New-York tribune., 1879-05-05
THE CONFERENCE on THE BILL.


THE CONFERENCE on THE BILL.
r,crr PLANS SELECTED OUT OF TWENTY ORIGIN
nv PRESENTED, AND CHOICE MADE OUT OF
TIE THREE-THE SITUATION.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIPUNEl
WASHINGTON, May 4.-h the Democrats III Con-
cross persevere in their study of the Presidents last
80 message until they master 1t, and then make
,,,od use of the results of their research. they
Eli COT up bill in relation to the
se of troops at the polls in which they will avoid
III foatures TO which the President made objection
This i the end they have had i'll view in their eau
onsos held during the past week, and this is what
,bov hone they accomplished yesterday. At present
their chief anxiety is TO make bill that is accept
oble 70 the Executive. The change of attitude is
,be most striking feature of the present political
situation
The Democrats are still shouting to the world
,hat they never viii surrender single point IN
their controversy with the President. At the
same time they are holding daily caucuses with
5onblv barred and guarded doors, and with
solemn oath of secrecy imposed upon all their
members. Their only business is to ascertain just
what terms the President will accept as condition
of signing their bill, and of putting their proposed
LEGISLATION into such form that the President can
consistently approve it, OF course the adjustment
of the difficulties between the Executive and the
Democratic party is impossible unless the latter
Weld every essential point and that Is what they
are preparing to do.
Tne Democrats have given up the point of inter
ference with civil officers, and also the point about
riders on appropriation bills The only remaining
objection of the President to the sixth sec
lion Of the Army Appropriation bill was
that it was unnecessary and uncaled-for
nj this time, because the Executive has no
power to use troops at the polls, and no disposition
10 use them if had the power. This declaration
the Democrats have turned over in their heads
until they think they see through it way out of
their dilemma. "The President cannot veto bill
simply because he thinks 1t unnecessary" they say
unless he has other objections and will get the
best of him by drawing up a measure which shall
contain nothing which is obnoxious to him but
this. that il Is unnecessary. Wen make him an
swer the question yes , or Mo- whether he is in
favor of military interference with the people S
elections. Wen make him stand up before the
country and say in public message that he defends
this military control, or sign our BILL" The
attitude of the Democratic party is very much
like that of the schoolboy who delights to order
his associates about. Pick up that ball for me-" he
SAYS to d schOolmato in loud tone of command.
ado 1T yOursAlf.n is the reply. "Ihen don't Won
touch that ball." says the first; III mako you
mind me, or I'll lick YOU"
The Democrats of the House held caucus yester-
dav. and agreed to bill which they believe the
President will sign. In the first consultation held
sfter the veto message was received about twenty
FIVE different plans of procedure were sub
mitted to the caucus, all embodying the
central feature of preventing the use Of
troops at the polls. These were presented In the
shape of bills and were all in writing. that much
time was consumed in reading them and in discuss
ing their details. The wrangling of the lawyers
was interminable, and each insisted upon his own
plan. Finally, all these bills were reduced to three
by caucus committee, and these three were
submitted to the caucus yesterday afternoon.
One had been prepared by Senator Thurman,
one by Senator Eaton. and the third
by House Conference Committee. The last
Fubmitedjbv Messrs. Carlisle and Chalmers. Neither
Mr. Thurman's nor Mr.. EatOn's bill had any Ipream-
BE and the Senators were understood to be OPP
posed to a preamble but the House caucus desired
to put a stump speech into the belly of their bill.
and therefore adopted the Thurman draft with the
preamble of the Carlisle bill.
This preamble is drawn in imitation Of the Eng
hsh statute of George H., 1875, and of the Tenth
and Eleventh Victoria, both of which statutes were
read IN the caucus and discussed at considerable
length. The Ten and Eleven Victoria are III the
following language:
That on every day appointed for the nomination or
for the election for taking the poll for tie election
u
two miles OF the city, borough or place where the nomi
nation election Is to Oe declared or poll taken
shall be allowed TO out OF the barracks
quarters in which he is stationed unless
Tor the purpose of mounting renewing guard, or OF
giving his vote such election and that every soldier
allowed 90 out for any such purpose within the limits
aforesaid shall return to his barracks or quarters with
all convenient speed soon as his guard shall have
been relieved or vote rendered.
The text of the bill itself substantially reGnacts
Sections 9, ,OO2 and 5523 Of the Revised Statutes,
omiting the words TO keep the peace at the polls"
they occur at the end Of Section 2002, and also
omitting the words " civil" and /" or armed men
in Section 5,52S. proviso is also added, declar-
ing that it is not the intention of the act
10 interfere with the processes of United
States Courts. The effect of this bill has been
repeatedly explained in dispatches to TIE
TRIBUNE. II simply forbids the Of United
States soldiers at tho polls except TO repel the
armed enemies of the United States, and declares
that nothing in the act shall be construed to pre-
ven the execution of processes of the Courts Of the
United States by the officers thereof.
This bill and the others presented were debated
briefly Yesterday by some OF the members before
any vote was taken The bill will probably be
offered in the House tomorrow; Will be referred TO
some committee and will be reported back for
action on Tuesday, when 1t is understood to be the
intention Of the Democrats to call the previous
question and force "a vote with little or no dis
cussOn.
The Democrats say that If the President should
sign this bill then they will pass the Army appro-
pratiOns immediately If he vetOes 1t they will
give the subject further consideration.