The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-03-01
The Trtparttte Commission.

The Electoral Commission held meeting
at four o'clock ON the afternoon of Febru-
ary 20, pursuant to adjournment, and after
a recess assembled again at half-past six
o'clock. The Commission was in session
altogether for three quarters of an hour.
Justice Fields motion on the Louisiana
case, which had been omitted from the
record by mistake, was ordered to be in
serted. The question of publishing the
opinions of the Commission On the various
points submitted was discussed, and an in
formal understanding was reached that all
the opinions of all the members should be
published together in one number of the
Congressional Record after the work of the
commission is finished. This publication
will be made early in March. The members
of the commission accordingly decline to
furnish any of their opinions for publica-
ton in advance of this date. The commits
sion adjourned to meet tomorrow afternoon,
when it is expected the Oregon case will be
ready for its action.
The Electoral Commission met at one
o'clock, February 81, all the members
present. The President laid the papers re-
ceived from the two houses before the Com
mission, and on motion of Mr.. Abbott they
were ordered printed. The papers were
then read by the Secretary.
Judge Clifford asked who appeared as
objectors on the two sides. Senator Kelly
announced that himself and Mr.. jerks
would appear as objectors to Certificate
No. l, and Senator Sargent announced that
Senator Mitchell and Mr.. Lawrence would
appear as objectors to Certificate No. 2.
| Mr.. Kelly asked an order for the produc-
| ton of the commission and resignation of
Watts from the Postofice Department, and
also that Senator Mitchell and Mr.. Watts
might be subp@naed as witnesses. Judge
| Clifford asked if the witnesses were within
reach.
Senators Mitchell said they were both in
the room. The orders in both cases were
granted, and at the request of Senator Kelly,
who was to open for the objectors, recess
of half an hour was taken to allow him to
| procure the necessary books, etc.
| The Commission was called to order again
at 2:10 o'clock, and was addressed on behalf
of the Democrats by Senator Kelly, Repre-.
sentative jerks, and Judge Hoadly, who
argued the Commission had excluded the
evidence in the Florida and Louisiana Gases
because it was without Judicial power, and
said without the exercise of judicial power
you can not deprive Tilden and Hendricks oi
one vote cast for them in Oregon. Without
exercise of judicial power you can not award
it to Hayes and Wheeler.
Senator Mitchell and Mr.. Lawrence pre-
sented objections on behalf of the Republic
cans, arguing that there was no law in
Oregon authorizing the Governor to certify
minority candidate elected, and that the
major part of electors present is a quorum
Stanley Matthews opened the argument
when the Commission met on February %
and spoke for nearly two hours in opposi.
ton to the Cronin certificate. He said thai
the law of Oregon required that the votes fol
Electors should be given, received, returned
and canvassed, the same as for members oi
Congress; and in the case of members oil
Congress, it was made the duty of the Secre
tary OF State to canvass the votes
and there the statutory directions
end. The statute in relation to Elec
tors further provided that the Secretary
of State should certify two lists, showing
who had received the highest number O.