The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-27
VOL. XLVl.--N0. 2OS.
DEMOCRATS STANDING FIRM.
THE CONGRESSIONAL CIUCUs MdPPING
OUT POLITICLL LEGISLATION.

Expression Of Opinion Mes-r.. Bayard,
Voorhees,, and Alex. n. stephens SPEAK.
WASHINGTON, March 26.-At a joint eau
Gus OF Democratic Senators and Representa-
tives this afternoon the majority in Congress
agreed upon the form in which the Legislative
Executive. and Judicial and Army Appropria-
ton bills shall bo passed. The political amend
ments. rs those clauses Of the bill which
are intended to protect the rights OF citi-
zens and to destroy the political machinery
OF the Republican party are called. will be
rlgidly insisted upon. Ever since Congress met
the Radicals have been striving to turn the
majority from its determination to repeal
certain parts OF the Federal election laws.
Threats of a veto by the Fraudulent President
have been made. 1t was hoped that the Demo-
Gratis would split upon the question. In the
caucus to-day there was not n dissenting voice
from the opinion that the iniduitous statutes
should be repealed.
The caucus was held in the House chamber
nearly every Democratic Senator and Repre-
sentative being present. Mr.. Chalmers pre-
scented the report OF the Joint caucus committee
"a agreed upon yesterday The report recon-
mends that clauses be inserted in the Legisa-
tive Executive. and judicial bill repeating the
following numbered sections OF the Revised
Statutes
Section 2.0l6. which defines the duties OF su-
pervisors of election.
Section 2.0ls. which requires supervisors OF
election to personally scrutinize and count each
ballot
Sections 1920 to 2.027 inclusive. which pre-
scribe the plan TO be pursued by supervisors
who are moested in enforcing the extraordi-
nary powers conferred upon them; which pro-
vide for the appointment Of special deputy
marshals; define the duties OF marshas and
their special and general deputies; require
them to take persons under arrest before
United States Commissioner. Judge. or court: (:
empower marshals to compel bystanders to as
sist in making arrests when assistance is re-
ouired; which provide for the appointment Of
chief supervisors OF election and define their
duties aud require marshals to forward to chief
supervisors all records Of proceedings taken by
or before them.
Section 5522 which renders persons interfer-
ing with supervisors of elections. marshals or
deputies liable TO arrest without process and
fixes the penalty for such interference at not
more than two years Imprisonment nor more
than So 600 fine. or both. Is repealed. That part
dissection 2.0l7 which authorizes the appoint
ment OF supervisors Of election will be allowed
10 stand. but so much Of the section as requires
supervisors TO challenge voters is repealed. The
supervisor may exercise his own discretion in
SuhhtnkluGs AhoA boiN VI oNNNiOA @''A'
which requires supervisors TO canvass
ballots is repealed. 1t is provided that so much
OF section 202s as permits the appointment OF
a supervisor in a polling precinct OF which he
is not resident shall be repealed. All OF sec
ton 2.03l. excepting the clause which relates to
the payment OF supervisors. is repealed. In
fact. the legislation embodied In Mr. Chalmers's
report aboishes chief supervisors OF elections
and deputy marshais. and takes all powers
away from supervisors except the right to be
present at the voting place and draw n salary
Tor looking on. Really IN respect of supervi-
sors the Office is abolished. but the officer Is re-
Sections 8. 20. and s21. which provide test
oath for jurors will be repealed as provided in
the bill which failed TO pass the Senate at the
last Congress. There Is no change In the plan
then adopted by the House concerning the
method OF drawing iurors in certain cases ex-
cept that II Is further provided that no lIror
shall serve .or more than one term in the same
year. and this provlsO Is made to apply TO all
Jurors selected after the passage OF the act Tho
Army Appropriation bill will be reported Just
as II passed the House In the last Congress.
Mr. Chalmers. IN presenting the report. gave
the reasons which Induced the Committee 10
recommend the proposed changes, and ex-
planned the full effect Of the repeating legislA.
ton. He said that the Committee had deemed
II best not TO recommend any affirmative legis-
lation on either OF the appropriation bills. Mr.
Hayes might have an excuse TO veto the bills II
no precedent existed for the veto OF hills which
proposed to repeal existing laws distasteful to
IN both Houses Of Congress.
Senator Voorhees, was not satisfied with
me eS0 Si the SSmmg1 Ms thought
enough as far as they went but In his
estimation, they did not 90 far enough.
wiped from the statutes In an eloquent speech
he portrayed the injustice and wickedness ?
the laws. He feared that II single shred
them was left unrepealed the Radicals We
ind some means OF Interfering with free civ--
tons.
senator Bayard thought that the recon-
mendations of the Committee should be
adopted In so far as the repeal OF the distaste-
Of tacking the repeal Of the election laws 10 an
appropriation bill until after separate bills to
aTe tse nd sane p1rPosss s hhd been passed by
said that in his opinion II would be polite first
10 pass distinct b Is repealng the election laws
ana prohibiting the use OF troops at the polls.
II these bills We're vetoed. then the grievances OF
the people could DO redressed on AN appropria-
Nj Carlisle in reply addressed himself first
10 the objections made by the Senator from Del.
aware to the Committees report The .parlia-
mentary difficulties in the way Of repeating the
election laws in separate bills before taking up
the Appropriation bills were pointed out. The
time consumed 10y such n method Of procedure
would keep Congress in session several months.
8r. Carlisle said that II the repeal OF the
statutes in the manner recommended by
the Committee was at al revolutionary.
which he denied. the plan advocated by
Mr, Bayard was sun more revolutionary.
Ihe Constitution gave the de iacto President
this right 10 exercise the veto. A two-thirds
vote was required 10 override a veto Of any bill.
Supposing, as Mr.. Bayard proposed a bill TO
repeal the election laws was Introduced, passed.
ami vetoed "A motion Was made to PASS the bill
over the veto. and the necessary two-thirds
vote 10 do that cOuli not bee obtained really the
action OF the de larto President would be sus-
tlined. Then II the repeating clauses were
added 10 an Appropriation bill. and the de factO
President was informed that supplies would
not be granted until the bill was approved the
act OF cOeTciun would bee plain and
perhaps in defiance Of the spirit Of the
Constitution, wh.l- II the plan recommended
by the Committee WAS agreed TO. Congress
would assert its rights In an uuquestionably
proper aud precedented form. Mr.. Carlisle in
formed the caucus that MrNoorhecs had placed
the Committee In n false attitude Of approving
legislation the repeal OF which II had not
recommended. The Committee would like 10
see every trace Of the election laws destroyed
but il had looked at the question presented to
Congress from a practical point Of view and
had recommended only such changes In existing
laws the protection Of the liberties OF citizens
demanded.
Alexander II. Stephens believed that the cleo
uon laws should be repealed in the manner
suggested By Mr. Baynrd. Spear OF Georgia
and Stamford Of Alabama conceded with Mr.
Stephens's views. motion was made by Mr..
Spear 10 repeal the election laws ia a separate
bill The motion WIS defeated by a large ma
)ority. There was an overwhelming vote
against proposal to reUoal the sections au.
tuOrtZlnQ he gpUoiufmeut of sIDerVsOrs OF