New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-13
THE COUNT IN PROGRESS.


THE COUNT IN PROGRESS.
THE SENATE KEPT WAITING FOR HoURs-IMPREs-
sIvR SCENES IN IHE JOINT CONvENIIoN-AMUs-
ING BLCNDERs OF A TELLER
10y TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.
WAsuIyGToN Feb. 12-Presldent Ferry holds the
Senate down TO the Electoral law, ruling that after
a report from the Commission has been acted upon
no business whatever is in order except to JON the
House and proceed with the count. To-day the
Senate assembled at 10 o'clock, and was nomlnally
in session doing nothing until nearly 2 Notice that
the House was ready TO receive it did not come
until that time. Mr. Ferry occupied the chair dur
ing those four tedious hours writing letters and read
ing NEWSPAPERS Most of the Senators retreated to
their commttee-roOms to seek the solace OF sofas
and cigars Those who remained worked at their
correspondence, read novels which had been oD-
tanned from the library, or gossped over the poilt-
ical situation All seemed to feel II as relief when
the tardy message came at last from the other WING
After the House had reached its decision as to
Florida the Senate was Immediately informed, ana
at % minutes after that body appeared at the par
Of the House. Its members filed down the main
aisle and off into their seats on the Speakers front
and right. The Vice-President called the JOINT Con-
vention to order and directed the announcement OF
the decision of each house. Upon these he ruled
10 the action of Florida its vote would be counted IN
accordance with the decision of the Commission
The Senate had never been received III greater
silence or under more impressive circumstances anu
vet all this seemed If it possible 10 be deep
ened as Senator Allison, acting as teller announced
the four votes of Florida for Hayes and Wheeler.
The certificates of Georgia were now read the
oppressive quiet continuing until Mr.. COOK Oh
Georgia had read down to the date Of the certificate
when instead OF the year of our independence the
one hundred and first, he announced 1t as dated In
the one thousand and first year OF our independence
At this excuse to free itself from the universal quiet
the Joint Convention and the audience had hearty
laugh, which was repeated when Mr.. Cook further
announced that Georgia had IL votes for Iilden
for yice-President Illinois followed Georgia
Every one expected that Mr.. Springer would present
objections TO a count of its vote which he had pre-
pared and that the two houses could not reassembe
before o'clock. Mr.. Springer, however, sat still
with papers on his desk, and the vote was counted
Ii appears that Mr.. Chafee, whom Mr.
Springer claimed to be ineligible, had ar
rived and shown that he had exercised no
official act as United States Commissioner for many
years. So even Mr.. Springer was deferred from
making himself prominent at the expense of the
time Of the Joint Convention. When this expected
dead point had been passed the business largely
"a
ouiet were quite at their ease, many reading OF
writing OF talking in low tones, until II came Mr.
Cooks t11rn 10 read returns again. He went through
the Kentucky certificate without mistake, but when
directed by the Vice President To declare the VOTE
be announced that Kentucky cast seven votes for
Tilden and being corrected declared 1t to be II
votes. and finally getting it right under some
nrornntinp amid general laughter, he announced
that Tilden had received II votes from Kentucky.
Next came the vital returns from Louisiana.
They were listened to with care ty both sides AT
the close of the reading OF the returns, all apPar-
entity regular. which had been received both by
messenger and mail, Mr.. Ferry presented one re-
ceived only by mail but regularly Endorsed as the
vote of the Electoral College Of Louisiana. Suspect
inc If TO be bogus Mr.. Ferry asked for unanimous
consent that it might not be read. wary Demo
GRAFT objected. Upon breaking It's seal 1t appeared
ON reading to be a broad burlesque return WIN
little regard to FORM claiming the vote oil LOUISIANA
for Cooper and Cary by college made up OF John
Smith No. l. John Smith No. 2, &c. and pur-
nortipg TO be certified by the Great Order oil
Bulldozers 1t was broad and stupid farce In
iected into proceedings Of the greatest gravity ana
moment Both Democrats and Republicans al
,emnted 70 stop it's reading, but MIR Ferry ruled
that the law made il imperative that all certificates
received should be read. 1t might be suspended by
rnann,ous consent since its spurious character was
annarent Ia ALI: but upon asking for consent MI
Mills of Texas. on the Democratic sde objected and
the paper was read through, IN spIte OF the laugh
which il caused in all quarters. There was uni
yersaI feeling that it was gross VIOLATION Oh the
privileges of the Joint Convention ana an ACT Nhcn
deserved severe punishment. No present Gle" is
given BY the face of the papers 70 thc perPcuAsS,
but il is more than probable that the nsugatorS OF
the stupidity and the Insult will yet be called to ac-
count for il. Upon the receipt of objections the
case of this State was sent to the Commission ana
the two houses separated to await It's CONFEDERATION
and determination
On returning from the joint meeting at 43o,
Senators expressed in conversation much satisfao-
ton that the fractions and uncertain House had
permitted substantial progress to be made IN the
direction of completing the count II is believed III
Republican circles that the reason why the Demo-
Gratis dld not to-day carry out their SATURDAYS plan
of obecting to the vote Of the ineligible elector Ia