Daily Kennebec journal., 1877-01-18
WASHINGTON.
Electoral Vote.

NEW YORK, January II. The Worlds Wash
idgton despatch says the main feature agreed up
on BY the JOINT committees on counting the elec.
toral votes is that tribunal of arbitration to be
composed of the first five judges of the supreme
court, to be selected in the order Of their length
Of service on the bench. To this arbitration is to
be referred all questions of law and equity arising
out OF the contested returns for decision as to
! aii'eh ~ the proper return to be counted. This
decision power is not to be fna but is to be left
to the revision Of congress.
Examination.
W. L. Chandler was before the committee on
privileges and elections TO day. He testified that
he had sent kilograms South In none of them
bad he promised money or the support Of troops
lie acknowledged that while in Tallahassee he be
came counsel for the governor of Florida, and
other republican candidates for congress and
electors.
Question-While in Florida did you receive any
letters or kilograms from any mNu ,t .e m
tlonal committee, in which n.cAtlyu was lad of
money or troopsi
Answer-l ought not to answer without con-
sent of my clients whom | will advise TO give me
permission TO answer.
The committee insisted upon an answer, but
Chandler declined, and also declined to say wheth-
er he sent kilograms from Florida to anv member
of the national committee mentioning money or
troops.
=. Witness said he was not certain that a letter to
heough produced yesterday was actually sent to
that gentleman. lie thought many of the tele-
grams were Known TO Chandler aud Gov. McCor-
mick, and that he (witness) dictated all on one.
lhe committee considered the decnation of
Chand Ter to answer questions and although no
formal action was taken, IT seems certain they will
report the case 10 the house tomorrow, to compel
him to answer or be punished for contempt.
Telegraphic.
The special committee on powers and privileges
OF the house in regard to the presidential ques
20 lnx Il 81. Il.
mon ali the members OF the executive committee
of the Western Union telegraph company to up.
pear before the committee.
Expenditures.
Secretary Morrill, was to-day before the house
committee on expenditures of the treasury de-
Partment in compliance with their request to fur
nlsh information regarding the work of the print
ing bureau.
His testimony was in substance that under the
act of Congress directing him to have the engrav-
lug and printing Of revenue stamps, ETC., done by
the bureau instead of by bank note company, in
case it could be done as cheapy, he had the ques-
tlon carefully Investigated by experts, who re-
ported 1t could be performed cheaper in New
York than by the department. He therefore con-
unued the bank note company's contracts for
preparing revenue stamps, and brought TO Wash
lngton the work OF printing the national currency
In order to avoid dlschaiging large number OF
bureau employees, this class Of wolk being done
here to equal advantage.
Internal Revenue.
The receipts from internal revenue to-day were
S2ol ,S9l tiom customs Si3l ,llS.
Reunion.
The officers of the late confederate army are 10
have reunion in Washington, on Friday.
Cabinet Meeting.
1n the cabinet meeting yesterday it was gener-
ally the opinion regarding the Packard movement
that they had done nothing requiring the federal
government to render decision. The theory of
the constitution is that state government must
exhibit itself unable to resist the antrgonisic pow
or before the general government steps in that il
the rights are not worth defending they are not
worth enjoying.
The Election Committee.
The senate and house committee on counting
the electoral vote, this evening agreed upon ie-
port which will be signed tomorrow by all the
members OF both committees, except Senator Nor
ION and possibly one democratic member Of the
house.
The tribunal for the decision of controverted
questions will be tripartite, one branch of which
will be composed OF five justices of the United
States supreme court. How these judges are to
be selected, or how the senate and house branches
OF the tribunal will be constituted, is not known
but 1t can be positively stated that the element OF
chance Will not enter in any way into the forma-
tion of the tribunal. Its members are to take a
special oath TO decide the questions according to
the constitution of the United States and the laws
in pursuance thereof.
On inquiry OF the members Of the committees
tonight, II is learned that all of them pledged
themselves not to speak of the details of the pro-
posed plan for counting the electotoral vote.