Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-04
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS,
The Closing Hours.

the proceedings last night after the closing of
tie report on our third page
Mr. Dorsey made report from the committee
Of conference on the post Office appropriation
bill. but owing TO an fDformality the report was
referred back t0 the committee for correction
Senator Window reported that the committee
OF conference on the legislative, executive, and
judicial appropriation bill had been unable to
agree. Inc point on which the conference was
unable TO agree was the proviSo OF the House
nxlng the pay of jurors in the U. S. court at two
dollars day, repeating the test OATH and also
so much OF the Revised Statutes as provides for
the appointment of supervisors of elections
The House took the position that the only con-
ditfon on which an agreement could be made
was that the confereeS on the part OF the SEN
ate should recede from that point The latter
could not consent to this condition. He might
that they had all been agreed upon by b 9TH
houses, except the bin he had referred TO- The
army bill and the post Office bill. Therefore
the Senate would see that all the items of ap-
preparation relating to money to carry on the
government had been agreed to, and the only
grounds OF disagreement were contained in the
legislative provisions. He believed that this
was the disagreement In regard to the army bill
as Wen as that now pending. For the purpose
OF testing the sense OF the Senate upon The sub
lect, he moved that the Senate insist upon its
amendments although the Senate confereeS did
not believe 1t was possible TO obtain an agree
ment upon the legislative provisions.
MI Blaine said that the only point of differ
ence between the cOnfeIeeS on the army bill
was tie ffty-iirSt section, which at his request
was read. It proposes 70 amend the Revised
Statutes so that no army or naval officer shall
bllDg troops or armed men at places where
elections aie held. unless such force be nece5-
sary 10 repel armed enemies of the United
States. Mr. Blaine said that no charge had
Deeh made In any state that voters had been
hlnde1ed or In any way interfefed with by
n1ted States soldiers, and he thought that as
one OF the COnferceS he was representing the
senate wien he said lat If The army Inter
feled in such manner the grievance should not
remain anotheg hour. iut nobody had suffered
Ill that way.
MIR. Eaton.-The great principle of English
law had existed here until within the last six
Of tie lard.
Mr.. Biainc.-And the Senate conferees believe
ihat voting Should be without Intimidation and
free, and that the government is strong enoura
10 see hat this is done.
Mr.. Eaton.-The Senator should take some
othef means 10 secure chat, without the Use OF
Soldiely.
Mr.. Withers said that some OF the coEferees
maintained ihat the presence OF soldiers at the
polls was Incompatible with the freedom OF
elections.
Mr.. Blaine.-D0es the Senator intimate that
the section Of the revised Statutes referred u
gives permission for soldiers TO be near the
polls when matters are going On peaceabiy?
Mr. NftheiS.-I mean TO Intimate that the
presence OF armed soldiers during the progress
CT an election Is Incompatible with tie freedom
Of elections.
Mr.. Blaihe-Dces the Senator mean to Show
any such cases:
State
Mr. Blaine.-That was the Petersburg case.
If Petersburg had been in possession of an
armed mob, and the city In c6ptlarr,ti0n. Won
would rot have permitted soldier TO appear.
Mr.. WIthcrs.-Hhat would have been mach
less OF an evil for the presence OF soldiers inter
fereS with the privilege OF a free people
Nr. Blaine.-Though cases or interference
have not occurred in sixteen years. your parry
come in ard say that We must surrender to The
demands OF the House.
q W oF bO
1eIeeS on tie legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill, when efforts were made 10
agree on the amendment. The Senator from
Minnesota (Mr. NiGdOm) was correct in saying
that the House ConfereeS were in favor OF re-
tanning that part OF the bin to which he alluded
and that the Senate cOnfereeS were equally te-
haciobS LII maintaining that all that should be
SIuck Out. There was no attempt al a division
OF Il G question and no prospect or arriving at a
Cohciuslon. The condition OF things seemed to
be ILLS, namely: The House COnfereeS insisted
that armed soldiers should not be at the polls
at the tine OF elections and that there should
be no interference where the rights OF men
were involved. and that the states should be
free TO conduct their elections without fed
eral interpretation. And the determination
seemed TO be that unless these rights were
respected they would refuse 10 make anpronra-
tioGS 10 carry OIL the government, and if the
demand OF the majority OF the Senate were in
S1sted on they seemed further 10 agree thai if
There should be an extra seSSiOn-wllch would
pe much hreGrefted-cOmmittee5 OF both Houses
Would De organized at once, and separate bills
framed in day. The two Houses would then
ask the PRESIDENT to agree with them to repeat
the law allowing soldiers TO 20 to the polls
under the pTetext OF keeping the peace and ID
repeal me laws relating TO jurors, 50 that per-
sons brought before the courts may have a fair
trlai, ana another Dill providing that the United
States government shah not interfere with
Affairs pertaining to the states. When these
three bills shall have been signed by the Presi-
dent then congress win pass every appropria-
tfon bill as now, without attempting any fur
tber action. III the President Should veto these
bills thus presented, no money would be sup
piled.
Mr.. Conkiing after review OF the sections
OF the Revised statutes sought to be repealed,
said the Senator from Kentucky, who mad long
been distinguished member CT the House,
would not, on reflection, repeat that the House,
meaning a majority. OF 1t, during all the days
and weeks that had elapsed, had failed to a,t
upon the Senate bill passed in December last.
before the holidays, repeating $50. one of these
very sections. On the contrary he would be
compelled tG say the House did not act upon II
Mr.. Beck explained by saying that the House
was not able TO pass the bill because The motion
from the judiciary committee to suspend The
rules failed to receive a vote OF Two thirds,
Mr.. COnkling would reSt ate that the Senate
blli could have been read in one minute by tl,
watch but the House did not act upon it, ana
this circumstance would form an important
part in this forum should an extra session be
brought about. The Senator from Kentucky
lad declared that unless the Senate should sur
render TO the House. there would be an extra
session, at which the Executive would be SUM-
mOneG TO surrender. Years ago the two houses
OF Congress said in substance, that there should
be committed to the courts OF the nation q dis
Cret1On by which men who had levied war
against the government OF the United States
might, in given instance be excluded from a
Jury. Years had elapsed. and one Congress
after another has appeared. and reappeared,
and disappeared, and now the House OF Repre-
sentativeS told the Senate that unless this dis
cretion was taken away from the courts, they
would refuse TO pass bill to maintain the army
and that separate bill would at the extra SeS-
sion befntroduced demanding a repeal Of this act.
Now, without the ballot boxes and this election
law there would have been no fair election i'm
the state in which he had lived since that law
was enacted. 1t was enacted to guard the bal
lot boxes In the state OF New York from the
thugs and thieves Of Tammany hall, and it had
guarded the ballot boxes from these marauders.
lie was not going to argue that the law had not
Deen abused; where was there a law intended
70 deal with the conflicts OF men that was not
abused? He was not going to discuss whether
either or these laws had been subject to at
temptS TO peryert or OverStrain them When
lnat question was pertinent he should be ready
10 dlscusS IL IN reference TO some OF the alleya
llons that mad been made. They were told tAat
unless these provisions were repealed no appro-
prlallon bills were to pass at this swift passing
session, and that at the next session the nls.
J0rlty OF the two houses would virtually Take
the government by the throat and refuse to Iet
II breathe unless these provisions were s,lrren-
0ered He for one was ready TO meet that
isSue they would not be repealed by his Vote.
oe an extra session necessary OF not He went
On TO show bow the democrats of t,a u,nca