The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-22
ACTION OF The CAUCUS COMMITTEE.
The Republican Opposition in
the Senate.
SUDDEN ANXIETY FOR INFORMATION
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, March 81. 1879.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ON THE ORDER OF
BusINEss--sUMMARY OF BILL TO BE PRE-
sENrED TO THE JOINT COMMITTEE.
Representative House, chairman of the democratic
caucus. to-day appointed the following committee to
confer with the committee of the Senate. with
view to determining what the order Of business
shall be during the extra session :-Messrs. Chal-
mers. of Mississippi chairman; Carlisle. Of Ken
lucky; Cox of New York; Ewing. of Ohio; Springer.
of Illinois, Tucker. of Virginia. Atkins of Tennes-
see; Clymer. of Pennsylvania; Reagan. of Texas;
Bicknell. of Indiana. and Phelps of Connecticut.
The committee Immediately after the adjournment
of the House met in the room of the Committee on
Ways and Means for the purpose of holding pre-
liminary conference previous to their Joint session
nth the Senate committee.
Ageneral interc hange of views occurred with regard
to the most practical mode Of procedure, and con-
siderable difference Of opinion was manifested as to
the most effective and judicous course to be adopted.
without passing upon any resolutions whatever
and after comforting with Senator Thurman,
the chairman of the Senate caucus commit.
tee, it decided to postpone all further
consideration of the question at issue
until tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock. at which
time joint meeting will be held with the Senate
committee and definite action will probably be
taken, the nature of which will be reported to
Joint caucus Of the democratic members Of each
House. Although the time for holding the caucus
has not yet been announced 1t is thought by men,
bers Of the House that it will be held on Monday or
Tuesday Messrs. Springer, Carlisle and Reagan
we're appointed subcommittee on the part Of the
House committee to prepare bill for consideration
It the joint meeting tomorrow, embodying
provisions for the repeal of certain por-
lions of the federal election laws and such
provisions the sub-committe, may consider de-
sirable to enact in connection with the proposed
peal in the majority shall determine that it is
not advisable to adhere to the original programme
of passing the Appropriation bills precisely in tho
form far regards the political clauses in which
they were passed by tho House last session.
The subcommittee this afternoon completed
comprehensive measure. based mainly upon Mr..
Epringers suggestions, the principal features Of
which are as follows
1t proposes to repeal sections 2O20 to 20T inclu
sve also section a0sl OF tho Revised Statutes of
the United States, and to modify section 2O2S by
providing that person shall be appointed super
visor who is not resident Of the precinct in which
he is to serve.
The sections to be repealed are those which
and of deputy marshals for special service at
elections.
The appointment Of two supervisors of different
politics to in merely testimonial capacity Is
not interfered with by this bill.
It is provided that supervisors OF elections who
may BIO prevented from performing their duties
shall report the facts to the judge Of the nearest
United States Court, to be by him laid before the
proper Grand Jury.
Regulations are prescribed to prevent any impair
ment Of the secrecy of ballots, requiring them to be
Of uniform size and to be printed on plain white
paper, &c.
The bill proposes to repeal the sections which now
permit the presence Of troops at the polls under
certain circumstances and to substitute for them
substantially the British law the subject. which
prohibits soldiers bcing stationed at any point nearer
than two miles from the polls to go to them ex-
sept for the purpose of voting, in which they
must Immediately afterward return to their station.
The bill will also cmbody repeal of the jurors
test oath provisions of the existing law.
1t is believed by Mr. Springer that the President
will approve separate bill Of this character and
that the threatened deadlock on the appropriation
bills may thus be wholly averted.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE sENAToRsHIP.
The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections
this afternoon heard the Hon. Charles H. Bell and
Senator Rollins. Of New Hampshire. on the argument
supporting the validity of the formers appointment
by the Governor to fill the New Hampshire vacancy
In the Senate After some informal disc ussion on
the part Of the members of the committee the fur
thcr consideration Of the subject was postponed
until next Tuesday.
rHE RESTORATION OF MAJOR RUNKLE TO THE
ARMY-REPoRT OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY
CoMMIrTEE-uNLAwFuL ACTION OF THE
PRESIDENT.
report has now been printed which was pre-
sentcd to the Senate by Mr. Edmunds in the closing
hours of the last session. stating tho conclusions
reached by the Judiciary Committee az the result of
the investigation ordered by the Senate. on motion
Of Mr. Conkling, in regard TO the Presidents alleged
unlawful restoration Of Major Benjamin p. Runkle
10 the army.
This case, which attracted much attention year
or moro ago, involved two important questions
Frst-whcther the President of the United States
has authority to convene general courts martial
Second-whether tho Presidents own signature to
the approval of sentence dismissing officer from
the army necessary to give effect to the dismissal
In the case Of Runklc. in many others which pre-
coded It, tho signature of the Secretary of War
the only atestaon of the approval of the President
and his restoration to rank and back pay upon this
ground. IL legally established precedent, would
therefore have very extensive bearing. Tho con-
illusions OF the committee are as folows-
The committee arc of the opinion that Benjamin
y. Hunkie was regularly tried anu sentenced by the
court martial named In the papers. and that the
tenre OF the court duly. eec tuaIy reg and
lawfully approved by the President OF the United
States and that In consequence thereof the said
Runkle was lawfully dismissed the army of the
United states. lnasmuch the law does not
authorize the President to place private citizen In
tho army ao an officer without the advice aud con-
sent Ut the Senate; and inasmuch the said Runklo
restored to the army by an Executive order made
without such advice consent, 10 follows that his
restoration was not warranted by law, and that the
public money paid to him IN salary or arrears OF
salary have been paid without authority OF law and
that said Runkle has not become by force OF said
order Of restoration lawful officer in the army and
that he has no valid legal claim for pay compen-
sation rs such.
Tho papers and documents connsctcd with tho
history of the case and the evidence taken by tho
committee made part of this report.
The Judiciary Committees report Is in full &C.