The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-25
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON Jan "a. 1877.
Mr.. STONE, (dem.) OF Mo-. presented memorial OF
the Board OF Trade OF ST. Louis, approving the bill Of
the joint committee
Tho House then proceeded to the Consideration Of
the resolutions reported by the Committee Priv-
lcges, and was addressed by Mr.. McDiLL OF Iowa, in
favor the resolutions submitted by the minority Of
the committee.
SPEECH OF MR.. M'DILL
He said that II the proposition OF the majority were
true that vote could be counted without the con.
sent Of the House, II would give tho House practical
veto power every election by the people. He
thought the President OF the Senate had aione the
power to count votes. but whoever counted them,
whether IL the President OF the Senate alone or
together with the House and Senate, or whether It
was the Senate and House without any participation
on the part Of the President OF the Senate the duty
devolved was purely ministerial The decree was the
decree OF sovereign and independent people, decree
which could not be reversed. Any attempt 10 reverse
the Will OF the people was unconstitutional; It was
usurpation; II was pressing down OF the
in and carried out 1t was revolution.
He was glad to know, however, that concurrent
committee OF both houses had agreed upon plan
winch he hoped to adopted and to become the law
that would the counting Of the electoral vote
amended SO as to make il objectionable il should GER
tainy have his support because II was in bis line OF
duty and precedent
SPEECH OF Mr. BRIGHT
Mr.. BRIGHT, (dem OF Tenn. was the next speaker
He spoke of the impossibty OF exaggerating the i'm
potance the question The eyes OF the nation were
concentrated Congress- and its action tine ques-
ton would be monumental for either good evil
He maintained that the constitution gave Congress
the control OF the whole subject and that returning
board could Dust Congress OF It's jurisdiction The de-
esion Of the Louisiana Returning Board was not
final, could not he final, and there was no power
known to the law which could make II final The Re-
turning Board OF Louisiana was confined 10 the face
II had cast restored the election Of Tiden
and Hendricks would be assured. and whenever that
fact was proclaimed the explosive thunders Of a ma
tons Joy would reverDerae TO the blue arch above
and resound from sea to sea-
THE JOINT COMMITTEES LABORS.
SKETCH OF THE VARIOUS STEPS THROUGH
WHICH AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED
MARROW ESCAPE FROM COMPLETE FAILURE
FOR LoGAN-MoRToN THE GREAT DIRECTOR
The history OF the deliberations OF the joint Con-
grcssonal committee, which has framed the i'm
portant bill, perhaps, which will have been adopted
since the foundation of the government, for the
first limo sketched.
The committees OF seven members EACH appointed
by tho Senate and the House respectively, in
structcd hold separate councils with power to act
with each other. The Senate committee consisted oil
Senators Edmunds, Morton, Frcngnuyscn, Conklng,
Thurman, Bayard and Ransom The House committee
consisted OF Representatives Payne Hunton. Hewitt,
Springer, Mccrary, Hoar and willard
rho committee met separately for some time until
each had prepared bill intended to meet the emer-
eency. The first meeting OF the House Committee was
held on December %, when a subcommittee OF two
members springer and Willardj was appointed
to prepare a compilation of prcceden,s the subject
! of counting electoral votes. This subcommittee,
thus deprived OF the enjoyment OF the approaching
holidays, began work once, and with the assistance
Of half dozen clerks, collated during the holiday
week record OF everything ever said or done in Con
Rrcss the subject also record Of the proceedings
of the Federal Convention concerning the establish
ment of the electoral college system. The compila
tion which makes printed book Of 500 octave pages
OF BREWER type, was, together with full index, com
pleted and admirably printed and bound in the Gov
crnment Printing Office and made ready for the use
members of the joint committee within two weeks from
the time the committee ordered It's publication. What
can be said other respects of the management
the Government Printing Ofce this feat is worthy tn
emulation of Appleton Co. aud the Harpers.
! The book was Of immediate service to the two com
mittees containing II did matter not TO be found II
the regular ANIMALS OF Congress nor In the Congress
sional Globe One Of tho most interesting things IN
Is rescript Of the hal-orgotten but Important bi
considered by Congress in Philadelphia II
! $780, preceded by account Of the variou
shapes In which the bill was amende
and voted upon Tho discovery Of the bill
Is due to Senator Bayard, whose great grandfathe
was a ember OF Congress at that period. The Sena
tors search resulted bringing to light old mum
Der OF the aurora newspaper in which the bill and tn
proceedings in regard 10 1t appear. Tho bill was sus
gested by the very close Presidential contest beiwee
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, in 1797-beior
the adoption OF article IL OF the constitution. Tha
contest had warned the houses of Congress OF th
dangers which might at some future time accompan
serious sriio Tor the Presidential succession and
February IL, 1900, the bill was reported In It's prim
tive form by special committee to the Senate.
gave rise to an animated discussion In both house
In the House Of Representatives It was referred TO
special committee OF which John Marshall, aiterwaf
Chief Justice was chairman. who submitted an elabo
ate report with many amendments 10 the senate pi'
It failed to pass either the House the Senate OWN
TO difference between them 10 whether II require
both houses 10 admit or TO reject an electoral vol
Exactly in reverse OF the present attitude Oh the w
chambers, the House at that time TOOK the groui
that 1t required both chambers to reject vote; al
the senate hold the opposite opinion
CONFERENCE
The fact which this h,ii at esnscia intsra