New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-21
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

TIE ELECTION LAws-THE DEMOCRATIC CHANGES
OF FRoNr-PrNsION- CLAIM AGENTS FoILED-
BRINGING HENDRICKS OUT FOR THE PREsI-
DENCY-REvIvING EXTRA SESSION ISSUES.
The Refunding debate in the House yesterday
was listened to by a small audience. Mr.. Frye
is said to have delivered an able speech. Mr..
Springer says that the Democratic leaders ac-
cepted Mr.. Garfelds amendment to the election
laws to get Republican votes, fearing Demo-
cratic split. Mr.. Hurd bewas the action Of
his party. There is prospect of a strong de-
bate on the subject in the Senate. A Demo
cratic committee attempted to examine the re-
cords of the Pension Office with cain agents as
alleged experts, but Commissioner Bentley, it is
said, refused to allow his records to be exposed
in that way. A Hendricks Club has been
formed at the Capital.
DEMOCRATS AND THE ELECTION LAWS.
MR.. SPRINGER on THE SUDDEN CHANGE OF FRONT
Mr. HURD DIssA1IsFIFD-IHE COMING DEBATE
IN The SENATE - SOME REPUBLICANS NOT
PLEASED WITH TIE SETTLEMENT
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, March 20" What caused the
Democrats to change front suddenly in the
House yesterday" ?" asked TRIBUNE correspondent
of Mr. Springer this afternoon.
1--WE did it to gain n victory replied Alr.
Springer.
Over m-yourseves 2" he was asked.
"We yes; that is about it, You know that
he that ructh his own spirit is greater than he
that taketh n city,. The Democrats gained a vic
tory over themselves. The truth i, were in a
very bad lix. good many of our men were
determined. Notwithstanding the decision of
the Supreme Court, to vote against any
appropriation that would recognize the validity
of the election laws. We believed that enough of
them wouhl hold out to beat any amendment what
ever, so we accepted General Gariefs proposition.
We did 80 expecting that We should thus secure
dozen Republican votes. We were disappointed in
that. IL was The scvcrrst parliamentary struggle
in one respect that ! ever saw. 1t seemed i'm.
possible to hold our party together. | did not
feel safe one moment until the bill was passed and
We had taken mp some ethng else"
Mr. Springer Is a Democrat who believes that the
mandate ot the supreme Court must be recognized,
aud he was one of the most active yesterday in the
efforts 10 hold the Democrats together that
ground Mr. Springer predicts long and severe
struggle over tho bill in the Senate, and confesses
that the prospects are quite gloomy.
Mr. Iurd of OHIO, voted against the bill. The
Frcnisg star of to-day represents him as saying:
The amendment originated with Garfield,
out any previous consideration. The Democrats
who voted for It will regret their action. With re-
gard TO these election laws. the Democrats
had taken two positions: First, that they
would never vote dollar TO enforce
them: and second that the laws were
unconstitutional. We planted ourselves firmly upon
these propositions at the extra session. Nothing
has occurred since to cause any change of these
views. except a decision rendered by the Supreme
Court that the laws are constitutional. Now that
decision is binding only upon the inferior Courts OF
che Judicial Department. 1t is not binding upon
Congress. We are a coordinate branch Of the Gov
eminent, and have the right to determine for our
selves what is constitutional If we had main
tanned our position aud refused to vote any money
to enforce these laws, we would not only have pre-
served our consistency, buf would have prevented
the execution of tie laws. Ii Is the power
of the ruling parry to pay political strikers
with Government money that Goes tHc na!n' al'i
by refusing ~ Appropriate th' money we could
have prevented The appointment of election mar
shal- This amendment does not strike at the root
of tlr evil nj ALL The laws are rs Objectionable aS
ever. The lmc udmcut does EOt restrict the number
uf deputy maT-hlls, or their power 10 do paiti-
san work. Tie Democrats have surrren-
dcrcd, and for whatf Why, for hall the
mnrshas Appointed I'D interfere az elections and II
Democrats are appointed at ALL which DOUBT they
will not br such Democrats a. we want, but men
who Will work for the Repnbllcan party for - u
day. Tho Democrats have. by this amendment,
recognized the law. for they voted money to pay
mar.hals employed last year in California and have
maic i, permanent with all IFS evils. ! am sorry
now that did not speak agalnst It.
Had Blackburn. Knott and myself presented our
reason. for yotlug against II might have de-
lcacd it, Asii is oar only hope is that 1t will be
beaten in the senate
some Of ihr Republican leaders IN the House are
not M all satisfied with the form tins lOng-Standlng
controversy has taken. and ar looh ing to the sen
ntc with quite rs much anxiety ~ the Democrats to
see the Garfield amendment defeated.
IL appears that the sncech of General Ewing
Yesterday, which produced great an effect was
not unprcnrdtatcd. lie was besouGht ON Thursday
afternoon t. maxi it, aud after some hesitation ho
promised to do 80. II Is the only speech he has
made this session. Indeed he has very rarely been
in bis seat since the session began.