Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-03
DEMOCRATIC PROGRAMME.
An Agreement In Caucus to Pass ADpro.
priation Bills without Riders,

An Agreement In Caucus to Pass Appro.
priation Bills without Riders.
Washington, May 3l.-The two advisory
committees of the house and senate demo-
cratic caucuses held a joint meeting to-day
Of four hours duration and reached
substantially a unanimous agreement as
to the course of action that phould
be adopted by the dominant party in con.
gress with regard to the appropriation bile.
Mr.. Thurman presided. Messrs, Hampton
and Goode were absent. ff'
After u very full interchange of views
and especially . minute examination of the
presidents veto message in connection with
sundry existing statistics prohibiting the
interference by the army with elections, it
was decided to recommend the immediate
passage of q bill making the usual appro-
Priatlons for the support of the army
throughout the next fiscal year, but con-
tanning the proviso that no portion of the
money therein appropriated shall be used
for the pay, transportation, equipment or
subsistence OF any troops used for police
purposes to keep peace at the polls. 1t was
further decided to recommend the passage
OF the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bills in substantially the
same terms as last years bills and for the
same amount, except they shall be more
infinitely specified, and except also that it
shall not make any provision for the pay of
supervisors or deputy marshals of elections.
The new bill will, however, contain a
clause providing that no officer shall be
appointed or obligation incurred for any
object for which a specific appropriation
shall not have been made by congress. This
clause is already OH the statute book with
the exception of the words "or obligation
incurred" and there is also in the ex-
listing law a provision which prohibits
the diversion Of any appropriation
to a purpose different from that for which it
has been specifically made. The committee
agreed to recommend the passage OF a sep
arate measure embodying those sections of
the veto appropriation bill which provide
for amendments of the law concerning the
method of drawing juries and for the total
of the jurors test oath. In view
the fact that the president in his veto
message makes no comment on these provi-
sions, it is believed he will promptly ap-
prove them when presented to him by an |
independent bill. 1t was also argued to-day |
behalf Of the adoption of the programme
above outlined that the president cannot
Justly withhold his signature from the ap-
preparation bill merely because it seems 10
make provision for particular objects, and
it is anticipated that in the event of his ap-
the present bill the democrats will
have accomplished for the next year exactly
what they would have accomplished for an
indefinite period of time by the former bills.
and what they may continue to accomplish
BY similar legislation so long as they remain
in power.
In response to In objection made by some
Of those who participated in the meeting to-
day that the adoption of this policy would
be construed into a back down on the part
Of the democracy, its advocates made the
point that although there have been iudi-
vidual utterances in favor of Withholding
in the event of the failure of the
effort to secure the enactment Of the politi.
cal clauses originally embodied in the ap.
preparation bills, it Is not true that any such
stand has ever been taken BY authority Of
party. On the contrary the question
whether such stand should be taken has
never been acted upon BY the democratic
of either branch Of congress, or by
The CAUCUS committee until this afternoon.
The joint meeting was adjourned till Mon.
day next, BY which time the recommends
agreed upon will have been formulated
BY the subcommittee, Senators Thurman,
Eaton. Vance and Bailey and Represents
Springer, Ewing and Reagan, and sub
nitted for approval preparatory to presenta-
ton to the joint caucus Of the democratic
members Of both houses, which will proba.
hly be held Monday,