Year: 1879

the House of Representatives to-day
Immediately after the reading of the
Presidents message vetoing the bill
making appropriations for judicial ex-
penses of the government, developed
the fact that there were three distinct
propositions entertained by the majority
as the most practicable to be pursued.
The one having apparently the largest
number of supporters contemplated a
resolution fixing the time for adjourn
ment sine die, and that another bill, iden-
teal in its provisions with the vetoed
measure, be passed and sent 10
the President, and if heshould again re-
turn it without his approval, adjourn
and permit the bill to fail. A second
proposition was to pass the joint reso-
luton extending until next January APP
preparations on the basis of the present
act, providing for the judicial expenses,
with the proviso that no portion OF the
money thus appropriated shall be used
for the payment OF deputy marshals or
supervisors OF elections, and in the event
of the non-approval OF the President TO
adjourn sine die, and il he should issue
proclamation reconvening Congress, TO
repeat this action. The third PROPOSE
tion favors adjournment without fur
ther attempt to meet the views OF the
President. This line OF action was not
favorably entertained but by few. The
Democratic party of the House, how
ever, appear TO stand as a unit against
supporting any bill which will permit
the continuance of deputy marshals and
supervisors of elections.


A cabinet officer to-day in discussing
the situation with member OF the
House said that if the majority should
again pass a bill similar to the one just
vetoed, the President would return it
without his signiture, and if Congress
should adjourn he would call them
together again the next day, but il they
should third time send him the bill
and adjourn, he would not reconvene
them, and thus throw the responsibility
of closing the courts on the Democratic
party.


Democratic Caucus


The Democratic members of the SEN
ate assembled in caucus Immediately
after adjournment of that body this
afternoon, and remained in consultation
about three hours. The purpose OF the
conference was to decide on a line Of
policy concerning to-day's veto OF the
judicial expenses appropriation bill
and the collateral question of adjourn
ment. Mr.. Vest was the first speaker.
He took the ground that the issue pre-
sented by the last veto message could
properly be met by the Democratic
majority in only one way, viz: by the
prompt adjournment OF both houses.
The dominant party had done their best
TO provide for the needs of the public
service, had offered the President all the
necessary appropriations for judicial
expenses upon fair terms, and were un-
der no obligation to do anything more.


Mr.. Wallace subsequently delivered
an earnest speech, taking the same
view as Mr.. Vest and supporting the
resolution offered by the latter in favor
of the immediate termination OF the
present session without making fur
ther attempt to provide for court ex-
penses before the regular session next
winter.


Mcdonald, Bayard, Thurman and
Hill opposed this proposition with en-
phasis, and in the course Of their
speeches, all OF which were of consider
able length, insisted that such
course would be unwise and I'M
warranted. They agreed with
the speakers on the other side that the
Presidents veto Of the bill was based
upon a strained objection, the existing
law which prohibits contracts in advance
Of appropriations being in substance
a prohibition against incurring liabili-
ties for purposes not provided for by
the bill, but they pointed out that for
this very reason the Democrats should
not strenuOusly adhere TO a clause
which the President declared obnoxious
10 his convictions OF duty, while they
themselves did not consider it material.
They also argued that it would be
highly unwise to throw away the sub
stantial benefits which would inure TO
the country from the final enact
ment OF those sections OF the
bill which provide for important
amendments OF jury laws and for the
total abolition OF the jurors test oath.
To these sections the President had no
objection, although the Republicans OF
both Houses had solidly opposed them,
and it was also 10 be borne in mind, said
the Senators, that the President, while
vetoing the present bill on account OF
only one OF its provisions, had at the
same time taken position at variance
with an influential portion OF his own
L, tlo hill


Messrs. Butler, Maxey, Morgan, PEN
dleton, Eaton, Beck and Hampton made
brief remarks in opposition to the idea
of adjOurning without further efforts TO
provide for necessary appropriations.
Several of the speakers, including
Senator'S Bayard, Thurman, Hill, Butler
and Hampton, took the ground in the
| broadest possible language that the adj
| journment Of Congress without provid-
ing for the support of every branch OF
public service would be utterly unjusti-
| fable and indefensible. IL was, how
ever, agreed on all hands that no money
should be appropriated for the payment
| of deputy marshals of elections.


At the close Of the discussion Mr..
| Vests resOlutionin in favor OF the adjourn
mtll VI NOllEiC6SS NlNlOut pdonihE an
other appropriation bill, was rejected by
an overwhelming majority, having re-
ceived only 3 or votes. A resolution
was then adopted by vote Of 20 to z,
directing the caucus advisory committee
in conjunction with the advisory com
mittee OF the House caucus, to prepare
a bill for passage through Congress be-
fore adjournment, in such terms as will
obviate the objections OF the President,
and secure its enactment into law.
The foregoing is not given in the exact
language OF the resolution, but it en-
bodies its purport and meaning. No
/ specific instructions were given 10
the committee, but it is inferred
that the clause Of the second
section upon which the President
based his veto will be entirely stricke en-
oul, andit is probable also that the items
of appropriation contained in the first
section will be made still more specific
ally in detail. The two advisory COM
mittees will hold a joint meeting to-
| morrow.


The seven votes against the resolu-
/ .f,r ,,ro,-iI linz To- tho Y.acGao,a ~ a ,,