Year: 1879

ceIved-ProbAbIe Policy of lhs


Democrats.


WASHINGTON, May 14th. The
reading of the Presidents message
in the House of Representatives
yesterday was listened to with deep
interest and the closest possible at
tention by every member present.
One or two portions were greeted
with derisive laughter, and several
others provoked loud murmurs oil
scornful anger and excitement on
the Democratic eide of the cham
ber, while the Republicans enthu-
siastically applauded four OR five OF
its most striking passages, and
again manifested their unanimous
approval by loud and long contin.
ued hand clapping when the read.
ing was finished. There is much
heated comment in Democratic
circles this evening concerning the
veto. and although all concur In
expressing the opinion that their
party has gained great political ad-
vantage by the Presidents broad
acceptance OF the issue presented
to him, there is, nevertheless,
great diversity of counsel in regard
to the proper course to be pursued
respecting the question of furnish
ing or withholding the customary
appropriations. The sentiment
most largely expressed and appar-
emily most prevalent tonight
among Democratic Representatives
favors persistent refusal to make
any appropriation whatever for the
army until the President yields the
point in dispute; but there is much
reason to believe that this feeling
will soon give way to more reason
able counsels; for, In the first place,
it is more than suspected that at
least a dozen Democratic men,
bers, including Alexander III.
Stephens, Morse, Of Massachusetts,,
and the Texas delegation, would
not adhere to their party colleagues
in such a course, but would pres
emily unite with the Republicans
and Greenbackers in sufficient
force to grant the army appropria-
tions by passing the bill which
came within eight votes Of passage
yesterday. Secondly, it is already
known to be the judgment of o
number of other members of the
Democratic caucus that In q party
point of view it would be extremely
unwise for Congress to adjourn
without voting necessary supplies;
and their counsels are especially
likely to prevail in view of the fact
that it is now conceded ON all
hands that appropriations will be
made for the Legislative, Judicial
and Executive branches of the
Civil Service. 1t is quite probable,
however, that a very determined
and possibly successful effort will
be made to reduce the force of the
army in granting appropriations
for it. This proposition is tonight
advocated not only by some of the
members of the House, but also by
several prominent Democratic Sen
ators, who have heretofore favored
maintaining an army of 25, 900 men
but who now say they will meet
the Presidents defiant arrogation
of the right to use troops in elec-
tions by limiting the mum ber to o
force whose entire presence will be
indispensably necessary on the
frontier,


The Senate, Notwithstanding II
Is certain of veto of the Legis.
lative, Executive and Judicial Ap.
preparation bill, will proceed to
pass it in substantially the same
shape as passed by the House. After
the veto comes, both Houses will
pass its political clauses az separate
bills, aud If they are vetoed, will
either extend last years appropri.
ations until next January or will
pass q new appropriation bill with
items infinitely and specially de.
tailed for all purposes, except the
pay of Election Supervisors and
Deputy Marshals, so as to make the
payment OF these officials impossi.
Bile withoutviolating the law which
prohibits the use of specific appro-
priations for any different purposes.


Meanwhile there Is q growing
feeling among Democrats Of the
Senate to pass a free-coining Sill
yer bill as soop as possible after re-
ceiving one from the House, (Which
probably will be Tomorrow
and to let the President also veto
that. Senator Beck expressed one