Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-06

thV klS>Neht TeturnSN the legislative
judicial and appropriation bill to the
house with the following message;
/ Message 10 Nt HoWss Of Representatives;
StSs-Aner mature consideration OF the bill
entitled AN act making appropriateness for the
ieStslS,iys, sSseeslvs and j9dlclsl expenses OF
SAh, iSSN aud for other purposes" herewith
rcluln II to The house OF represontaiyes,tn which
/ II originated, With
TnR FOLLOWING opJscrioNs
| to It's approval:
The main purpose OF the hill lie to appropriate
money required 10 support, during the next nscal
wears, tue several civil departments oil the gov
srnment me smSgnt appropriated exceeds is
10 Keep in operation the essential functions OF all
1 tue great departments Of the government, leets'
latiNe, executive and judicial Il the bill CON
! tanned no other prOVisienS, no objection To us
! approval would be made. ltembraces, however,
number OF clauses relating to subjects OF great
/ general interest which ATE wholly unconnected
/ with the appropriation for which II prOvtdes,
i Tho objections TO the practice OF attaching gen
Grail legislation to appropriation bills, especially
wien the object Is 80 deprive 90 ordinate branch
at the government OF its right TO the iree eNer-
! else OF its own discretion and Judgment touching
such general legislation, were set forth IN tho
special message in relation 10 house bill No. l.
which WAS returned to the house of representa-
tlNeS ON the gSh of last month, agree that the
! objections which were then expressed, as 10 this
/ lhVsnnu Nl iegtSiAtlOn, nave seemed " COuStSsS
Of sufficient weight TO dissuade nom this renewed
incorporation Of general ensctments in an APP
preparation bill, and that my CONSTITUTIONAL duty
In respect TO the general legislation thus placed
| before me, cannot I've discharged without seeming
| TO delay, however hrty. H. necessary appro-
priattons BY congress tor the support OF the gor-
eminent. Without repeating these objections
respectfully refer to that message for statement
! Of my views on the principle maintained IN de-
bate by tho advocates OF this bill, VIZ: that TO
| withhold appropriations lei constitutional means
/ fNF d of ~ "A AZ
Representatives havereSarded as grievance.
TH4 Bill CONTAINS rue FOLLOWING CLAUSES,
viz:
"And provided further, that the following
sections OF the revised statutes, ot the United
States, namely: sections 2oi6, 2,0lS and Gos0 and
all OF the succeeding sections OF said statute
down 10 and including sections 0021, and also
section ~, be, and the same Gre hereby re-
pealed and that all the other sections OF
the revised sta ntcs, and all laws and parts ~
laws authorizing the appointment of chief 81
pervsots OF elections, special deputy marshals OF
elections, or general deputy marShals having any
duties 10 perform III respect 10 any election and
prescribing their duties and powers, and allow
lug their compensation, the same are hereby ne
pcnled."
1t also contains clauses amending sections
e0l1 20la, 2sSl and 2,OSi, OF revised StRtutes.
The section of tho revised statutes which the
bill, il approved, would repeal or amend, is an act
approved May S0th, 1870 and amended February
2Sth 1871, entitled An act 10 enforce the rights
OF citizens Of the United States TO vote In tho
several states OF this union and far other pnr
poses All OF the provisions Of tho above
named acts which IL lie proposed In this btu tor
peal or modify, relate to congressional elections
rnK REMAINING PORTION OF rnK LAW
which will continue in force after the enactment
OF this measure is that which provides for tho n-
pointment, by a judge OF tho circuit court of tho
United States, OF two supervisors Of election in
each election district at any congressional ecc-
ton, on due application Of citizens who desire,
ln,, a.
guarded and scrutinIxed, The duties sI super
Sisors will be TO attend ut the polls at all con-
gresstonal elections and TO remain AFTER the pnle
close until every vote cast has been counted but
they will have no authority To make arrests or To
perform other duties in tho immt date presence
of officers holding the election; and 10 witness all
their proceedings including the counting az votes
and making return thereof Tho psIt of tho
election law which Will be repealed by tho APP
proyal ofthis bill includes those sections witch
give authority TO supervisors OF elections 10 per-
eonally sclutinige the count aud canvass Of each
ballot and all the sections which confer authority
| upon u 5. marshas and deputy marshuls In con.
necton with congressional elections. The enact
ment OF this bill will also ropesl soc. b5ss OF tho
criminal statutes OF the u, s., which was enacted
for the protection Of u. 5. officers engaged IN tho
! discharge OF their duties at congressional cleo
| lions This section protects supervisors and
| marShals IN the performance Of their duties by
! making obstruction or assaulting of these OIL
| GERS or any interference with Them by bribery OF
solicitation or otherwise, crimes again 81 the T. y.
The true meaning and effect of the proposed leg
| islatiOn are plain Supervisors with authority 10
observe and witness proceedings at congressional
elections will be en, but there will be no power
| 10 protect them or 10 prevent Interference with
their duties or to punish any violation OF the law
| nom which their powers arc derived.
II THIS BILL Is APPROVED
only tho shadow Of authorlty OF the u. 4. ut ma
| tional elections viii remain; the substances Will
| lie gone. Supervision OF elections will be re-
duced to a mere inspection without authority ON
the part OF the supervisor to do any act whatever
| To make the election fair one. All that Will DO
left TO supervisors is the peImission 10 have such
oversight OF elections as political parties are in
| the habit OF exercising without any authority OF
law IN order TO prevent their opponents from OBJ.
| tanning Unfair advantage. The object OF tho bill
| IL TO destroy any control whatever by the u. s.
| over congressional elections.
The passage Of
THIS bill HAS BERN URGED
! upon the ground that the election OF members ~
| congress IL a matter which concerns the states
alone, that these elections should be controlled
exclusively by states: that there are aud can 10
no such elections as national elections, and that
the existing law OF the U 6. regulating congress
sional elections Is without warrant 10 the consi-
tuition. II Ia evident. however, that the trainers
Of the constitution regarded the election OF mem
bers OF congress in every state and IN every lls'
trict as In very important sense Justly matter
OF political interest and concorn 10 tho whole
country The original proposition OF the consti.
| tuition on this subject IL As follows.
Sec. ~. art. !. The times, places and manner Of
holding elections for senators and representatives.
shall be prescribed ia each state by the logi,la-
| iure thereof but congress- may at any time by
law make or alter tuch regulations except ~ 10
the places of choosing senators.
FURTHER PROVISION
! has been since added which 10 embraced in the
fifteenth amendment. II ~ as follows:
| Section !. The right of citizens of the Y. 4. 10
vote shall moi be denied OF abridged by the u. >.
or by any state account OF race, color or pieyl
Gus condition ofsor,itude.
Section Z. The con yrets shall have power 10
enforce this article by appropriate legislation un
der the general provision OF the constitution,
section ~, article /.
| Congress in 1866 pas ed compreh ensiye law
which prescribed n fun and detailed regulation
for the election OF senator's by the legislature OF
The several states. THIS law has been 10 force AL
most thirteen years In pursuance OF II 81 the
| members Of tho present senate 81 the United
| States bold their seats. Its con.lilntoralitY ~
not called In question. Its confidently believed
| that no sound argument can be made In support
Of the eonrtituiioaalty OF the national rognlSti"n
| Of senatorial elections which wlil not show that
the election Of members Of the house or Tcpretcn.
tatlyet may also be oonstitutonally regulated by
| national authority.
The bill before me Itself recognizes the plinci-
| pie that the
| 81 .ex,ngs An, unr s1.Tv ~ Fe.