New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-02
TILE pRFSlDENT FIRM.

AT,TK WITH MR.. rs, IN WHICH THE POS
ITIoN OF THE PRESIDENT WAS MADE CLEAR
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBCNEl
W,suINGrON. April 1.-Presdcnt Hayes conceas
his views on the important political questions no"
oritatng the country from no one with whom
he converses with any freedom. lie does not
think il proper for him to announce In
advance in an authoritative way that he VIII
sign or Will veto any measure that may De
sent to him by Congress. usage which
has almost the force of law requires
the President to convey to Congress first
in formal manner his objections TO any bill winch
he declines to sign and that no official or seml-oh-
cial announcement on the subject shall be made be-
fore the transmission of q veto message
If there was ever time when President would
he justified in breaking over this rule the present
is one. The Democrats in Congress are open IN
their threats to force the President into the APP
rroyal of their obnoxious measures by Withholding
necessary appropriation orthe GOyernmentuntilhe
does: and by so doing they have violated the cour-
tesy between tie coordinate branches Of the Gov
eminent which they are so anxious that the Presi-
dent should observe. Bat while the President says
TO no one who calls upon him that he VIII veto
the two appropriation bills over which the
controversy has arisen in Congress If they come to
him containing the Objectionable political sec
tons he has very decided views on the subject
and does not hesitate to express them. lie thinks
II IS lust as proper for the President
to let public men and the people know what his
opinions are on current questions of vital i'm
portance to the country as that other men holding
important positions under the Government should
do so.
In An informal conversation this evening the
President said that the present political struggle
seemed to him to he only new form of the long
standing contest between the people who believe
the United States to be nation on
the one hand, and those who hold TO
The doctrine Of State Rights on theOther The
Democratic party Is opposed to all supervision OF
elections for Representatives, in Con ress by Fed
eral authority and to all legislation
which in any way interfcres with the sole
management of those elections by local officers.
The Democrats therefore intend, if they are able to
do So to sweep from the statute-bO0k every law
that has been enacted for the purpose of preventing
frauds in elections. This the Republicans arc de-
termined that they shall not do if it can be pre-
vented.
The President said that he had no doubt
that ample power conferred on Con-
gress by the Constitution to enact these
laws, and he does not for moment question the
necessity Of maintaining them. The Ques-
ton at issue, he remarked, is not
sectional one. The laws to prevent
frauds at elections for Representatives are becOm
ing every year indispensable to fail elections,
and especially in many of the large cities Of the
North The question is fundamental one, and is
the same which was in controversy between the
two great parties before the war; and was involved
IN the war itself
In answer TO the question whether the Army bill
as it now stands before the House and the country
would not, in his opinion, involve the same
question that would be raised when the Legislative
Uit rpnealinp the elaptiOn laws
is brought up for discussion. and whether it
would be proper to consider any portion of this
political legislation independently its
own merits, he replied that he had taken
very little interest IN the details Of
the Democratic plan. The first, and of the
chief objections to the proposed legislation was the
method in which it was proposed to accomplish it.
That had been exceently described by General
Garfield in his speech last Saturday as revOlu-
tiOnary.
The President added that he was not sure that it
would not become the duty of the Republicans in
Congress to take a stand against legislation of
any kind on appropriation bills. He spoke of the
growing tendency in Congress to attach
10 these bills measures which cannot stand
on their own merits. and illustrated it by
relating one or two striking amples of such egis
lation lie said that by far the greater part Of the
"jobsp that had gone through Congress in the last
twenty-five years had been carried through on APP
preparation bills. and that the party the
man who holds position high enough
in influence to make his action felt, taking the
ground that appropriation bills shall contain
nothing except appropriations, will win. As it
is these bills, which should be the safest
passed by Congress. are the most dangerous.
Referring to the Democratic suggestion, that it
would require unusual courage for President TO
veto one of these appropriation bills the President
remarked that that was mistake. lie had been
for two years engaged in a struggle TO maintain
the prerOgative Of the Executive to nominate
public officers, \ prcrOgatiye which had been
usurped by the Senate Ia that contest he has stood
almost alone Now if he shall be called upon TO
vindcate the constitutional right of the President
to participate in legislation, he will have not
only the republican party at his back, but
a majority of the people Under these circum-
stances it would not in his opinion require as much
courage and frnness TO do what he conceived to be
his duty rs in the former case.
but, Mr. President" said one Of his visitors
what will be the worst that can happen if the
Democrats in Congress refuse to grant supplies and
leave the Government without the necessary means
TO carry on It's functlOnsT
The President replied that it would not come to
that. The Democrats have only majority in the
House, and That majority viii melt away before
the point suggested is reached. The Dem
Ocratic plan, he had heard il ex-
planned, was TO adjourn the Congress and leave
the President to meet the emergency when the
money gives out But he will not have to meet il
alone for # such a time ever comes the Congress
will be here TO meet II with him. The
Constitution gives the President ample power
TO convene Congress on any extaor-
is absent on account Of the final adjournment Of