New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-14

the Republicans exposed the awkward and
bungling manner in which it had been con-
structed Mr. Beck confessed with meekness
that there was no political legislation what
ever in the bill. The Democrats of the Senate
held caucus on the silver question yester-
day. Mr.. Bayard threatened to resign as
chairman of the Finance Committee, and
special committee was appointed to report a
plan of action. The Republicans of the Sem
ate met in caucus and resolved to oppose the
Army and the Judicial bills. Murray, the
witness for Mr. Sponord, has been arrested for
subonation of perjury.
A FIRST DOWNRIGHT SURRENDER.
THE LEGISLATIVE BILL NOW PASSED BY BOTH
HOUSES WITHOUT 4 TRACE OF POLITICS IN IT
TIE BILL DRAWN UP, HOWEVER, IN VERY BAD
FORM.
IBY TELEGRAPH TIE TRmUNE.l
WASHINGTON June 13.-'Ihe passage of the Leg
isatve Appropriation bill by the Senate to-day was
an anomalous proceeding, aud has not perhaps a
parallel in the history of legislation for twenty
years The intractable and mulish character of the
Democratic Senators was never more apply Illus
tratcd.
The House bin, it will be remembered, is a mere
skeleton Of twenty pages consisting of thirteen
lines of appropriation bill proper, and nineteen
pages Of amendments and additions. The bill
proper consists of single decaratory clause max
ing the law of the present current year the law OF
the next fiscal year. Mr.. Beck, who had charge Of
the bill. was at the pains to prepare and have
printed the full text of the bill of last year, which
he introduced yesterday as a substitute for the
committees skeleton bill. But tins morning he
sadly announced that he had been instructed to re-
port the bill Of the committee and therefore he
would neither offer his substitute vote for it II
offered by anybody else. He admitted that it would
be better to pass it, but that much as he had
the independence to utter.
The bill was ridiculed mercIessly by Mr.. COnk-
ling, Mr.. Window. Mr.. Blaine, and others Of
the Republicans. Mr.. Window asked Mr..
Beck how much money the first thirteen lines
appropriated; and seeing that Mr. Beck hesitated
he added reassuringly con- don't try TO be exact;
mean within few millions"
But Mr.. Beck could not even do that Mr.. Blaine
then took volume of the statutes OF last year and
turning over the leaves said. The bill provides
for the reGnactment of these pages, and these and
these" turning over the Leaves as he spoke They
were twenty OF thirty in number and embodied
many hundreds of clauses and many thousands of
lines Yet it would be impossible to make any
amendment 10 the pending bill affecting any of
these hundreds of clauses, for tho reason that it
made no direct ausion to them. To show the fur
tber imbecilty of the bill Mr.. Blaine called atten-
tion TO the fact that when the bill came from the
House il had no apprOpriating or enacting clause,
and the Senate committee had TO provide one.
The fourth section was worded so badly and its
reference to existing laws was so obscure that the
Senate Committee was obliged to strike it out en-
tirely Mr. Blaine read the section for the amuse-
ment of the Senate and galleries. 1t was what no
man. he said, could understandj laws should be
so plain that he who runs may read" but the man
who walks. who stands, or even who sits, could
never get at the inScrutable inwardness OF that
remarkable puzzle. Mr. Atkins had come over
from the House and occupied q conspicuous place
on one of the sofas, and got the full dement, OF TINS
left-hauded compliment.
A strenuous effort was made on the part of the
Republicans to have the substitute acted on instead
OF the committees bill, but dlctatlOn proved
too strong.
There were few amendments made, and the
difficulty experienced in getting them into shape
So as to be ineligible "a source of much amuse-
ment to the Republicans Mr. Bailey moved TO
amend the bill by providing Tor the publication OF
annual and other reports of the Bureau OF Educa-
ton but by inadvertence he used copy Oh the
act of last year instead of the bill III It's cOnstruc-
fion. When il came to the Clerks desk and was
read it was found that it would not fit anywhere.
Several suggestions as to its proper location were
made unu finally Nj. Bailey was relieved OF the
trouble when he modified so a. TO refer to GER
tam portion OF the law All TINS was sulncleht,y
amnsIng to the galleries and notifying TO Mr.
Beck. , $1,000 =,
The hill when sufficiently perfected vas passed
without "a division.
one OF the most significant events of the session
was the admission exto.ted from Senator Beck by
Senator Blaine just dis the first OF the appTo-
,iIt,on hills was being finally disposed Of that 1t
aid not contain in any shape or form, open or con-
Cealed any political Legislation Whatever. The tone
and manner Of be Kentucky Senator were subdued
aud humble. as he doubtless remembered that from
lbs own mouth more than from any otter source al
tn beginning of thIs remarkable contest Iad come
10 ,,r. ,yhc,. c0nyeyot to the country the deter
Iiuauon OF his party never 20 surrender.
I'M, wish Is almost universally expressed among
Rcuubliclns to-nght that the President VIII veto
mis- bll on the ground that II is not susccpo Die OF
intelligent interpretation OF executions. ~ IS Sa'd
that Il taIr Issue fOT the coming campAgA could De
fotud IN Jnc question whether Congress or the Dem
oylai c caucus should eNo.Cino the controlling III
fucuce IN legislation.