Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-02-15
THE ELECTORAL. QUESTION.

WASHINGTON, February 1.-THE Electoral
Commission, by vote of eight against seven,
have decided that no evidence can be admit
ted 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 the decision
Justices Strong, Miller and Bradley, and
Senators Edmunds, Morton and Frelinghuy-
sen. and Representatives Garfield and Hoar.
Against-Justices Clifford and Field, and
Senators Thurman and Bayard, and Repre-
sentatives Payne, Hunton and Abbott.
The Commission adjourned until II o'clock
tomorrow, when the proceedings will be in
public.
WASHINGTON, February 7.-The Electoral
Commission commenced its session to-day at
10 o'clock and continued until o'clock. A
large crowd of interested persons was in front
of the doors of the court room, expressing
great anxiety to learn the result of their de-
liberations AS the members of the commits
sion came into the lobby on their way out of
the Capitol, they were eagerly surrounded by
their personal friends and interrogated. As
the Injunction of secrecy had been removed,
there was no objection to giving the desired
information. The following is minute on
the official record of the commission:
On motion of Justice Miller, it was ordered
that no evidence will be received or consid-
cred by the commission which was not sub
mitted to the joint convention of the two
Houses by the President of the Senate with
the different certificates, except such as re-
lates to the eligibility of F. e. Humphreys,
elcctor. The vote stood as follows:
Ayes-Bradley, Edmunds, Frel;nghuysen,
Garfield, Hoar, Miller, Morton and Strong-8
Noes--Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field,
Hunten, Payne and Thurman-7.
On motion of Abbott, it was resolved that
in the case of Florida this commission will
receive evidence relating to the eligibility OF
Frederick G. Humphreys, the person named
in certificate No. as an elector.
Ayes-Abbott, Bayard, Bradley, Clifford,
Field, Hunton, Payne and Thurman-S.
Noes-Edmunds, Frelinghuysen, Garfield,
Hoar, Miller, Morton and Strong-7.
The Secretary of the commission in
formed the counsel on the respective sides that
at IL o'clock tomorrow it will be prepared to
hear argument on the question of the eligi-
bility of +. G. Humphreys as an elector.
ic x,f
tors, and the question raised as to his eligi-
bility is that he was at the date of his election
a.United States Shipping Commissioner, which
is alleged to be such an Office of trust or profit
as to disqualify him from acting as an elector,
but which Office, the Republicans assert, he
resigned before his election. The commits
sion, by their decision to-day, will have be-
tore them in the Florida case three sets of
papers-a certificate of the Hayes electors,
that OF the Tilden electors, and paper con-
tanning the record of the Circuit Court of
rlorida on the quo aca,ranto, and the subse-
quent action of the Legislature of that State.
The Republicans express themselves gratified
with the decision of the commission, while
the Democrats are somewhat discouraged.
The former claim that no consequences will
be attached to the qlo aoarrant proceedings
of the Circuit Court of Florida. as thev are |
now under appeal to the Supreme Court of
that State, and therefore are not final It
seems to be the prevalent belief that the ulti- |
mate decision will be in favor of the HAYES
electors, and the course in this case will be pur
sued in regard to Louisiana, where there are
two alleged ineligible electors and more than
one return. A prominent Democrat of the |
commission said this afternoon that the mean |
ing of the vote of the commission is that the |
ministerial acts of the State Executive are to |
De respected, but not those of the Judiciary.