Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-03-27

Thurman presided. The first question dis :.
ousscd was whether tho political legislation
required by tho dominant party in Congress
should be effected by tho passage of scpar
ratio measure, or by tho Incorporation Of
repeating clauses, &c., in tho appropriation
bills. Nearly every one present participated
III the discussion. Ii was finally determined
that tho latter course would bo most expcdi,
cnt, especially for the reason that it seemed
likely to save time, thero being general
desire to finish the necessary business Of the
session at as early u day as possible. The
determination was reached by a vote of l3
against 5--two Senators aud three Rcprcscn-
tativcs voting in the negative.
Tho next question considered was whether
tho political portions Of the appropriation
bills should now be passed in the same terms
In which they were passed at tho last session,
or whether tho repeating clauses in regard to
the Federal Election laws should be modified
| so rs to repeal only those sections which au.
thorizo the appointment Of chief supervisors
| and deputy marshns for election, together
with the sections c,nferring police powers on
| supervisors, thus continuing the au thorizaton
| for tho appointment Of two supervisors of
u'hCichl poilliCS " servo IN u tcStln0nlul
capacity at each poll as witnesses Of the count
OF votes. After an exhaustive discussion it
WAS decided to recommend the adoption of
the modified proposition nboyc described
The vote Tas III against 4-thero being two
Senators and two Representatives in favor Of
total repeal. The .nnt meeting then author
lied Senators Thurman. Salisbury Blily and
Herman nnd Representatives Chalmers,
Springer, Carlisle and Atkins to formulate
provisions in accordance With this decision in
regard to the Election laws, and also proyis
ions for the total repeal Of the Jurors test
oath anu the existing authorization Of the
presence oi troops at the polls for incorpora>
zion in the Legislative, Julcial and Execu-
tive and the Army Appropriation bills,
together with such additional provisions as
they may deem necessary to secure free md
fair elections for Representatives anl Dclc~
gates to Congress
They were especially authorized 10 consider
the prorrety Of framing a substitute Tor
section $500 Of the Revised Statutes, which
prcScribcs penalties for violations oC the cleo,
tion laws Mr.. SHringtr's proposition to
| provide, in addition to tho repeal Of the law
concerning; the presence Of troops ut the pols
| for the enactment Of the existing English
statute Of George Il. on that subject was very
faSorahly received, and the Join, sub commit,
tee will probably recommend its adoption. 1t
prohibits any soldier stationed within two
miles of voting place from leaving his quar-
ters on en- election day, except to relieve
guard or 50 to the polls to vote, and requires
| hin, ip tbo l,tt,
tcrs Immediately a'terwarl. The int snb
| committee will meet at three O'clock Monday
and expect to report 10 another Joint meeting
| OF the two caucus committees on Tuesday
| After appointing this sub committee the ioint
meeting to-day proceeded to consider the
question whether the legislation Of the pres
| cnt session should be strictly confined to the
| appropriation bills, including The measures
above Indicated, or whether general business
should not lc transacted by either house when
not cnGagci OF an appropriation bill. A
decided majority OF the Senate caucus COM
mtlec favored restriction pt tie business of
the session to the appropriation bills and to
the enactment Of wha! i. known a: the "vcls
low fe9cT BILL" majority (but not a large
on y Of the House Committee insisted that
thc opportunities lor ransac'ing general bus
incSs should be improved, without however
! pvolongins the session after the appropria.
tion ILLS shnl! have Lccn disnoscd Of II
was finally decided to report disagreement
on this subject to . .jnint caucus aal leave the
settlement Of The question to n majority Of
| the Democratic ncmbcrs of both houses
| This meeting Of the joint canc,,s will proba,
| bly, lc held next Tuesday evening.
WAsHINGToN, MARCH, 2l.-SENArE. -
Mr. Beck introduced bill for the settle
mont OF accounts with certain railroad
companies Mr Butler introduced bill
| authorizing thc Secretary Of wa, to deliver
to y +. Rhett and others four Napoleon
guns tnr the use Of the Charleston $. g.
| artillery; also bill for the relief of suffer
crs by the loss Of the steamer j. d
Cameron.
a large number Of bills introduced, in
cluding several By Mr. Coke, and one by
Kellogg, giving aid to certain railroads
extending from Texas to specified points on
the Rio Grandc.
Saulsbury's resolution calling uron tho
Secretary Of the Treasury for information
concerning negotiations of United States
securities, the amount of interest ppid, etc.,
was passed.
a motion was then made to proceed to
the election Of officers of the Sen,to. An
animated debate here sprung up.
Anthony said that nothing he could do
would prevent the forcgonc conclusion Of
the majority to mako sweeping change of
officers, not because it was demanded by
duty, but because partisanshp demanded it.