The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-02-09

adopted. Messrs. Ingalls, and Allison were
appointed tellers ON the part of the Senate |
to count the Electoral votes. A report OF !
the Committee on Electoral votes was pre- |
sented, claiming that Frost, OF Missouri, |
was ineligible as Elector, and that no sue
cessor could be according to the laws OF the
State appointed. The Senate met with
the House to count the Electoral votes,
and after counting those of Alabama,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Con-
necticut, and Delaware, objection was made
to those from Florida, and the matter was re-
ferred to the Commission In the House,
Messrs. Cook and Stone were appointed tel
lers. The time previous to the joint meet
ing was occupied in reading the minutes in
full, in order to prevent action on the
Florida report. The joint meeting of the
House and Senate was held to count the
Electoral votes, and after six States had been
counted, the presiding officers asked whether
there were objections to counting the
votes of Florida. Representative Field sent
to the Clerks desk written objection to the
first certificates for Hayes and Wheeler,
signed by Senators Jones, of Florida, Cooper
and Mcdonald, of Indiana, and by Represen-
tatives Field, Tucker, jerks, and Springer.
/ The Clerk of the House read the paper. 1t
| asserts that those persons-Pierce, Hum
phreys, Holden, and Young-assuming to act
as Presidential Electors, never were duly ap-
pointed by the State of Florida, or in any
manner whatever; that other four persons
| had been elected, and had irrevocable
title to the Offices; that the certificate of
election of the first four persons was untruly
and corrupuy procured, and made in pur.
suance of a conspiracy between them and
NJ. L. Stearns, late Governor; that they were
usurpers, and that their acts are illegal, null
and void. Further objections being
called for, Senator Sargent sent
up to the Clerks desk. on behalf
of himself and Senators Conover,
Sherman, and others, and of Representatives
| Woodburn, Dunnell, Kasson, and McCrary,
three several sets of objections to the votes
cast by Coll, Hunton, Bullock, and Yonge,
| Democratic Electors, on the ground that the
papers are not authenticated as required by
the Constitution and laws Senator Jones,
of Florida, made objection specially to
Humphreys, as holding an Office of trust
and profit under the United States. Mr..
Kasson made an additional objection to the
third set of certificates, because they were
not authenticated by the person who had
the Office of Governor at the time that the
functions of Electors were exercised.
In the Senate, February 2, a bill was passed
for the punishment of persons making OF
having possession of dies for counterfeit
coin. A bill was passed providing that al
claims for services against the United States
shall be barred unless presented within si1
years from the time they were rendered
The bill authorizing the Secretary of the Trea
sury to pay to the Union National Bank o.
Louisiana the sum of $50, 900, seized by Gen
Banks in 1868, belonging to the Planters
Bank of Tennessee, was called up, but recon
mitted to the Committee ON Claims. In tn
House, bill amending the act for counting
the Electoral vote, providing that the TIVE
, branches of Congress may adjourn from da,
to day, instead of taking a recess as pro
, vided by the bill, was introduced and re
ferred. A considerable debate occurret
, over the proposition to reduce the salary o
members to s., 500. The amendment MAXIM
, the reduction was finally stricken out of tn
Appropriation bill.
r In the Senate, February 8, the credential
E of Messrs, Davis, of West Virginia, an
Sanders, of Nebraska, were presented. !
joint resolution of the Minnesota Legisls
ture, asking bounty for the destruction
of grasshopper eggs, was offered an
s referred. Amendments to the Pos
n Office bill were offered, providing fo
4 $50O,OO0 for steamship mail between Sa
= Francisco and China and Japan also fo
$3.50, 900 for improved mail facilities over tn
+ trunk lines of railway. the House th
e portion of the Appropriation bill fixing th
l. salary of Senators and Representatives
q $1,000 was agreed to, and that portion r
= ducing the Presidents salary to $25, 900 W,
u defeated.