The Hartford herald., 1880-03-31
Washington Letter.

HItS>llltil III NUltil ItRfftfi StNtTdl
weeks ago, that it Is necessary To make
some provision at this session for count
ing the electoral vote, has developed
into a disposition toact. The position
and desperate iemhcr of the ltepubli-
can leaders AT this time Is sufficient
to convince the most innocent and con-
fiding Democrat that the height of po-
litical unwls,iom would he To leave the
matter where it was in the last contest,
with the chances that under the direc-
ton oi Cameron and Conkling, the
PRESIDENT of the Senate would assume
10 declare the result in his own way,
anu make President To suit himself
ana party. This is what the Radicals
st out 10 do the last time, before the
Electoral Commission was created, and
it is what they would undertake to do
next winter, in spite of Congress unless
there is more definite legislation than
now exists.
Nevertheless, the position is not with
out difficulties to the Democrats. Any
measure they might adopt, however
fair and impartial, would be denounced
by the Republicans rs u partisan scheme
to ''seize the Presidency" and any bill
passed that did not give the Republic
by the fraud who sits in seat to which
another was elected. The thieves who
have stolen the Office once are exceed
ingly nervous and full of suspicion.
Under the circumstances the most
available and mobjectiOnable course for
the Democrats seems to be the re-en-
actment of the 32nd Joint Rule framed
by the Republicans when they had both
L lint /
ed by the Radical Senate when the
Democrats came in possession of the
House. This rule provides for II joint
session of the two Houses, the appoint
ment of tellers, to whom the certifi-
Gates are handed when opened by the
President of the Senate, and for II sepa-
rate vote of each House upon the ac-
ceptance of any vote to which there is
objection. Under it both Houses must
concur to count the vote of u State OBJ
jected to. 1t would thus he in the pow
er of Congress to reject votes deemed
fraudulently or irregular, just as the
Republican Congress rejected several
States i'm 1869 and 1873. Yet the Radi-
cal soul is much narrowed up at the
thought of Democratic Congress
adopting one of its own rules, and fol-
IL appears to be not only revolutions
ary," but Unreasonable" for Democrats
to do those things which were 'emi-
nently wise and patriotic" when done
by their opponents:
Several remarkable bills for the bene-
fit of the soldiers of the late war have
been introduced during the present ses-
sion, among them the now widely
known Weaver bill and the Singleton
bill, which proposes to give to each Of
ficer and soldier land warrant, or 500
| i'm lieu of it. Another, which provides
| tor an enormous increase of the num-
Der of pensioners, has been introduced
| in the House by Mr.. Fort. 1t author
izes and directs the Secretary of the In
terror 'to place upon the pension-roles,
| subject to all general laws and regula-
tions, the names of all persons who
served as officers or enlisted men in the
Army or Navy of the United States,
| including Militia and volunteers, for
100 DAYS or more, or who participated
\ in any battle, although they may have
served less than 100 days, during any
of the wars i'm which the United State $
have been engaged, including engage
ments with hostile Indians, and actions
of vessels of the Navy on the seas !;
and who have or may, from any reason
other than by their own wrong act or
acts, become physically disabled or
mentally incapacitated to labor or to
gain livelihood for themselves, and
who have no means of support" This
might well be called a bill for the estab-
lishment of national alms-housc. 1t
is the general impression, however, that
/ i'm the race in which Messrs. Weaver,
Singleton, and Fort are contestants,
Mr.. Weaver is still ahead. Ii only re-
mains for one of these gentlemen to IN
troduce bill giving a pension, $500,
and farm to each man who served his
country during the rebellion. The
| Democrats have done great deal for
soldiers of the late war since they came
into power in Congress. 1t may be
said that the provisions made are not
alone Just, but liberal, and while this is
highly proper, there ought to he Il limit
somewhere, to legislation on the subject.
The authors of these new measures
have simply their own political glory in
view.
The Senate has passed the Star
Route deficiency bill as ii came from
the House, except with few additions
of small amounts. This disposition
shown by some Senators To whitewash
the action of the Post Office Depart
ment, or of Assistant Post Masters Gen.
eral Brady, is to be regretted. Ii is to
be accounted for on the ground of local
interests where these routes exist, yet
it seems a mistaken idea of such inter
ests that must cOuntenance unlawful
exercise of authority. Senators Wal
lace and Beck stated the case in nut
shell and put the responsibility where
it belongs, and that is at the door of tn,
Post OfficeDepartment. ThePOst Master
General was given all the money ht
asked for this service, and it was very
large amount. He spent all that w't'
given him, and then, having made con
tracts without the shadow of legal all
thority, came to Congress with Il re
l quest, or, more accurately speaking, ,
demand, that it should foot bills to th'
amount of two millions of dollars, ant
condone his Offense. The recitation d
these facts, with II distinct recognition
of the illegal conduct of the department
are properly made n part of the bill jus
past. Otherwise II dangerous preccden
will have been set. And when the ap
preparation has been made it is TO b
hoped that the offending officials wh'
first violated the law and then attempt
, ! ed to bull-doze the House of Represen
tatiyes i'm to sanction of their crim
will be called to account i'm more Sc
riOuS way.
There is a revival of the report tina
| I the New York World is TO be shortl.
: brought out as Grant organ. A well
> informed journalist stated to me yester
slay that there was good reason To eX