Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-03
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.

THE WORK OF CONGRESS-.
After three months and half of unceas.
ing political strife at Washington, there is at
last rest. It will be a grateful relaxation
to the public, for no matter how deep the
interest has been in the questions at issue,
the discussions have become monotonous
and are better suspended for q time, at
least, to give the people and their represen-
tatives an opportunity to reason together.
1t will do no harm to transfer the scene of
discussion from the floors of Congress to the
home field, and for the representatives to
learn by personal intercourse the opinions
of their constituents.
The Democratic party, at the beginning
of the extra session in March last, resolved
to work a thorough change in our present
laws-at least in those relating to elections.
An honest endeavor was made to repeal the
laws authorizing the maintenance of troops
at the polls, providing for the employment
OF federal supervisors and deputy marshals,
and requiring the iron-clad test oath for
deavor was frustrated by the first veto of
Mr.. Hayes. Unfortunately the Democrats
could not command two thirds majority to
pass the bill over the veto, and for the time
being their purpose was defeated. But it
was only for time, and new expedients
were sought. The succeeding vetoes of Mr..
Hayes served to impede but not to discour-
age the Democrats. New bills were framed,
each containing the original proposition in
different form, and finally the first propo-
sition reoeived the executive approval, though
it is doubtful if he fully understood the pur-
port of the bill when he signed it. The
best legal minds of his own party now agree
that the army bill as passed and signed
prohibits the presence of troops at the polls
as completely as did the original one. This
much, then, has been accomplished.
1t was found impossible to surmount the
obstacles placed in the way of Congress in its
attempt to repeal the supervisors of cleo
tions law, but restrictions were placed upon
them which remove many of the chief OBJ
iections to them and render them practically
harmless. The marshals may still be en-
ployed, but no provision has been made for
their pay ment, and it is not probable that
they can be made to serve with no prospect
of compensation in the near future. The
jurors test oath has been abolished, and
thus, while the snake has not been killed, it
has been badly sootched.
With the exception of the payment of
marshals all the departments of the govern
ment have been provided for. The army has
received all the money necessary for its
maintenance, the legislative, executive and
Judicial branches have been cared for, and
only the marshals have been left out in the
cold. Every honest effort was made to pro-
vide for them also, but the majority could
not consent to their employment at the
polls, invested with extraordinary and illegal
powers of arrest. Mr.. Hayes insisted that
they should be 90 used, and rather than
abandon this principle-an utterly indefen-
sible one-be cut off the pay of those regu-
larry and legally employed. His subsequent
message to Congress showed that he regret
ted this act almost as soon as it had been
committed, and would have been glad to re-
call his veto.
While it cannot be claimed that Congress
has done all that it should have done, it has
certainly done all that it could. The record
of the Democratic majority is without
blemish. The members have worked to-
gether harmoniously with common pur-
pose, many of them sacrificing their individ-
ual preferences to the public good. There
have been few discussions among them.
They have been animated by o common pur-
pose, dictated by motives of the highest pa
triotism. They have met obstacles, how
ever, that were absolutely insurmountable, |
and to those who placed those distractions
in their way the blame for the failure of |
needed legislation must attach. We would |
have rejoiced if the marshals' appropriation |
bill had become law, but sooner than aban-
don the principle which it's last section con-
tanned We would consent to deferring the |
payment of these necessary officers. Mr.. |
Hayes has seen fit to assume the response
bility of refusal to make these necessary
rather than surrender an ar
bitrary and unconstitutional power. Let |
him bear the blame. l
WORKINGMEN,S WAGES. s !
On Saturday morning the body of Michael