New-York tribune., 1879-05-22

favor of the plan adopted by the Democrats of
placing the political sections in the appropriation
bills, but he held that since the position had been
taken there was nothing for the Democratic party
to do except to insist that the political features of
the appropriation bills should stand or fall with
the other portions.
The Republican members of the committee. seeing
disposition on the part of one or two Democratic
members to take a conservative course, suggested
that a resolution be reported that Congress adjourn
without day on the second day after both appro-
pration bills had received the approval of the Presi
dent.
The Democrats said that this was altogether too
indefinite.
Mr.. Wood then made rather remarkable state
ment He said il utterly useless to expect
that Congress and the President would come to
any understanding IN regard to the pending polit-
ical issues, and that the President would not sign
any bill that Congress would pass. while the ma
jority in Congress was equally determined not to
be content with any measure which would meet
the Presidents views. In substance he said there
was no chance of compromise, and the only thing
left was to fix upon time for adjournment and
stick to it,
Some Republicans made objection to this, and
expressed the hope that the situation was less
serious than the chairman believed.
In reply to this Mr.. Wood said that no PROPOSE
ton which could be made that did not involve the
repeal the modification of the election laws could
possibly be entertained by the Democrats. He said
this matter was one Of vital Importance to the
Democratic party. 1t could never hope to carry
New-YOrk, he said, as long as the election laws
should remain unrepealed, and it was out Of the
question TO expect that the Democrats in Congress
would assent to any other plan than the one they
had already initiated.
Republican member of the committee expressed
surprise at such an expression of opinion from Mr..
Wood and reminded him that these election laws
had been on the statute books for seven or eight
years, and that, notwithstanding this fact, the
Democrats had in 1876 carried the State of New
York by a considerable majority, and there was no
reason why majority of the votes, If actually cast
for the Democracy, should not carry 1t again.
Mr.. Wood saw that he had been indscreet. and
said In reply that Mr.. Davenport had not then
brought the machinery for carrying elections to
such state of perfection as he has since done,
within the last two years. He sald that Davenport
had perfected this machinery, and the consequence
was as he had stated it,
Further consideration of the measure was post
poned until this week. At the meeting yesterday
for the consideration of the measure ii was post
poned indefinitely. This is interpreted to mean
that the majority of the Ways and Means Committee
is not yet prepared to support measure looking to
the adjournment of Congress without passing the
appropriation bills, otherwise it would have
assented to Mr.. Woods proposition fixing upon
some day of the present month for final adjourn
ment.
The length of the extra session of Congress is
therefore matter upon which it is not safe to risk
a positive opinion. Several Democrats of inilu-
ence have intmated to leading Republicans that
they personally willing to pass the appropriation
bills without any political riders, and submit the
issues to the people 1t is estimated that there are
about twenty-five Democrats in the House who
would adopt this if they felt to be poitl.
cally safe 1t is not impossible that a majority of
the Appropriations Committee of the House will
favor the plan of reporting the two APP
preparation bills without political riders
after the next veto is received, in which
case they will certainly receive support
enough to carry the measures. If however, the Ap-
propratOns Committee do not report the bills In such
shape that the President sign them, it is the be-
lief of leading Republicans that the time must soon
come when conservative Democrats will break away
from caucus dictatiOn and support any method of
furnishing supplies to the Government. and ADJOURN
ing Congress.