New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-12
THE ELECTORAL COUNT,


REPORTED AGREEMENT or THE SENATE COMMITTEE
ON MODE OF MISUNDERSTANDING RU-
MORs-vTEws OF LIBERAL DEMOcRAT-THE
EXTREMISTS DEFEATED IN THE HOUSE COM
MITTEE.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. lit is generally under
stood in Washington that the Senate Committee on
counting the electoral vote agreed to-day some mode
of procedure; but all the members of the committee
careful not to disclose anything about their
ceedngs According to report the recommendations
of the committee assened to by all Its members both
Republicans and Democrats; but according to another,
minority understood to be of the Republicans, have
refused in Them Very little be learned Of
the nature Of the recommendations but 1t Is widely be-
leved that they include agreement on the part
of both houses that the electoral Of State shall
be rejected except by the concurrent action OF both
branches Of Congress- that the right Of Congress to
behind the certificate Of the Governor and to determine
for itself the validity Of any vote received, shall be
recognized and that while reasonable time shall be given
each house for discussion Of all questions that may
arise the debates shall continue to such extent
TO prevent the Of the result OF the Presi
dental election before the Atm Of March next. The
Of the Senate committee to be pre-
sented to the House committee it is understood, at
Joint meeting this evening.
An influential Northern Democratic member OF the
House said to-day that he had doubt both houses
would to certain regulations touching the mode OF
procedure They would that the President OF the
Senate shall not under any circumstances count the cleo
oral vote, and that Congress shall behind the face OF
the certificate and inquire to the validity OF the vote
any State. He did not think that agreement OF this
kind would settle the controversy The question Of fact
IN regard the election in several Of the States would
still be open, and it would be difficult to reach
a determination that than the mode
Of procedure This gentleman takes very liberal ground
for Democrat. He holds that the report Of the Lous
Returning Board Is valid unless it is proved by the
Democrats that the members OF that board guilty
of wiful fraud in making their returns He that
there il no rule law recognized by the courts which
would authorize the review Of the proceedings OF the Re
turning Board the ground that they had not decided
accordance with the evidence that they were preu
diced otherwise personally untitled TO perform their
duties fairly and udicaly The only IN which their
decisions can be reviewed by proving wlfu fraud This
he considered. would he exceedingly difficult At the same
time he believed that the public conscience sensi-
tive that II conclusive evidence should be produced be-
tween and the time when the counting OF the cleo
toral votes takes place. that the returns or Louisiana
not made to represent the will OF the people non
estly and freely expressed the Republicans would not
attempt TO profit by the fact that legally they woudhave
prima tdcie case. In other words, he did not believe
that either rarity could afford would attempt to In
augurate President if reasonable doubt existed in
the minds OF any large portion OF its adherents 40 to the
honesty OF his election.
1t is reported that the committee the rights OF the
House in regard to the electoral count are Unable to
carry out the programme marked out by Democratic ex-
temsts owing the unwingness OF one OF the Demo
cratic members Mr. Maish Of Pennsylvania, to assent to
one Of the important features The committeel Is
said to have got far along as declaration by party
vote the reject the returns OF any state
The next step be the assertion OF the theory that
the House is alone judge that occasion has arisen
when it is called upon to elect President, and 1t may
proceed to elect in spite of the protest of the Senate
This it is reported Mr. Maish would not concur in In
order to overcome his it is proposed to add three
members the committee two of whom are to be Dem
ocrats and one Republican.