Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-17

ana EeSeFN6 ldnub IN hduSdS.
On motion of Mr.. Wasburn, a bill was
passed allowing presumption settlers twelve
months after the date of filing their entries
to complete their residences.
A resolution to permit the subcommittee
of the committee on commerce to sit during
recess ond take testimony on the subject OF
commercial relations was offered and failed
to pass for the want of two third majority.
The remainder of the session was taken up
in considering the business OF the District OF
Columbia. Adjourned.
IN THE SENATE.
Senator Davis WA from the commit
tee on appropriations, stated that on consld-
Grafton of the present state of business before
the senate the committee were unable to con-
cur in the date in the joint resolution fixing
tomorrow as the day of adjournment. They
hoped to be able to report a resolution soon
and FIX an early day for adjournment
The senate then took up the bill intro
duced by Senator NJ 'Pherson to amend the
act of 1893 In regard to enrolling and
licensing vessels engaged in coasting trade
and fisheries.
Senator ingalls,, at his own request, was
excused from further service on the commit
tee on privileges and elections, and the
president pro tenn. appointed Senator Logan
in his stead.
The bill to amend the enrolment and
licensing act went over to the expiration Of
the morning hour, and the supplemental
Judicial appropriation bill was taken up.
Senator Dawes said that this was the most
pernicious of measures lately introduced in
congress. 1t would, if it became law, shake
the confidence of all loving people in
our judicial system.
Senator Hill believed that the intent of the
present law was good, and, if it were only
righteously administered, there would be no
need OF q change. 1t would, as Senator
Conkling had said, be indecent to introduce
politics into the Jury system by a law, but
they have already been introduced by judges
who violate the spirit OF the existing law, and
the pc Iding bill is intended to abate this in
decency already established.
Senator ConkliDg thought that, AS the present
law had been praised by the Democrats, 1t
would be better to retain IT, amending 1t to
remedy rather the defects complained OF
than TO abrogate it altogether by passing a
bill which provided, IN violation of the con-
shtution and all civilized jurisprudence, that
cases should be tried before juries selected on
account of their political bias.
Senator Hill replied that be would not vote
for the bill unless it contained the provlso
that nothing contained IN it shall prevent
conformity with the State practlces where
such conformity now exists. lie was intended
to reach the cases where the State practice
was departed from and to secure i'm
Partially there. aud, If possible, lead to a
return to the State system. He admitted to
Senator Conkling that ne regarded this
measure az Objectionable, but that it was
necessary In order to remedy practice more
objectionable.
Senator Conkling asked Senator Hill Why
ne proposed an Indecent and bad" measure
to correct an indecent and bad practice when
the practice could be corrected by amending
the existing law
Senator HILL replied thai he believed the
practical effect OF the bill, with snght
amendment which he would propose, would
be simply to force return by the Federal
courts to the State system, from the follow
ing clause: But nothing here contained
shall be construed to prevent any judge
in a district in which such is now the prac-
tice, from ordering the names of Jurors to be
drawn from boxes used by the State
authorities" He would move to strike out
the words: SIN which such is now the
practice, - so as to make the provision unani-
nous.
Senator Morgan said that in 1862 the
government thought it necessary to intro
duce politics into the qualifications of Federal
Jurors, Leaving out the question whether
that was right Or necessary at the time, a
general amnesty has since gone out Tor all
polit cal crimes, and there seems to be no
reason for making the iury-box the only
place where political disability is to be per-
petuated.
Senator Allison's amendment to increase
the appropriation for the payment of district
attorneys and their assistants from three
hundred Thousand 10 three hundred and fifty
thousand dollars was rejected
Senator Wallace moved to amend by in
serting after the clause prohibiting any La
bility to be incurred by any department for
future payment o. money until an appropria-
tion therefor shall have been made, the words
Except as is provided for in section 1892 re-
viaed statutes" Section 1892 excepts the
var and navy departments from the general
law on this subject. Adopted.
The bill was reported back to the senate
and the amendments made in committee Of
the whole agreed to.
Senator Hall moved, as per previous notice
to strike out of the third section the words
lin a district In which such is now the prac'
tice.
Senator Wallace opposed the amendment
The words mentioned formed an intentional
exception. The object Of the bill being t.
create uniform Federal system Of drawing
jurors. The amendment would destroy {
| uniformity.
Senator Carpenter said that he would vote
, for the amendment, and he would, at tht
| proper time, like to unite with the lawyers o
| this body In framing Federal jury law. A
| present there was no such thing as a trial b!
| Jury in the Federal courts. The trial was b.
I
a jury to convict or acquit as they pleased
He wished that the lawyers of the senate
would let this matter 90 over until December
A delay of six months more, after bearing
the evil sixty years, would not make mucl
! difference, and 1t was Impossible to mature
good system in the hurry of the close of thi
session. He objected to the bill as partia
remedy, and as such likely to stand in tn
way of full remedy. He had tried TO
many years, when before in the senate, to &c
good jury law passed, but the Judiciar
| committee as then organized, took the view
that the business of congress was to keel
the laws just as they wereAgood or bad.
After further debate Senator Hills amend
ment was adopted. The bill was read
third time and passed-yeas, q; nays, 10.
strict party vote.
On motion, Senator Withers's army appro
priation bill was taken up, and without actor
thereon the senate adjourned.