Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-06-11
The Democrats and the Appropri-
alton Bills.
Special to Boston Daily Advertiser.

Special to Boston DAILY Advertiser
WAsnINGroS, June 9.-The democratic
backdown took on very marked proportions
in the House to-day. In the first place Mr.
Atkins reported a substitute for the legisla
tive bill so changed in several particulars a.
to suit the republican members of the aprro-
priaton committee, and secure their cooper
alton on the floor. The bill was passed by
solid republican vote after an explanation
from Gen Hawley, that while the form of the
bill was very Objectionable, it accomplished
the appropriations for large part OF govern
ment service, and contained no political rid
ers Twenty democrats voted against 1t.
The judicial bill was next reported by MIR.
Mcmahon of Ohio by his vote in committee
and that of Mr.. Wells of Missouri. This
bill was also much modified at the meeting
this morning. As reported its restrictions are
not in the form of legislation applying TO
all future appropriation bills as well rs this
one, but are confined wholly to this bill and
to the fiscal year which it covers. This re-
removes one of the most serious OBJ
iections on the part of the republicans
In the jurors test-oath section the most i'm
portant amendments, which Mr.. Edmunds
made it so clear to the democratic lawyers of
the Senate should be agreed to were added,
including the one which embodied the Ian
guage of the fourteenth amendment. The
only very Objectionable part of this bill. and
TO this the whole democratic case is now re-
duced, is the provision forbidding the use Of
the army and of the money appropriated to
pay any salaries, compensation. fees or CX-
penses under or by virtue of title % of the
Revised Statutes. II this is vetoed the dem
ocrats intend to adjourn, and so emphasize
the reduced proportions of their ISSUE before
the country. The democrats and somc
n IL. ..i.. IL. Al.
shape where the President can hardly veto it,
though he may find it necessary to call on
Congress to provide the means to carry ont
title &c. The majority of the republicans,
however, expect veto. The items in this
judicial bill are now the only ones over which
there is any difference between the republi-
cans and the democrats and the only ones to
which the latter attach conditions in the form
of riders. These items are the pay of district
attorneys and their assistants. fees of clerks
of courts and United States commissions
ers, fees of marshals, jurors, witnesses
support, prisons rent. court-rooms and
miscellaneous expenses of the court. The
bill.was recommitted at the request of Mr.
Mcmahon, and will be reported tomorrow.
The surprise of the day came to the demo-
Gratis when Mr., Ryan, on the republican side,
having the right to the floor to move to suspend
the rules, presented the army bill exactly as
the democrats had reported it with the pro-
viso about the use of troops as Il police force
at the polls. At this Mr.. Atkins Immediately
moved to adjourn, to prevent the republicans
from making the army bill their own. The
republicans all voted against this, except
Messrs. keifer and Sapp of Iowa. In view
of the almost universal support of the repub-
licans, the opposition of these gentlemen
causes general surprise and much severe crit-