Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-05
DEMOCRATIC carers.


WAsHINGToN. MAY 3. The House demo
cratic caucus committee met this morning
and it is understood agreed on a measure en-
titled, "Bll to prevent military interference
at the polls, which is the 9Th section of the
vetoed bill. with "civil officers" cxpmnged
and the proyiso added Nothing in this bill
shall be construed as preventing the use of
the army to enforce the process of t. :.
courts or to put down resistance aganstC =.
! by armed men"
Democratic members of the House held an
other caucus. and after a session of little
more than an hours duration definitely de-
termined the line of action in regard to the
| army appropriation bill and agreed upon the
exact terms of the measure to he separately
passed in lieu of the 9Th section, it being also
agreed that all consideration of the remainder
of the bill shall be deferred until this indie
pendent political measure shall have been
acted upon by the President.
1t will provide in substance that secs. POOP
and 2003 Revised Statutes shall not be con
strucd As authorizing the presence of L. :.
soldiers at the polls, except under orders of
the President to repcl armed enemies of the
=, in pursuance of constitutional require
ments, upon application OF the Legislature of
any State Cor Governor, when the LcgIsla-
turc cannot be convencd) to repress domes-
tie violence
The sections referred to are a. follows:
See 2oD2. No military or naval officer of
the I. :. shall order, bring. keep or have
under his authority or control, any troops or
armed men. at any place where any general
or special election is held. in any State, I'M
less it be necessary to repel armed cacmcs
of the |. =. or to keep the peace at the
polls.
Sec 2oo3. No officer in the army or navy
of the /. :. shall prescribe, fix or attempt to
prescribe or fix, by proclamation, order or
otherwise. qualifications of voters in any
State, or in any manner interfere with the
freedom of any election in any State or with
the exercise of the the right of suffrage in
any State.
The bill will be accompanied with short
preamble of an argumentativc nature, to de-
termnc the phraseology of which and also to
agree upon an effective title, consumed con-
siderable time.
Among the titles suggested were the follow
ing bill to prevent the army and navy
from interfering with the freedom of elec-
tions. bill to prevent the control of cleo
tlons in States Ivy the army and navy of the
[. >. "Bill To prevent the use of the army
at the polls and to promote the freedom of
elections"
6 II is understood that the title finally adopt
ed is, bill to prevent interference by army
with elections"
Tine action taken by. the caucus is substan-
tally in accordance with an ''amendcd re-
port presented to-day by the committee to
whom the whole subject was recommitted
The proceedings are said to have been
characterized by harmony and good feeling.
NEW YORK, May & Washington specials
to the Times says bill was presented to the
House by a subcommittee which retained the
word civil" but it was explained as mean
ing civil officers. The words .'or to preserve
peace at the polls" were omitted. Objection
was made To retention of word ''civil" in the
bill by members who warted the measure to
simply prevent using troops ut the polls. The
bill was finally reComnitted to the commit
tee, with Instructions to strike out the word
"civil and report to the caucus. 1t is under
stood that it will be reported Monday and
pressed to IL vote in both houses before action
on the army bill.
The Herald says the trouble in the House
caucus was that many members had received
kilograms from constituents to stick in their
opposition to compromise. 1t was shrewdly
suggested To delay and thus still the tempest.
and the bill was recommittcd for revision.
The Senate caucus decided that the Gsh
section of the army bill go to the President
as separate measures that the legislative
bill will next he sent in and if vetoed, its ri
der will be sent in separately tho expccta-
ton being that the President will sign the re-
peal of the test oath. The caucus will then
decide AS to passing the simple appropriation
bills or retaining existing appropriations six
months.
The World saws it was felt the present bill
should be very carefully framed. so that it
should cover all the laws or parts of Law on
the statute book, which in any way give the
Executive the right to use the troops in the