The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-08
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THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION,
1t Refuses to Go Behind tho Returns by I
Party Vote Of Eight to seven.


1t Refuses to 90 Behind tho Returns by a
Party Vote Of Eight to seven.
WAsHINeToS, Feb. Z.
The electoral commission met at 10
o'clock and 1870 o'clock p. m. were still in
secret session.
LATER.
The electoral commission by vote of
eight against seven, have decided that no
evidence can be admitted or considered by
them In the Florida case except the various
electoral certificates and such evidence as
shall be submitted on the question of the
eligibility of Humphreys as presidential
elector. The vote stood in favor of this
decision Strong, Miller, Bradley, Ed
munds, Morton, Frelinghuysen, Garfield
and Hoar against, Clifford, Field, Thur
man, Bayard, Payne, Hunton and Abbott.
The doors were opened at 1858, the COM
mission having short time previously adj
journed until IL tomorrow, when further
proceedings will be had in public.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Following is minute of the official rec
ord of the commission: On motion of
Justice Miller 1t was ordered that no evil
dence will be received or considered by the
commission which was not submitted to
the joint convention of the two houses by
the president of the senate, with the certi-
flcates, except such as relates to the eligi-
bility of F. g. Humphreys, one of the cleo
tors. The vote is as follows: Yeas-Brad-
ley, Edmunds, Frelinghuysen, Garfield,
Hoar, Miller, Morton and Strong, eight;
Nays-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field,
Hunton, Payne and Thurman, seven.
On motion of Mr.. Abbott, resolved, that
in the case of Florida this commission will
receive evidence relating to the eligibility
of Frederick @. Humphreys, one of the
persons named in certificate No. as an
elector yeas, Abbott, Bayard, Bradley,
Clifford, Field, Hunton, Payne and Thur
man, 8; nays, Edmunds, Frelinghuysen,
Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton and
Strong, Z.
The secretary of the commission was in
structed to inform the counsel on the re-
spective sides that at Ii o'clock tomorrow
1t will be prepared to hear arguments on the
question of the eligibility of Humphreys
as an elector.
The commission by their decision of to-
day will have before them in the Florida
case three sets OF papers, namely: First,
the certificate of the Hayes electors sec
ondly, that of the Tilden electors and
third the paper containing the record of
the circuit court of Florida on the quo acar-
rdnt0 and the subsequent action of the leg
islature Of that state. The republicans ex-
press themselves gratified with the decision
of the commission, while the democrats are
somewhat discouraged by it. The former
claim that no consequence will be attached
! to the quo aoarranto proceedings of the cir
cult court of Florida, as they are now un-
der appeal to the supreme court of that
state and therefore not final. 1t seems to
bC tho pACNhlCut uCiiCl tliht tuO ultiillhtC uC-
cision will be in favor of Hayes and
Wheeler Florida electors and that the
course in this case will be pursued with re-
gard to Louisiana, where there are two al
legged ineligible electors and more
than one return. A prominent DEM
| ocrat of the commission eaid this after
noon that the meaning of the vote of
the commission is that the ministerial acts
of state executive officers are to be respect
ed but not those of the judiciary. He add
ed, however, that as the democratic certiA-
Gates embody the proceedings of the court
they will by this decision be fully opened
up for consideration and argument. The
democrats also find some satisfaction in the
fact that the rule established by the com.
mission will lead to the ascertainment that
Watts, republican elector in Oregon, wa,
ineligible at the time of his election and
hence only two republican electors from
that state can be counted, Cronin, demo
crat, being the third elector. On this sup.
position they think the democrats still have
a chance for the presidency and that the
election may be thrown into the house.