The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-11
THE NEXT HOUSE.

udtlOuhl uOuSc VI representatives, at tne
time Of its organization In June next, has |
now been dispelled. Senators and repre-
~aentatives receive an annual ~salary-the
same in amount whether they do much or
llttle-anG this is paid 10 them in equal
monthly installments, 50 that the clerk of
the house-and the clerk during the last
congress holds over until his successor is
appolnted-is required to make out a
monthly pay roll, and this pay roll governs |
the proper disbursing officer in making his
payments on account of salary. In making
up the roll, the following law, passed at
the second session of the Thirty-ninth con-
gress, governs; "That before the first
g meeting Of the next congress, and of
" every subsequent congress, the clerk of
d" the next preceding house of representa-
" tives shall make a roll of the representa-
" tives elect, and place thereon the names
" of all persons claiming seats as repre-
Is sentatives elect from states which were
" represented in the next preceding con-
&c gress, and of such persons only, and
I" whose credentials show that they were
d" regularly elected in accordance with the
Il" laws of their states respectively, or the
q" flaws of the United States"
A full house consists of two hundred and
ninety-three members, but the roll as now
made up contains the names of ouly two
hundred and lightweight members-one
hundred and fifty democrats and one humid
red and thirty-eight republicans, giving a
democratic majority of twelve. This ma
iority is liable to be reduced to five, or In
creased to fourteen or fifteen, as certain
cases, to which we shall refer presently,
may be determined. The course of the
clerk has been somewhat criticised, but
we think, with a possible exception or two,
it will commend itself to the approval of
candid men of all parties, and in consider
ing this matter we shall rely upon the cor
rectness of a journal which most severely
criticises him and undertakes to tell show
" five has been made twelve"
A full house, as we have said, consists of
and newspaper reports-both parties sub
stantlally agreeing-have decided it as
standing one hundred and forty.nlne demo.
Gratis and one hundred and forty-four re-
publicans, making a democratic majority
of five only. 1t is not true, however, as a
matter of fact, that so many republicans
have received certificates, or are as vet en-
titled to them, In the third Missouri and
the fourth California districts, no certif-
Gates have as yet been issued, both cases
being now before the courts of the respec-
tive states. In the former case, it is
claimed that the returns were mutllated in
the county clerks office so as to defeat the
election of a republican and in the latter
case the "face of the returns" showed a
republican majority of only one. A con-
test in each case was to be expected, and
until the courts dispose of the matter
neither is entitled to or can receive, GER
tifcates, or credentials" and so the clerk
of the house could not, without an arbitrary
and illegal act, have placed the name of
either on the roll.
We hardly see how the clerks action in
what are called the ''three disputed states" |
South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida
can lie excepted to. In the former state |
there is no dispute, three republicans and
W democrats being placed on the roll
and we believe the election Is conceded IN |
have so resulted.
Louisiana is entitled to six Representa-
tives, and he has placed on the roll only four |
two republicans and two democrats all |
of whom have certificates of election from
both Packard and Nichols. There can be
no question but what all of these four were
duly elected, and that they have proper
credentials, no matter which of the claim
ants shall be determined to be governor. |
the fourth and sixth district no names
have been placed on the roll, Packard and |
Nichols having certified to the election of |
persons in each district. Under
the law as above quoted, we do not see how
the clerk could have acted otherwise. The
question is as yet undeter-
mined, aud it would have been the hight of
presumption for him to assume to recog-
nize either Packard or Nichols as the law
full, or even de faeto, governor.
In Florida the case is different, and the
clerk, in placing only one name on the roll
the other vacant, seems 10 have
Disseminated against his own party. In
the first canvass, it will be remembered.
two republicans -Purman among the num-
declared elected and, notwith-
standing this canvass was overthrown by
the state supreme court, Governor Stearns
Issued q certificate to both republicans.
The second canvass, II we remember cor
fectly' resulted IN returning Davidson,
democrat, in place Of Purman, and a re-
publican in the other district, but the gov
ernor drew has certified to the election
two democrats. Purman repudiated his
certificate, ard declared his democratic
competitor elected, and Davidson having
the governors certificate was prina .facie
entitled to a seat. In the other district the
democrat, as we believe, holding Governor
Drew's certificate was, also, prima facte.
to a seat, for Drew's certificate.
Stoarns', was entitled to respect, the
as would that of Governor Fairbanks
this state instead of Governor Peck's who
was the executive at the date of election.
The case is different from either that of
South Carolina or Louisiana, for there is,
and never has been, but one person claim
ng 10 be governor and TO exercise the