The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-03-27
rnn rEpERA1 sUpERvIsoR LAW.


prlatlOn Bill When Passed But Radicals Say
II Would be Treason to Repeal II In That Way,
II seems Senator Beck of Kentucky
during the late interim Of Congress, has
been investigating, and finds enough tc
Justify the Dem ocratic position that the
Supervisor Law must be repealed, even
if il becomes necessary, to accomplish
the result, to repeal the clause to the
Legislative Appropriation Bill. There
seems to he a misunderstanding as TO the
manner in which the obnoxious law was
forced down the throats of a Democratic
minority, High sounding moral homil
les are being written by the editors Of
Republican organs, and precedents quo
ted to show the injustice of attaching
political legislation to appropriation
bills; but the fact seems to be entirely
lost sight of, that the very law now be-
ing sought to be repealed became a law
by being tackled to an appropriation bill
at the second session of the forty second
Congress. 1t is unnecessary to quote
the law entirely, as its provisions are toe
veil known but as a ready reference to
those who shrink with holy horror
from what is deemed an innovation on
the part of the Democrats, attention
is directed to the IS h volume of the
Statutes at Large, page 34S. Therein
under the caption of "The Judiciary
will be found in the Sdndry Civil Appro'
priation Bill, the Supervisor Law, begin
ming with the words, "That whenever in
any county or parish in any Congress
siOnal district, there shall be ten citizens
thereof in good standing" &c, and end.
ing with a Clause making an appropria-
ton TO carry the law into force and ef-
feet. The Democratic position was 10
repeal the law as a distinct proposition.
If the President vetoes that way OF
reaching the result, then to repeal the
law in the same way it was enacted
that is, by adding clause to such an ef-
feet to an appropriation bill. If it was
right to enact this law in a money bill,
il can not be seen how it is wrong to re-
peal itin the same way,
Since the above was in type, the Joint
Committee of the Senate and House, ap-
pointed by the Democratic caucusses of
the two bodies, to consider the order of
legislative business for the present ses'
sion, held an important meeting on Sat-
urday, and reached important results.
Judge Thurman is chairman of the Sen.
ate Committee, and General Chalmers of
Mississippi, of the House committee,
The committee decided, in the first
place, that the repeating clauses of the
Federal election law, test oaths, and au.
of troops at the polls, should
be added to the appropriation bills, as
they were by the House at the last ses-
sion. One reason urged for this course
was that it would save time, there being
a general desire to close out the specified
business of the extra session and ad.
ourn. The only other business likely to
be considered is yellow fever quaran-
tine law, which is loudly called for from
the southwest.
With a desire to meet all valid and
reasonable objections to the repeal of
The odious parts of the election law, the
Oint committee, by vote of IA to 4, de-
,ided to modify the repeating clauses
passed by the House at the last session.
They propose to repeal only those sec
ions which authorize the appointm ent
If Chief Supervisor (this reaches Dav-
,nport and Deputy Marshals, together
With the sections comforting police pow
RS on Supervisors. This will leave the
aw as it stands, providing for the ap-
,ointment Of two Supervisors Of differ
mt politics, to serve in testimonial ca
,acity at each poll, as witnesses Of the
reception and count of votes.
A strong committee was appointed to
ormulate the decision of the caucus,
hat it may be offered as an amendment
o the appropriation bills. and was also
authorized to present such additional
rovisions as they may deem necessary
0 secure free and fair elections. Of
curse it tis understood that the repeal of
he test oath for jurors, and the authori-
alton of troops at the polls will be in
j ted on.
Mr.. Hayes, according to current re-
orts at Washington, has indicated that
e will approve such legislation on these
uestions as the caucus has determined
n, so we Judge there is little, if any,
respect of collision between Congress
nd the Executive. The policy suggest
d puts the Democracy on impregnable
round. No reasonable or conscientious
.epubican can object to the modifca
ons of the law proposed, for they will
revents its being used as an instrument
fraud and intimidation, and retain all
lat is valuable to prevent fraud now on
le statute.
Tom SAxT0N's editor in his last diatribe
.Ys ofns. we have been all our life "allied