Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-29
TELE OR A p HIc.
6 O'CLOCK p. M.
THE NEWS.
Message Of President Hayes
vetoeing the Army Appro-
.priation Bill.
VETO OF THE ARMY BILL.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT,

MESSAGE OF TIE PRESIDENT.
Washington, April 29.-The following is |
the message Of the president of the United
States, returning to the house of representa-
tives the bill entitled an act making appro.
priations for the support of the army for the
fiscal year ending June 3Oth, 1880, and for
other purposes:
To THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
have maturely considered the important
questions presented by the bill entitled an
act making appropriations for the support
Of the army for the fiscal year ending June
3pih, 1880, and for other purposes and
now return i: to the house of representatives
in which it originated, with my objections
ThaT bill provides in the usual form for
theAppsopliations required for the support
Of thea army during the next fiscal year. If
1t contained no other provisions it would
receive my prompt approval. 1t includes,
however, further legislation, which are at
tached to appropriations which are requisite
for the efficient performance of some of the
most necessary duties Of the government,
and involves questions Of the eravest char
acter. The sixth section of the bill is
anendatory of the statutes now in force in
regard to the authority of persons in the
civil. military and naval service of the
United States at places. when any general
or special election is held in any state,
This statute was adopted February 25th,
1865, after protracted debate in the sen.
ate, and almost without opposition in the
house of representatives. by the concurrent
votes Of both political parties Of the coun.
try, and became a law by approval of Presi-
dent Lincoln. 1t was re inacted in 1874 in
the revised statutes of the United States,-
sections 2,002 and 5.5:s.-which are as
follows:
Section 2002. No military or naval off
Ger or other person engaged in the civil,
military or laval service of the United
States, shall order, bring, keep or have un-
der his authority or control any troops or
armed ;men at place where any general or
special election is held In any state, unless
it be necessary to repel armed enemies of
the United States, or to keep peace at the
polls.
Section 5528. Every officer of the army
or navy or other person in the civil, mill
tary or naval service of the United States,
who orders, brings, keeps or has under his
authority or control any troops or armed
men at any place where general or special
election is held In any state unless such
force be necessary to repel armed enemies
Of the United States, or to keen
peace at the polls, shall be fined not more
than FIVE thousand dollars and suffer i'm
prisonment at hard labor not less than three
months, nor more than five years.
The amendment proposed in this statute
in the bill before me omits from both of the
foregoing sections the words, "or to keep the
al 10. ~
endment may be considered, first, upon the
right of the United States government to
use military force to keep peace at elections
for members of congress, and second, upon
the right Of the government by the civil au-
thority to protect these elections from yiol.
ence and fraud. In addition to the sections
Of the statute above quoted are the following
provisions of law relating to the use of the
military power at elections. now in force:
Section 20O3. No officer Of the army or
navy of the United States shall prescribe or
fix, or attempt to prescribe or fix, by procla-
nation, order or otherwise, the qualifications
Of voters in any state, or in any manner
interfere with the freedom of any election
In any.:state, or with the exercise of free
rights Of suffrage in any state.
Section 1929 Every officer or other per.
son In the military or naval service. who by
force, threat, intimidation, order, advise. or
Otherwise prevent or attempts to prevent
any qualified voter of any state from freely
exercising his right OF suffrage at any gen.
erai OF. special election in such state. shall
be 6ned not more than $4,000 and impris.
Oned ut hard labor not more than 5S)years.
Section $3.50. Every officer of army or
navy who prescrioes or fixes, or attempts 70
prescribe or Fix, whether BY proclamation OF
order or otherwise. the qualifications ol
voters at any election in any state, shall be
punished as provided in the preceding sec
ton.
Section 553l. Every officer or other per.
son in the military or naval service who by
force, threat. intimidation or otherwise, com.
pels or attempts to compel any officer hold.
ing an election in any state to receive vote
from person not legally qualified 10 vote
or who imposes or attempts to impose
any regulations. for !, conducting any
general or special election ia
any state different from those prescribed
by law, or who interferes in any manner
with any officer Of an election in the dis
charge of his duty, shall be punished 81
prescribed in section 1929.
Section 5532 Every person convicted o
any Of the ofenses specified in the five pre-
ceeding sections shall in addition 10 tn,
punishments therein severally prescribed
be disqualified from holding any Office o
honor, profit or trust under the Uritet
States; but nothing in these sections shal
be construed to prevent any officer, soldier
sailor or mariner from exercising the righ
Of suffrage in any election district 10 whicl
he may belong, il otherwise qualified &C
cording to the laws Of the state in which h
ofEsrs to vote.
The foregoing enactmcnts would seem 4
be aumcient to prevent military interference
with elections, but the Las. congress to re
move all apprehension Of such interference
sddcd 10 this body Of law section Is Of a'
act entitled 40 act making appropriation
for the support Of the army. Tor the 6.ca
year esding Juac 30,h. 1879, and for othe
Puspes.s, approved June 18th. 1877, whicl
is ~ follovs