Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-05-03
THE SECOND ACT.

The leading measure now before
the House of Representatives is
"the bill III. r.. No. % making APP
. preparations for the executive and
judicial expenses of the Government /
for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1880, and for other purposes. Its
predecessor was the army appropri- |
alton bill, with its rider forbidding |
the use of the army as a posse comb |
tattts to keep the peace at elections.
This may be considered the first act |
of the drama now occupying the
political stage. 1t has passed both
Houses of Congress and awaits the
signature of the President. This
will probably be given or its refusal,
with reasons, announced by the
time we go to press. The PROBABLE
tiles of one or other Of the alterna-
tives are at our present writing
giving rise to thu widest rumors in
political circles. We remand all
these conjectures to the manipula-
tons of the daily press and proceed
with Act Ii. The legislative, exec
utive and judicial appropriations
bill, with its rider abolishing the
inqaisitory and arbitrary powers of
the Federal Supervisors of Elec-
tions.
AS this measure will occupy pro-
longed attention both in Congress
and throughout the country, it will
be we'll for our readers to become
acquainted with its details. The
legislation provided for in this bill,
apart from the regular appropria-
tons, consists in the repeal of some
clauses and the amendment of 9TH
ers in an act passed, we believe, in
1870 for the supervision Of elections
by Federal officers under the title of
Supervisors. The sections proposed
to be repealed are those designated
at Nos. 2O16, 2O1s, 2O2O to 2O27, 2O31,
1892 and 1922. Those to be amended
are Nos. 2Ol7, 2Ol9, 2O2s and 2O3l.
We will examine them in detail.
Section 2016 provides that the Fed
eral Supervisors shall attend at the
registration of voters with power to
challenge applicants for registration
to take lists of names challenged by
Others to be afterwards furnished to
the Chief Supervisor, and to sign
their names on each page of reg
listers so as to witness against any
wrongful addition 10 or removal
from the list. Section 2O18 gives
them similar supervisory powers at
elections with authority to "scru-
tinize, count and canvass each bal
lot in their election district or vOt-
ing district, whatever may be the
endorsement on the ballot or in
whatever box it may have been
placed or found; and a report
grounded upon these scrutinies is to
be attached to the election returns
made by State officers. Section 2O20
provides against any impeachment
being offered to such Supervisors in
the execution of these functions.
Section 2O2l provides for theappoint-
ment by Supervisors of special dep
uty Marshals to assist Supervisors
and invested with all the powers of
Supervisors. Section 2022 author
lies and enjoins the Marshal and
his deputies to sustain the above
functions of the Supervisors with
force, if necessary. 1t is one the
abuse of which has more than any
other contributed to procure the
condemnation of all just men than
anything else, and we will give it
entire:
The Marshal and his general deputies
shall keep the peace, and support and pro-
tect the Supervisors of Election in the dis
charge OF duties preserve order 81 such
places of registration and at such polls pre-
vent fraudulent registration and fraudulent
voting thereat, OF fraudulent conduct on the
part OF any officer of election, and immedi-
the polling place, or elsewhere, and either
before OF after registering or voting TO arrest
and take into custody, with or without pro-
,sess any person who commits OF attempts
or Offers TO commit any of the acts or often
ces prohibited herein or who commits any
Offense against the laws of the United States;
but no person shall be arrested without pro-
cess for any Offense not committed in the
presence of the Marshal or his general
or special deputies or either Of them
or ofthe Supervisors OF election or either of
preservation of the peace, the Supervisors
of Election shall, in the absence of the Mar
shal's deputies, or, If required to assist such
deputies, have the same duties and powers
as Deputy Marshals; nor shall any person,
on the day Of such election, be arrested
without process for any otiense committed
on the day of registration"
Section 2023 authorizes the trial of
offenders against these Supervisors
in United States Courts. Jurors in
these courts have to take the iron
clad Oath.) Section 2O24 empowers
the Marshal and his deputies, Su-
pervisors and Assistant Supervisors,
ifoppOsed in the execution of these
functions, to call on bystanders to
act as a posse cOnitdtlts to aid him.
(And the bystanders are liable to be
detachment of the United States
Army.) Section POPS provides for
the appointment of Chief Supervis-
ors by the United States Circuit
Courts from among the Circuit Court
Commissioners of each district. Sec
ton 2O26 provides for the appoint
ment of Assistant Supervisors by
the Chief Supervisors and for their
reporting to them. Section 2027
provides that United States Mar
shals and commissioners employed
in this business shall also report 10
the Chief Supervisor. Section 203l
provides for the pay of the Super
visOrs at the Treasury of the United
States. His pay is in addition to
any he gets as Circuit Court Com
missioner; it depends for its amount
upon the number of reports he
makes Section 5522 subjects to a
fine or imprisonment or both any
State officer VINO resists or obstructs
the abOve-named Federal officers.
They are subject to arrest without
process, and the imprisonment is
limited to two years, the fine to