The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-02-15
THE ELECTORAL BILL.


Text OF the Biii ms n Passed the Senate.
After an all night session devoted to
debate, the senate on the twenty.ffth
passed the joint committees electoral
bill by the overwhelming vote of AZ to
l7-m0re than twO.thirds.
On the 26th the house passed the bill
by vote OF 19l to Sc.
First-lt is Il temporary measure designed
for the settlement Of questions at issue in
the present complication only, and not in.
tended as rule to govern future electoral
counts.
Sccond-The time for beginning the elec.
toral count is changed from February IA to
February |.
Third--The two houses meet in the hall Of
the house of representatives as heretofore,
and everything pretending to be a certificate
is opened by the president of the senate aud
handed to the telers,of which there are four,
two from each house, the certificates being
opened in alphabetical order of the states,
beginning with the letter A,
Fourth-When certificate has been read
the president of the senate calls for objeC.
tions, which must be in writing and argued
by at least one senator and one representa-.
wv NHClntT llCIt Ut OIlll DHt VI lND re-
turns from the state, in the case of which OBJ.
lection is made.
Fifth-lf there is only one return, the sen.
ate withdraws and the objections are cOnsid-
cred in the following manner:
!. The presiding officers state the objec.
tlons, and each senator and representative
may speak ten minutes and not ofteuer than
once, but the main question shall be put ai.
Ser two hours debate.
II. A recess may be taken until ten o'clock
next day, pending the consideration of any
objection, and the house may transact leg.
islative business while waiting the action of
the other on objections.
Ill. When the two houses have voted they
Immediately meet again, and the presiding
officers announce Their decisions
~. II both concur in the objection il is
sustained, and if they disagree it is over.
ruled.
SNth--If there are two returns the obicc.
tions are referred to n commission, whose
composition and mode of action are thus
stated
|. Each of the houses elect five members
by viva vOce vote on January 30, and the
associate justices of the supreme court as.
signed to the following districts, first tius.
tice Clilord), third Oustice Strong) eighth
(iustice Millerl and ninth (iustice Field
choose fifth justice, who with themselves
will form part of the commission.
II. The oldest justice (Cliford) presdes
over the commission and administers spec.
ial oath to its members to impartially exam
inc and to consider all questions.
III. 1t is not in the power of either hous
to dissolve the commission or withdraw any
e 20 ~ tl,o,, |
by the death or inability to act of any Of thei
respective members, and the remaining juS
tees in the same manner replace any of tn,
Justices if vacancy arises among them iron
the same causes.
". The commission is given the same
powers, now possessed by the two houses act
ing separately or together, to decide upCr
the electOrll votes, and submits its decision
IN writing to the two houses which there
upon meet again in Joint session.
V. The counting of the votes proceed il
conformity with the decision of this commits
sion, unless, upon objection made to it il
writing signed by five senators and repre-
sentatves, the two houses ConCurrently or
der otherwise.
Seventh the certificates being opened
and read in the alphabetical order OF states
when objection is made to the vote of any
state, no other certificate is opened until the
objections are acted upon and finally dis
posed OF.
Eighth-While in Joint session no debate
is permitted, and no motion, except to with
draw, allowed. Debate can only be had in
separate session, already specified, and ad
journment only as provided when the two
houses are considering objections.
Al. y Al u l.