New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-30
THE ARMY BILL VETOED.
APANIC AMONG THE DEMOCRATS.

THE MESSAGE.
The President sent to the House of Repre-
sentatives yesterday q message vetolng tint
Army bill. The reasons for the veto are the
same as set forth in the special dispatches OF
The TRIBUNE yesterday morning. The House
did not even read the message of the Presi-
dent. The Democrats were taken by surprise
and did not know what to do. Mr.. Price, OF
Iowa, was recognized by the Speaker to an
nounce the death of Representative Clark, and
the House adjourned at once. Republicans III
Washington are unanimous in cOmplimenting
the vigorous tone of the veto. The Democrats
criticise it, but they are in dilemma and do
not yet know what course to adopt.
THE PLIGHT OF THE CONTEMPORARIES.
RETREAT THE ONLY COURSE LEFT OPEN FOR THEM
TIE PARTY ALL AT sEA-CoMMENTs on The
MESSAGE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-Mr. Pruden. one of the
secretaries of President Hayes, appeared at the bar
of the House of Representatives to-day at the close
of the prayer with which the chaplain opened the
session. Having been recognized by the Speaker,
he returned the Army Appropriation bill without
the Presidents signature. with the message setting
forth his objections to 1t. This veto evidently
came before the Democrats were prepared for it,,
for instead of causing it to be read and posponing
the announcement of the death of the Hon. Rush
Clark until the message had been laid before the
House. as would have been perfectly proper and en-
trey in harmony with the praatice and precedents
of the House, the Speaker at once recognized Mr..
Price, of Iowa. After the adoption of the custom
airy resolutions on the death of member, the House
adjourned. leaving the message unopened.
This action of the House did not. however, pre-
vent the contents of the Presidents communication
from becoming known Mr.. Hayes yesterday and
to-day talked with great freedom to Republican
members of Congress about his objections to the
sixth section of the bill and to the method which
had been resorted to by Congress to de
prive the Executive Of his prerogative.
Some of his more intimate friends bad been
allowed to read the message Besides this,
printed copies of the document had been given to the
agents of the press associations and to special
respondents, who applied for them as soon as the
message was presented to the House. These were
read by few Representatives; and on the arrival
of the New-York Mail. The TRIBUNE brought a
summary Of the message, which was eagerly read
by everybody else.
The Republicans are universally pleased with the
manner in which the President has handled the
subject, and the firm, uncompromisng spirit which
pervades every line of the message. "Stawart"
Senators and Representatives, who from the day Of
President Hayes's inauguration have looked with
Suspicion upon almost every political act of the
present Administration they have not openly at
tackled the Executive) united with the few who
have always supported the President and apollo
gzed for his mistakes IN their praise of the courage
and loyalty to conviction and party which he has
displayed in the present crisis In fact nothing ap
preaching to criticism was heard among Republic
cans at either end OF the Capitol. The day for the
members of that party was one of triumph and con-
graduation.
The Republicans have no trouble In determining
what their future policy shall be- They are now
complete masters of the situation and have only to
wait for the Democrats to choose their line of re-
treat The advantages of their position are felt to
be very great. There are no difficult problems for
them to solve, dangerous rocks which it is
sary for them to avoid. They have simply to keep
their ranks closed up, and to preserve the solid
front they now present The final victory is as GER
tain as anything in the future can be.
As for the Democrats, like the King Of France
they have marched up the hill and are in a guam
Diary over the road by which they shall march
down again. 1t will be u bitter and humating
experience for them, this backing down; but they
cal opponents in their discontinue. The least FORE
sight would have convinced them before they de-
creed that there should be an extra session that
they were proposing an impossible task, and that
il would be wiser not to begin it but political sa-
gaclty and foresight to be qualities in which
the Democratic leaders of to-day are sadly def-
cient.
1t was very easy thing to assume naughty
dictatoria spirit in the House of Representatives,
and in the Senate to tell the Republicans in very
impudent manner, that they were no longer respOn-
sble for the character of legislation and that they
need expect to have no share in shaping it. 1t re-
aured no skill or wisdom to vote down all amend
ments and pass the bill when the Democrats had "a
majority in both houses But now that an obstacle
has been met with that cannot be overcome by the
simple registering of majority of the votes in
both houses of Congress, the leaders of the party
which controls Congress i'll both its branches seem
to be at their wits ends. They are not eager to
enter upon this new campaign as they were when
they announced their programme at the beginning
of the extra session. The first evidence of their de-
moralizatiOn is their ndspositon to meet the issue
that is presented by the Veto The immediate adj
journment to-day without even reading the Presi-
dents message has already been noticed. The COM
muuication may be read tomorrow; but the decree
seems to have gone forth that no action shall be
taken upOn it this week. No formal announcement
of This determination has been made, but the whole
drift of events proves its existence. Leading Dem
ocrats who will certainly desire to be present and
participate in any discussion that may take place
on the veto, have left Washington not TO return
until next week, and in arranging pairs with
Republicans, they have assured the latter that no
important votes are to he taken in the House this
week. and certainly none on passing the Army bill
over the veto.
One very influential Democratic Representative
said to-day that he did not know when the veto
would be considered, nor even when a caucus would
he held to determine upon line of policy. He was
in favor of pOstpOning all action upon the subject
until the Legislative Appropriation bill had been
passed by tie Senate and presented TO the Prtsi-
dent. If he should veto that then the House could
consider both messages at the same time.
nv. \ al nnI naH IN