The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-27
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, JAM &c. 1878.
REPORT OF HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE BEST
MODE OF ELECTINo THE PRESIDENT AND VICE
pnEs1DENT-A PLURALITY OF VOTERS TO RULE
AND THE SUPREME COURT TO FRY CONTESTS
REFORM OF THE ELECTORAL. COLLEGE,
The House Committee on Elections made a re.
port to-day as to the best and most practicable
mode OF electlng the President and Vice
President OF the United States and pro.
viding tribunal to adjust and decide
all contested questions connected Herewith.
The committee give some considerations
In opposition to the existing provisions of the
constitution and their Workings. The present
system makes the convention or caucus system
indispensable, because the individual voter
cannot give ele't to his vote unless there are
others In the particular State or locality who
VIII meet and nominate an electoral ticket
for which he can vote. The election under the
present system Is an election by the States.
Under the present apportionmcnr the electoral
votes or ten, or less than one-tnird OF
the States may decide the contest
There Is an inherent injustice and
unfairness now existing 1t had It's origin in the
Idea Of preserving the equality of the States in the
selection OF a Chief Magistrate and OF protecting
the smaller States in their rights but Instead OF
this the election Is controlled by some one Of
the larger States. An Illustration OF this is
found in the case OF the election OF President In
1874, when the small vote of 5000 given in New
York to Mr.. Birney resulted In giving
the whole electoral vote OF that state to
MI. Polk and electlng him over MIR. Clay
The proposition Of the committee involves
a radical change in the mole OF election, and
dispenses entirely with what the committee have
sought to show was the useless machinery OF
Presidential elections and electoral colleges The
amendment proposed secures the election OF
President and Vice President by O direct
vote of the people aud looks TO vote of the peo-
pie BY districts equal In number to the Repre-
sentatives to which he State may be entitled In
Congress, to be composed OF contiguous territory
and to be as nearly equal in population as may be.
congress Is to have power to provide for con.
Quoting the election OF the President and Vice
President, and the States are to be divided into
districts by the legislatures thereof out Congress
may at any time by law make or alter the same.
The returns Of the election shall be made to the
Supreme Court OF the United states within thirty
days after the election, and that Court shall,
under such rules as Congress may adopt,
or such as the Court In the absence
OF law may adopt, determine any contest In re-
spect Of such returns, canvass the same and de.
clare within ninety days after the election by pub
lie proclamation who are elected President and
Vice President.
The person having the highest number OF Presi-
dental votes shall be President, and so or the
Vice President. This substitutes what is known
as the plurality rule for the majority rule.
II the plurality system be adopted and
the people vote directly for President and
Vice President, every voter casts lis vote with
a full knowledge that the candidates receiving
the highest number OF votes viii be declared
elected, and this takes awav the Inducements to
scatter the vote and throw the election into the
House as under the present system. The Electo-
raj Colleges may be chosen by plurality vote
as there Is no provision in law in any OF
them that the electors shall! have q majority
OF all the votes cast in the State The report Is
signed by Representative Harrison, and the Com.
mittce authorize the making OF 1t without commit
ting themselves to the reasoning of the report as
to the powers OF the Senate and House In the
counting OF the electoral vote under the existing
nrovsions NJ the constitution.