Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-01-13
The President OF the Senate.
Prom iIarper's Weekly ,Rep.). Dec. %.

the ELECTORAL votes uT0 very clearly
defined in the Constitution, and they
can not be enlarged beyond the con.
slitutional grant. II has been said
that he may decide what csrtifics 10
open and what 10 reject. By what
authority would he undertake 10 do.
cider Certainly by none granted by
the Constitution. II il said that the
Senate might previously instruct him
how to decide. BY what authorityP
The only constitutional duty OF the
Senate il to he present with tho
House, that the certificates may 10
opened before them. Then il ques-
ton between two certificates arises,
tho two Houses, as wo have said else
where, must Of necessity decide which
is the one duly authorized by tho
State. The Houses may agree in
what manner they will consider the
question. But the President Of the
Senate, as such, has no moro con.
stitutional authority to decide il than
the Speaker Of tho House. At the
counting OF the votes, tho Senate has
no constitutional power which the
House does not share. II in nowhere
implied in the Constitution that eth
n House has power to do anything
out witness the opening and count.
ing, aud Of necessity, as we have
said, to determine, upon constitu-
tional principles, which Of two Ger.
tificates be received on valid.
It is not even provided that the
President Of the Senate shall an.
nounce the result. But this 10 .
nero form which affects nothing.
The person who shall have received
tho greatest number Of votes, il such
number be q majority Of the whole
number of electors appointed. shall
be President, whether any announce
ment to that effect be made or not
made. One of the drollest stories
of the Washington mill is that Sen.
ator Sherman is to have himself elect
ed President of the Senate, SO that
elf no regular declaration OF o Pres.
ident is made" he will be acting
President. He will take pains to
prevent any official declaration either
Of Hayes or Tilden." The Presi-
dent of the Senate has nothing to do
with it. II the votes are counted,
SO many for Hayes, 90 many for
Tilden, anybody who is capable Of
doing sum in simple addition will
know who is the President, whether,
the President of the Senate speaks
or holds his peace. As o matter OF
courtesy, he has generally been the
presiding officer upon such occasions
and announced the vote. But that
is purely ceremonial position. He
is officially President OF the Senate,
directed by the Constitution TO open
tho certificates. There is, however,
no reason for departing from the
usual courtesy. except it be supposed
that he proposes to assume powers
not conferred by the Constitution.
The place for opening the certif-
Gates and counting the votes is not
designated in the Constitution. The
House Of Representatives, which is
the larger and more convenient hall
for the purpose, has been generally,
but not always, selected. The prop
er place, however, is the Senate-chain-
Der; for it 10 the President of the
Senate whom the Constitution APP
points to receive and open the certif-
Gates, and the chamber Of the body
OF which he is the official head 10 OBJ
viously the place in which he should
perform the duty. Moreover, 40 no
place 10 prescribed, and the duty 10
enjoined upon the President Of the
Senate, he may unquestionably ap-
point the place and invite the attend
ance Of both Houses. These are the
details which have been settled with
out difficulty hitherto. and which
should raise no question now. In
deed. nothing but . custom which
is not uniform can be urged in favor
Of the hall Of the House Of Reprsssn-
tatives. The propristy Of the case
clearly designates the Serate-cham.
Der a. the place for counting the vote.
Tho action Of both Houses will be
narrowly watched every moment I'M
til the final proceedings, and what
ever looks like straining . power or
the exercise Of questionable authori-
~ will Be injurious to the side that
attempts il. t6snsibls people, and
they are really the majority this time,
wish TO zee no departure from the &C.
knowlsdgsd forms Of law. The ques-
ton 10 not one Of party, bat Of insti-
tutions. The paramount duty Of the
two Houses ID to agree upon some
rule to govern their action whom the
votes are counted.
CoxPIIxxxfAnr.-The Temperance
Champion, published ct 6aA Jose.
CAL, for January. contains . lsstsr
from Rev. O. v. Anthony, which
pays very handsome compliment 10
the membership Of The Order Of
Champions Of the Red Cross IN this
Territory. and especially 70 ths en-
as~m~~ smA s~>1 - Az N-~S 0~n~>