Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-06-04
The Veto.
The president returned the legisla-
tive and judicial appropriation bill to
the house with the following message:

The president returned the legisla-
tive and judicial appropriation bill to
the house with the following message:
Message 10 the House Of Representatives:
SIRs-Arter mature consideration of the bin
entitled an act making y preparations for the
legislative, executive and judicial expenses Of
the government for the fiscal year ending June
30th 1880, and for other purposes y | herewith
return II to the house OF representatives, in which
it originated, with
THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS
TO its approval:
The main purpose of the bill Is to appropriate
money required TO support, during tbs next nscai
years, the several civil departments OF the gov
eminent. The amount appropriated exceeds In
the aggregate $1,000 600, This money Is needed
TO Keep in operation the essential functions OF ali
the great departments of the government, legls'
tanned no other provisions, no objection 10 It's
approval would be made. ltembraces, however.
a number OF clauses relating to subjects OF great
general interest which are wholly tlconnected
with the appropriation tor which II provides.
The objections 10 tue practice OF attaching gen
eral legislation TO Appropriation bills, especially
when the object is 20 deprive a co ordinate branch
of the government of its right to the free eXer-
else of its own discretion and judgment touching
such. general legislation, were set forth IN The
special message in relation 10 house bill No. l.,
which was returned To the house of representa-
tfves on the goth OF last month | agree that the
objections which were then expressed, as 10 this
A'N Va " "a " VIZ w NNbA Tvs
oil sufficient weight 10 dissuade nom this renewed
incorporation of general enactments in an APP
preparation bill, and that my constitutional duty
in respect TO the general legislation thus placed
before me, cannot be discharged without seeming
% delay, however bring, the necessary appro-
prlations by congress for the support OF the gov
eminent. without repeating these objections |
respectfully refer TO that message for n statement
of my views on the principle maintained III de.
bate by the advocates of this bill, VIZ; that 10
withhold apropr tations is a constitutional means
| Tor the redress of what the majority oil the nnESc
of representatives haye'regarded as a grievance.
1iis BILL CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING CLAUSES,
viz:
and provided further, that the following
sections of the revised statutes, OF the United
States, namely: sections 2,ol6, 2,ulS aud loco, aud
all OF the succeeding sections of said statute
down to and including sections 2,021, ana also
section 5 522, be, and the same ire hereby re-
pealed y y and that all the other sections of
the r -vised Eta ntes, and all laws and parts OF
laws authorizing the appointment of chief su
p%eryisors of elections, special deputy marshals OF
elections, or general deputy marshals having any
duties to perform III respect 10 any election and
prescribing their duties and powers, and allow.
ing their compensation, the same are hereby re-
pealeu.'
1t also contains clauses amending sections
2,0l7, 2 0l9, . $50 and 2,03l, OF revised statutes.
The section OF the revised statutes which the
bl If approved. would repeal or amend, Is an act
approved May Both, 1870 and amended February
2sth 1871, entitled " An act to enforce the rights
of %ciliZens of the United States to vote IL the
several states oil this union and for other pnr-
poses All OF the provisions of the above
named acts which it is proposed in this bin to re-
peal or modify, relate TO congressional elections,
THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE LAW
which will continue IN force after the enactment
Of this measure is that which provides for the APP
pointment, by a judge OF the circuit court of the
United states, OF two supervisors OF election in
each election district at any congressional cleo
ton, on due application of citizens who desire,
in the language of the law. to have such election
guarded ana scrGtinized; The duties of super
ylsors viii be to attend at the polls at all con-
gtessional elections and 10 remain after the polls
close until every vote cast has been counted, but
they Will have no authority TO make arrests or 10
perform other duties IN the imme liate presence
OF officers holding the elections: and to witness all
their proceedings including the counting OF votes
and making "A return thereof. The part of the
election laW which viii be repealed by the M
prevail OF this btH includes those sections Which
give authority TO supervisors of elections TO per-
sonally scrutinize the count aud canvass of each
ballot and ali the sections which confer authority
upon U.S :, marshals ana deputy marshals in con-
nection with congressional elections. The enact
ment of this bill will also repe,l rec. 5522 of III,
criminal statutes OF the U, ), which was enacted
FIR the protection OF U. s officers engaged III the
discharge of their duties at congressional cleo
tons. This section protects supervisors and
marshals In the performance OF their duties by
making obstruction or assaulting Of these OIL
GERS or any Interference with them, by bribery or
solicitation or otherwise, crimes agains ST the US.
The true meaning and effect of the proposed leg
isiation are plain. supervisors with authority TO
observe and witness proceedings at congressional
elections Will be left, but there will be no power
10 protect them or 10 prevent interference with
their duties or to punish any violation OF the law
nom which their powers are derived.
IF THIS BILL Is APPROVED
only the shadow of authority of the IT,. S, at ma
tional elections will remain; the substance will
be gone. Supervision of elections viii be re-
duced to a mere inspection without authority ON
the part OF the supervisor TO do any act whatever
to make the election a fair one. All that VIII be
left to supervisors Is the permission t. have such
oversight OF elections as political parties are IN
the habit of exercising without any authority of
law IN order To prevent their opponents from OBJ
tanning unfair advantage. The object of the bill
IL to destroy any control whatever by the u. 5.
over congressional elections.
The passage Of
THIS BILL HAS BEEN URGED
upon the ground that he election OF members OF
congress is a matter which concerns the states
alone. that these elections should be controlled
exclusively by states; that there are and can be
no such elections as national elections, and that
the existing law of the L ). regulating congress
slonal elect ions is without warrant IN the consti-
tuition. 1t Is evident, however, that the trainers
OF the constitution regarded the election OF mem-
bers of congress in every 5 ate and IN every dis
trlct as In n very important sense justly a matter
of political interest and conce'n 70 the whole
country. The original proposition Of the consti-
tuition on this subject is as follows:
Sec. ". art. l.. The times, places and manner of
holding elections for senators ana Representatives
shall be prescribed ia each state by the leg sla-
ture thereof but congress may at any time by
law make or alter such regulations except as TO
the places of choosing senators.
A FURTHER PROVISION
has been since added which is embraced IN the
fifteenth amendment. 1t is AS follows:
Section J.. The right of citizens Of the L. >. 30
vote shall not be denied OF abridged blythe u. ).
or by any state on account Of race, color or preYi-
Gus CONDITION OF servitude.
Section 2. The congress shah have power to
enforce this article by apr ropriate legislation un
der the general provision OF the constitution,
section ", Article /.
Congress in 1S66 pas ed a compreh ensive law
which, prescribed a full and detailed regulation
Tor the election of senators by the legislature oil
the several states. THIS law has been in force al
most thirteen years. In pursuance Of it al the