The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-26
THE ELECTORAL BILL.
What the President Has to
Say of 1t. .
Prospects of the Measure in the House.

dent Ferry had lengthy conference
with the President last evening on the
subject Of the Presidential Compromise
Bill. The Vice President having paid
close attention to the arguments pro and
con. during the short but earnest debate
which characterized its consideration,
was well qualified TO speak fully and
authoritatlvely OF the bill in order that
the President might be fully advised OF
the Interpretation put on those portions
of the bill which have been most fruitful
Of controversy.
He made a very full explanation in
view of the lact that The bill will in all
probability pass the House as it came
from the Senate. This information Was
timely thought on the part OF
of the Vice President, as it will enable
the President to give his approval 10
the bill without the delays incident to
thorough examination of it's details him
self. Inc Vice President said that
the construction in regard to the re-
turns was that the tribunal or arbitra-
ton could not go back OF them, but sim
ply to take them as they stood, and
Spread the record of the vote
ol u State. In support OF this view it
was stated that Edmands was very
careful in framing this portion of the bill
atiirmatiYely.
The President observed that this
agreed with his copstructiOn OF the bill,
from its careful reading, when submit
ted; for were it in the power of the
tribunal TO go back of the returns 1t
would open an interminable subject OF
contest and controversy, which would
preclude, Ill his opinion, q detelmina-
Iion Of the question within the limit OF
the present session of Congress, alter
which there would be no other alterna-
tive than for the President OF the Senate
to assume Executive power until new
election can be held, either under the
provisions of the act OF 1892 OF in &C
cordance with special legis alton enacted
by a called session OF The FOrty-1tth
Congress.
The President expressed himself as
very confident that result would be
declared which would be in harmony
with the will OF the people as indicated
in q fair expression OF their choice oil his
successor for the next fOur years. The
President said the result declared by
the tribunal would have to be accepted
as satisfactory by all parties, and in
that sense would lead to an amicable
settlement OF the Presidential Contro-
versy. Although he did not believe in
departure from old and tried forms, this
eme rgency demanded quick and effect.
ual remedies, whicn, 10 thought, wa re :a
was his present intention to act upon
the measure at the earliest moment alter
it reached his hands Tor executive ap-
provai.
NEW YORK, Jan. 26.-A Herald special
from Washington says that a careful
canvas of the House shows that II MEM
bers will oppose the Compromise Bill
and l65 will vote for it, the remaining
members being absent or preferring not
to state their intentions. All the col
ored members, and in fact most OF the
Southern Republicans will vote against
it,. OF the II members opposing it 59
are Republicans. Foster is the only Ohio
Republican in favor of the measure,
while several Democrats are against 1t.
The Republicans OF Indiana and llll-
nois oppose it. also the Maine delega-
ton, except Burleigh. The Pennsyl,-
yania Republicans are also nearly united
in their opposition. The bill has In tne
House two-thirds in its favor.
Another Washington special to the
Herald gives the following as the proba-
bic composition of the Commissions
Supreme Court Judges-Nathan Cliff
| ford, OF Maine; Samuel f. Miller, Iowa;
Stephen j. Field, California; William
Strong, Pennsylvania; Joseph T. Brad
ley, New Jersey.
Senators-Roscoe Conkling, Of New
York; F. Il. Frelinghuysen, New Jer-
sey; Thomas L. Bayard, Delaware; AL
len G. Thurman, OHIO.
RepresentatiVes-Jos G. Abbott,
Massachusetts; ID. Dudley Field, New
York; j. A. McMahon, Ohio; George E
Hoar, Massachusetts,; George W. Nc
Crary, Iowa.
The complement of position on the
Commission will be offered to Mr..
Payne, as Chairman of the House
branch of the Joint Committee, but 1t
is likely he will not accept. BY this Sc
lection New York will have two mem.
bers OF the Commission and Ohio two,
so that the geographical equalization
will be preserved as between Tl!den
and Hayes.
Discussion in the House To-day
| WASHINGTON, Jan. B-Tne House
met at 10 O'Clock and Immediately re-
sumed consideration of the Electora
Bill.
Mr.. Hooker, OF Mississippi, argued
| against the right of the President of lhe
| Senate to count the vote, and quoted
precedents to sustain his position
with regard to the pending bill he al
lgues that it involves no new idea, thai
It was framed under, and in pursuance
of the Constitution, and that all thai
the House proposed to do was to dele
gate a power which it had a clear au
IIhority to delegate. He thought there
could be no doubt OF the fact, from th'
precedente, that the two Houses mus
participate IN the count, and that they
must not be Mere passive spectators
while the Vice President counts.
MIR. Hartr:dge, of Georgia, argued tina
the bill was perfectly constitutional, ant
/. that the tribunal proposed was on
which would be perfectly fair to all par
Ties, He could not support the bill If
was to be "a permanency, but as a mer
. temporary expedient he believed that
was proper and constitutional. He ha
: never believed that clash OF arm
, would grow out OF the present difficulty
He did not think the American peopl
were anxious or desirous for war, but h
believed that wisdom and moderaio
= would prevail. Constitutional libert
lhad been in as great peril before as
D was now, and he had no apprehension
of the result OF the passage Of his bill
ii MIR. Feuton, of Georgia, had no douI