The daily gazette., 1879-03-20
THIRD EDITION
WashingtOn.

The Political Legislation Pending Be-
fore Congress-Fdir Prospects Of
mpromise-Propossd Modification
of the Federal Election Ld,cs-POiiti-
cal Legislation and tho Prospects for
a mpromise-NOderdte Coanseis
Preraiing.
WARRINGTON, March 10, 1879.
There is fair prospect this evening
evening of a brief session and sensible
action. Senator Edmunds, who has been
credited with helping in his adroit and
calmly pertinacious way to bring about
the extra session, to-day introduced .
resolution adopted at his instance in the
republican caucus which was apparently
intended to SPOIL Senator Thurman's
temper. Its object is to confine legisla-
tion solely to the passage OF the appro-
priation bills. MIR. Edmunds purpose,
of course, is to get his democratic friends
into debate. Otherwise 1t is of no con-
sequence, as the initiative now lies with
the democrats, and these have not yet
determined on their policy. The House
democrats meet In caucus tomorrow and
will appoint All advisory committee TO
meet with similar committee of the
Senate democrats to determine the order
and extent of business. OF course there
Will be general discussion in the caucus
and Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, has pre-
pared the following bin, which he will
perhaps introduce in the House to-mor-
row, and about which the discussion
may gather:
SECTION BE II enacted, &C., That
the following sections Of the Revised
Statutes-uamely, section 2O2l and all
OF the succeeding sections down to and
incllding section 2,0E and also section
2,03l, and all other sections and parts OF
sections of said statutes, and all laws or
parts of laws authorising the appoint
ment of chief supervisors of elections
and special deputy marshals OF elections
or general deputy mhrshRls Of elections
and prescribing their duties and powers
he and the same are hereby sepeated.
SIC. 2.-That section 1920 OF the Re-
viscd Statutes shall be amended 80 as TO
read as follows:-
SEC. 2,02O.-When in any election dis
trlct or voting precinct in any city or
town for which there have been appoint
cd SUPERVISORS OF elections for any cleo
tion at which representative or dele
gate in Congress is voted for the Super
visors of election are not allowed to ex-
eIcise and discharge fully and freely, by
reason of bribery, solicitation, interfer-
ence, hindranee, molestation, violence,
son, all the duties, obligations and pow
ers conferred upon them by law, the su-
pervlsors of election shall make prompt
report, under oath, within ten days after
the day of election to the court appoint
ing them of the manner and ineaus by
which they were not 80 allowed to fully
and freely exercise and discharge the du-
ties and Obligations required and impose d
herein, aud upon receiving any such re-
he hal uit mi
into all the facts and may subpoena wit
nesses and take testimony in respect to
the charges made, and prior to tho as
sembling OF the Congress for which any
such representative or delegate so voted
for, the Judge of said Court shall cause
TO be filed with the Clerk Of the House
Of presentatives all the evidence by
him taken, all Information by him OBJ
tanned and all the reports to him made.
SEC. Sat all elections hereafter held
Al which Representatives or delegates in
Congress are to be chosen the ballots tC
be used AT such elections shall be upoI
PLAN white paper, such as IA commonly
used for the publication of daily ant
weekly newspapers. and there shall b.
no mark, design or impression whatever
written or printed, ou the back of sucl
ballots, except in States where ballot
hre required to be number by the law
If such ae 10 which ballots may con
tain such number only; and they shall b,
printed in plain types with straight line,
aud with sufficient space between sacl
name on said ballot for the interlineatior
OF another name; and SAID ballots shal
contain on the face no device, mark
printing or writing by which the sam,
may be identified and shal! contain oDlJ
she designation Of all the offices TO b,
hhed, whether national, State or munici
pal, and the names of the persons votsl
Tor at said election, which names may b,
either written or printed on such ballot
and at Presidential elections there ma
be printed on such ballots the names o
the candidates for PTesiuent and Vic
President of tho United States. Sal
ballots shall not be less than twelv
inches in length and not less than thrc
inches in width. All ballots not printe
in conformity with this act shall be r,
jccted, and not connted 80 far as the
relate to the election Of Represe ntativ.
or delegates in Congress, and all ballot
found IN any ballot box Of less size tina
Indicated IN this act or printed On tissu
paper, or paper having marks by whic
persons voting the same could be ident
ned at the time such ballot was cast q
thereafter, shall not he counted by an
Judge or Inspector or canvaSsing Off c.
OF any election, SO far as such ballot r,
iates to the election Of representatiy
or delegate III Congress.
SEC. 4.-Nothlng in this act or in an
act OF Congress heretofore passed shal
be so construed as to authorize Supervi
sor> OF Elections or L. States Marshal
or their deputies to arrest any citZen {
the United States without process {
warrant issued in pursuance Of law, an
no arrest OF citizen on election day
within sixty days prior thereto with wa
rant shall deprive such citizen of h
right to exercise the elective franchis
at any election where Representatives c
Delegates in Congress are being chose,
and all persons, whether with or Will
out color OF authority, who shall prevet
hinder or delay or in any wise interfei
with any person who may desire to vol
at any election al which Keprese nti v,
or Delegates In Congress are chosen, e.
cept by peaceaoy challenging the rigl
of such person to vote before the ludp
or insrectors of such election, shall {
conviction be punished by imprisonms
not more than two years or by fine
not more than $4,000, or by both su,
hne ana imprisonmeh, and shall D;
the cost of prosecution.
1t will be observed that this bill see
to prevent such ballot box frauds and i
timidation of voters at the polls as com
from the use Of tissue paper tickets a
tickets SO conspcuously labelled or maj
ed on tn outside as to d, stroy the secre
Of the ballot. If any one bushes to fl
such guards against ballot box frat
needed in this country he will do W
rn.nap, bar . hot : ba mr. nri ono tieSua l.