New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-30


div leaving the Capital for home. 1t is doubt
full whether there will be quorum present
in Washington to-day. Strict parliamentary
ms are discussing the point as to whether
Congress can even adjourn legally sine die
without a quorum present. The committees
of the House have resolved to hold no more
meetings this session. The subject of re-
frigerating ship is still agitating the Senate.
A COMPLICATED SITUATION.
A VETO TO-DAY-TALK OF IMMEDIATE ADJOURN
MENT-MUcH DOUBT AS TO WHETHER CONGRESS
CAN LEGALLY ADJOURN To-DAY-MEMBERs
GOING HOME.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNEI
WASHINGTON June 29.-One of the Appropria-
ton bills sent to the President yesterday will be
signed tomorrow. The other will be vetoed.
The first which is to be approved, is Of course
that making provision for the general expenses of
the courts repeating the test oath for jurors and
changing the jury laws. Many Republican Sena-
ators and Representatives have urged the President
10 return tins bill without his approval on the
ground, first, that they opposed TO the extra
neOuS legislation which ii contains. and secondly,
because the two bills now in his hands should be
considered together and treated alike since they
together relate to the machinery of the courts.
But the President does not consider either of these
first bill. In regard to the repeal of the test oath
for jurors the President thinks that it is right and
e he were q member Of Congress and if bill pro-
posing such repeal should be reported he would
vote for it, The changes in the jury laws he does
not look upon as very Objectionable. He does not
think that there is any present occasion for them
and that ground he ght vote against the scheme
ST called upon TO act it member Of Congress.
But these reasons not sufficient TO
that the two bills must be considered separately,
md each on its own merits and that the failure of
Congress toprovide for the expenses of the United
States Marshas in bin No. l is no reason why he
should refuse to approve it and give vitality to the
appropriations which it does make.
The second bill, providing for the expenses of the
United States Marshas and their Deputies and con-
tanning the section designed to nuily the election
laws will be vetoed for exactly the same reasons
assigned for the refusal to approve the Judicial APP
preparation bill a week ago. and for no other. The
message viii be a very brief One setting forth in its
introduction the importance of the marshals and
deputy marshals in the machinery of the courts,
and then referring the House to the former veto
messages for abundant for his decision
this bill
The present purpose Of the Democrats is to adj
journ the Congress after having been informed of
bills, and 60 make provision for the expenses of
the marshals and their deputies.
II has been taken for granted for several days
past that should Congress adjourn In this manner
the President would convene Congress at once in
another extra session This assumption is mistake.
1t has not even yet been decided TO call Congress
back, and it may be said on the best possible au-
thority thatit will not he done unless IL is appar
ent in advance of such call that some
III
Congress should be determined simply to adjourn
as soon as it should meet to pass the vetoed bill
again in its present shape the calling of another
ira session would only be attended with unnecessary
expense and inconvenience. IL is hardly probable.
therefore, that a second extra session viii take
place this Summer.
While another extra session is not now probable
there are indications that the present session may
be continued beyond tomorrow, irrespective of
what the action of the President may be- These in
dicaOns are, first the fact that Mr.. Atkins chair
man of the House Appropriations Committee moved
TO adjourn the House for yesterdays session twice
before the Senate had passed the second Judicial
bill secondly, the fact that the Senate Committee
on Appropriations did not report TO the Senate for
its action the House resolution GXIng tomorrow at
q o'clock as the time for final adjournment. If Mr..
AtkinSs motion 10 adjourn yesterdays session had
prevailed, the result would have been that the
United States Marshas Appropriation bill could not
have been sent to the President until tomorrow
afternoon as the Constitution requires the bill to
be signed by the presiding officers of the two
houses while those houses are in session. Mr.. Atkins
made his first motion to adjourn two hours before
The Senate had passed the BILL and he Of course
Knew tHat if the motion prevailed an adjournment
tomorrow would not have been possible, as IL
would have been a gross discOurtesy 10 the PTcS-
0ent TO have given him only two three hours be
tore the hour of final adjournment IN which TO
slider bill which IL is known that he will veto. The
motion Of Mr.. Atkins carried III itself practical
declaration by the leader of the principal commit
tee of the House that, IN his opinion, an adjourn
uCnt tomorrow Is not possible.
The action of the Senate committee in declining
30 submit the final adjournment resolution appears
have a singular significance. IL is asserted that
single objection would prevent the consideration of
the report of that resolution from the committee to-
morrow and require il 10 lie over one day. That of
Itself would defeat final adjournment
The situation in TACT, 50 far as the two houses
concerned, is nearly similar to what IL was two
weeks ago, when the House had agreed 70 adjourn
sine die ON June II. The Senate did not concur.
The Senate has not cOncuTTed in the resolution for
The adjournment tomorrow, but there is a notable
distinction. Then there was a quorum IN both
houses present IN NashingtOn. IL is very doubtful
whether there Will tomorrow be a quorum in
either. On the last vote in the House only 1873
members voted, which is IL less than quorum.
Some Representatives and Senators left Washing
ton last night. Others leave Tonight. IL is almost
certain that there VIII not be quorum IN the
House tomorrow when the veto message is re-
cJiyed. The Constitution requires that the ques-
ton shall be Immediately put 10 TO the House by
yea and nay vote whether the bill shall pass not
withstandIug the veto, and some parliamentarlans
maintain that a vote cannot be taken with less
than quorum present, and that If quorum should
not De present tine House could not adjourn until
one should be obtained
1t will be seen that irrespective of the Presidents
Intentions the situation is complicated. 1t Is quite
certain that the President and Cabinet would pre-
Ter that the Democrats should at this session en-
klasize their refusal to pass the appropriations for