New-York tribune., 1879-06-05
THE NEW CAUCUS PROGRAMME.

THE NEW CAUCUS PROGRAMME.
OPINIONS OF LEADING MEN IN coNGREss-THE
REPUBLICANS RESOLVED STILL TO FIGHT FOR
FAIR ELECTIONS AND A FREE EXECUTIVE.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THIS TRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON, June 4.-Republican Representa-
tives, when asked what their course will be regard
ing the Democratic appropriation bills, say
that they prefer to have an opportunity to study
the complete text of these productions before decd-
ing whether they will support them not.
General Garfield said this evening in substance
that as he understands the provisions Of the pro-
posed Executive and Legislative bill, he shall vote
for it without hesitation, being willing to vote for
half bill rather than none. Respecting the re-
strctve proviso of the Army BILL General Gar
field said that If IL means that none of
the money appropriated shall be used TO transport
or subsist troops for the purpose of using them as
police force at the polls, he should no objection
to it at all except that it is piece of folly. It is,
he said, "as if my rising to speak in the House
a member should say he had no objection to my
speaking provided did not use indecent language"
No Republican, he said, has ever wanted to use the
troops in any such way, and the President has dis
tinct!y declared in his veto messages that
they will never be used to interfere with
electors while he remains in office. In re-
gard to the Judicial BILL General Garfield
declared that if it contains any provision which.
fairly construed, will in any way operate to
weaken the administration of the laws to preserve
the purity OF elections, ho shall oppose it by every
possible means, and has no doubt that all the Re-
publcans will do the same. General Garfield says
distinctly that if the Democrats have retained any
of the Objectionable features of the bills which
have been vetoed, he shall of course oppose them.
Representative Frye holds in substance the same
nd in adj en- ~
caucus decision as complete but not very manly
surrender Of everything the Democrats demanded
in the beginning. He said that distinguished
Southern Democratic Representative told him this
morning that the caucus had made the bills all
" thin enough now so that the Republicans could
vote for them.
1t is understood that Mr.. Alexander II. Stephens
holds the same opinion to the thnness OF the eau
Gus conclusions.
Several leading Republican Representatives to-
day expressed substantially the same views as are
outlined above.
Representative Morrison, of Illinois, speaking of
the result of the caucus said that this is either the
beginning of policy which may result in an adj
iouInment about July l. or it may be the beginning
of something very different. There is, of course,
danger that somebody may get mad. and that this
business may be continued until the end OF the
Congress, but this is not likely.
Mr.. Cox, speaking of the outlook said: "Ths is
the beginning of the end" He was asked if he
would not support the caucus measures now they
had been agreed upon. to which he replied: " /
don't know about that. l have yet TO be con-
WINGED. don't give up soon."
General Joseph l.. Johnston says that the resric-
tions proposed by the Democrats in their new bill
amount to nothing, because the President could
send troops in advance to any portion of the coun-
try for proper purposes without violating the re-
strctions, yet the troops would be at the desired
place on election day, without having been moved
there for that purpose.
Mr.. Springer says "The Democratic party has
been accused of having attempted to coerce the
President into giving his assent to legislation to
which he had grave objections by Withholding the
supplies necessary for the Government. Admitting
for the moment that this is true with regard to the
original measures, it does not hold with regard TO
these we now propose to pass. We do not ask the
President to sign any measure to which he has
n single objection. We simply omit from
these bills certain features which he
and his party might desire to have
incorporated in them, but to which we, the ma
iorty in Congress- object If he yeoes the bills on
that ground it will be an attempt to coerce Con-
gress into passing laws which odious to a ma
iority of that body and we could not have better
issue.o
From conversations with several Republican.
Senators there is reason to believe that, although
they have not given the new departure more than
passing notice. thev will present a united front
against the Army bill holding that it is restrc-
tion Of the Presidents constitutional right to
send the Army wherever he may deem it
necessary for the maintenance OF peace.
They say that under ordinary circumstances
the new sixth section might be harmless enough,
but taken in connection with the determination of
the Democrats TO find preteXt of some kind for
throwing out enough electoral votes at the next
Presidential election to carry the contest for their
candidate, the indeinteness of the provision against
using the Army for police purposes may
under their Interpretation furnish the very instr'
ment they will require. Nobody believes that the
Army will be called into use IN any way on election
day if the law remains as al presents Dnt the pas
sage of this feature would open a way whereby
Democratic ingenuity might make the presence of
troops nece sary just to take advantage of the cir
cu!nstances in the manner Indicated.
THE FATE OF THE WARNER BILL.