Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-03-26
Passage Of the Deficiency ApprOpria.
tiOn BilI.

The elections clause in the Deficiency APP
preparation bill was passed in the House last
Friday by a sort of compromise The Dem
ocrats so far withdrew their opposition as to
consent that the appropriation for the pay
ment Of marshals and deputies should be
made and the validity Of the election laws
recognized, with the proviso that all appoint
ments of special deputies of elections shall
be made by judges of the United States
courts in the circuit or district in which such
marshals are to perform their duties, the dep
uties to be taken in equal numbers from the
different political parties. This proposition
is substantially that which was proposed by
Gen. Garfield, and for having done so he was
very severely denounced by many Republ-
cans. Gen. Hawley of Connecticut strongly
opposed the proposition, and Williams of
Wisconsin said that if such plan could be
adopted the Democrats would gain in three
days what they failed to do in the whole ex-
ira session, and that it would be as well to
repeal the whole election law rs to accept
this modification. Gen. Garfield sustained
the concession made by his proposition, and
the bill as so amended passed. The debate
which preceded the passage of the bill was
hotly contested, many Republicans taking
ground, not only against this concession, but
against the principle involvedn the policy of
allowing the accomplishment of partisan leg
islation by means of political riders attached
to appropriation bills
The debate closed with a short speech
from Hon. j. NJ. Tyler of this district, in
which he took strong ground against the bill
because of its deliberate and intentional fail
ure to provide for the payment OF the depu-
ty marshals who have served at elections dur.
ing the past year, This speech was Mr.. Ty-
ler's maiden effort in the House, and it does
him much credit because of its vigor, terse-
ness, and the soundness of the principle in
sisted upon. Mr.. Tyler's remarks were as
follows:
Mr.. Chairman, if the proposition were L.
Ultimately before the House so to amend the
election laws that the special deputy marshalg
should be selected from the different political
parties it would have my approval and vote
but the proposition is not properly here
The bill under consideration has been well
termed the immediate deficiency bill" In
mediate, because it is demanded to meet
government printing office may again be set
in full operation that tens of thousands of
claims pending in the pension office may be
examined and adjudicated; that other def
ciencies in the various departments enumer-
ated IN the bill may be supplied. Now the
plain and imperative duty of Congress is TO
pass bill untrammeled with riders, making
appropriations for these immediate and ur-
gent wants of the government Instead of
so doing the democratic party, which has a
majority in both Houses of Congress. brings !
in this bill with rider upon it proposing to
make radical changes in the election laws,
and in substance declaring that the bill shall !
not pass unless these changes are made. |
There can be no question about the purpose |
of the bill and amendments
By the omission in this deficiency bill of |
any provision for the payment of special dep |
uty marshals who have served at elections
during the last fiscal year we are, of course, |
to understand that it is the determination of |
the majority in this House never to paw those
officers of the government We're there an |
intention ever TO pay them, naturally pro- !
vision TO that effect would be made in this |
bill, But the remarks of the gentleman who |
reported the bill (AIr. McMahon) relieve us |
of all doubt upon this subject, that the dem |
ocratic party never would appropriate money |
for this purpose.
Now / only wish to say that by the decis |
ion of the Supreme Court in the Maryland |
case it is declared that the authority of the |
National government in elections of Repre-
sentatives and presidential electors is para
mount TO that of the States and that Con-
gress has full power and authority given it |
by the Constitution TO vest in the circuit |