
numerous members on both sides.
Mr.. Hale threatened all sorts of
tricks TO prevent the repeal, and
even limited at an extra session.
Messrs, Southland, Wood, Dur
ham, Bragg, Lynde, Kimmell and
Eenlie spoke in favor of repeal,
and Frye, Conger, Hanna and
Garfield, against it. A1r. Black
burn was in the Chair (the House
was IN Committee OF the Whole)
and Garfield made but retracted
a charge against one CT his ru-
lings. Except this, and the ev-
er ridiculous violence Of little
Mr.. Hale, the debate was quiet
though very earnest. The pros
pect is now that the House, by a
strictly party vote, viii send the
bill to the Senate with the a.
mendment. But, as | have be-
fore stated, it is most likely the
amendment will be dropped be-
fore the final passage of the bill,
though the test oath amendment
will be accepted by the Senate.
In the Senate the excitement was
over an amendment to the Post
Office appropriation bill giving
$150,00O a year to each of two
Brazilian lines of steamships
the New York and Norfolk, and
the New Orleans and Galveston
lines. The vote ON what must
be considered test question
on the subject was 80 in favor
and % against The measure is
believed to have 48 supporters in
the Senate, six Of whom are
paired or absent, leaving pres
ent strength, ON the main ques-
ton, Of ~. In the House it is
undeniable that it has m ore
friends than ever before, and its
friends are now confident Of sue
cess. -
Mr.. Potter's Committee n
Tuesday examined one Of the
most independent witnesses that
has come before it. This was
Francis p. Barlow, of NewYork.
Mr.. Barlow is a Republican, and
went to Florida in 1876 at the
request Of President Grant to
"see a fair count" He testified
that his observation there con-
WINGED him that the State had
gone for 1'ilden, and that in his
conversation with the Canvassing
Board he found that at least one
of It's members-Dr. Cowgirl.
agreed with him. He does not
know by what means the mind
of the Doctor was so changed as
TO vote to give the State to
Hayes, but his testimony leads
irresistibly to the conclusion
thatmen less scrupulous than the
witness, ard who also knew how
the Canyassers tood,made prom
Uses of Office at least to all the
members Of the Board. 1t will
be remembered that not only all
the members of the Board but
nearly all the Republicans sent
to Florida to deal with them
have received office from Hayes.
AUSTIN.
1o4hor T,vnchinp.