The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-11
PRICE TWO CENTS
THE PRESIDENTIAL COUNT.
IMPORTANT AC7ION Br TIE HoUgA
SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

Two Prorositiona Agreed Upon- E In imirs fsH
tue House aii the Powerit has Ever EHsrs
ciscd Over Counting the Electoral votos.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 10.--The following ID
mn accurate statement OF the action thus fec
taken BY the special committee appointed -
inquire Into the powers. privileges. and duties
Of the House OF Representatives in the counting
OF the electoral votes for President and Vice
Presidents
The committee has held three meetings. A
the second meeting Mr.. Tucker OF Virginia pre-.
sented a series OF propositions, in form substane
TALLY as follows:
Conferred w tno Consiitu lion upon the President of tn&
second-That The powor count the electoral vote
eus Ds tne Constitution upon the Senate aoe
the elect raj - ,e s N II the pSwsr TO couns
least, c9ordlnlte and equal with lhe senate.
NJ h Iuat IN me counting OF The electoral vote
sent of the House Of Representatives..
These propositions were discussed by the
committee, and much ability has besa
shown by several Of tho members. TIVE
oil the Republican members. Mr.. BurcharA
OF Illinois and Mr. McDill OF Iowa took ground
N favor OF the rights OF tho President Of the
Senate to count the electoral votes.
Mr: seebe OF Massachusetts,, the other Re.
publican memoer, held that. as the committees
was appointed to consider the function OF the
House OF Representatives In counting thS
.iN'Aoaei Nvte' ~ was no phEt OF us dutf
to rass upon the power Of tho Prosident
OF the senate. lie held that the method o1
counting the electoral votes should DO deter-
mined by n law passed by lncress. Mr. Seeiys
euonitied the following as "a substitute for Mr..
Iuckcrs prOpOtluOns
RsoIrs That the privilege of the House OF Repre-
sonalves to attend with the Senate when the eectora
NoiessIc opened 10 appoint elerss who. connection
with teers appointed by the senate snail register nd
msa,s lais vote ana 70 object tor ANY reason whio&
lhht II Is IN the power of the House OF Kspresuntl
ves, with the concurrence of the Senate TO rejoos
Ihat Is the duty OF the House OF Representative
y accept every properly certified electoral vote which
,he TWO Houses do not agree to reject contrary
That the privileges the powers ami the duties OF the
mous, Oi representatives IN counting the votes fo1
Pfesd, Ut and VccPresdent Of the United states aV
no more and no lcss than those Of tue senate.
Al the last meeting OF the committee, Mr.
bufchMd moved To amend Mr.. Bucker's propos
sliiOn by affirming that the President of the
senate mad the power to count the vote. This wed
heHhtiVed. Tue Tour propositions OF MIR. Seely
were next voted upon. and the committee stood
to sRainst tie motion, the hcpuhlicnn merus
bers all voting for H. The coUinit.
OF MT. fuckers propositions serstim.
he two 1rst were adopted by "a pirty voio-tt -
5-and the third one Received the unanlmons
vote OF the COmmittee. Tho fourth uruposis
tion. wien Is the most important OF all, will be
voted upon az the next meeting OF th<
committee, and II will probably be adopted by
party vote. 1t rcailirms the doctrines Of th(
tWen.y-'econd JOINT rule, that the House al on<
has the power to reject the vote Of State.
Tne stand to be taken by the Democratic
the purpose OF ho Denocri itic leaders in tas
House, which II to insist strongly uO1n ths
highest power which bas ever been exercised
~ tue house over Tue eleciurIl votes.