The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-01-20
Counting the ELECTORAL Vote,

The Committee appointed from the
Senate and House of Representatives
on counting the Electoral vote, on Wed
nesday last agreed upon bill, which
was reported to both Houses and Com
rrass on Thursday, but two of the menu
bers Of the Committee dissenting, onr
from the Senate and one from the
House, but who did not make min
ority report. The bill is substantially
the same as that presented by Senator
Morton, In the last Congress, only
that prOvisslOn Is here made for a trbu-
nal to determine which return shall be
counted in cases where more than one
return is presented from the same
Slate. The following is synopsis of
the bill agreed upon
The first section provides that tho two Houses
al a.l assemble IN the nail OF the Housa OF Repre-
tentntive1 at 1 O'Clock on the second Wedues
dY IN February ard the President OF the Sen.
ate shall preside. One teller shall be appointed
1Of Iue senate ana Two Tor The House, 10 whom
shall be handed, as they are opened by the
President Of the Senate, all certificates OF cleo.
opened aud read in the hearing Of both Houses
the telers email mako list OF the votes as they
shall appear from The certificates of the votes
having been counted. The result of the same
shall be delivered to the President Of the Sen
hte, who shal thrreupOn announce tho state Of
the vote and the names OF the persons, II any
elected, which announcement shal, be deemed
sulhc,ent declaration Of the persons elected
President and Vice President. II any questions
snail arise ~ regard 10 tie counting any Of the
votes certified, the Senate shall retire and the
question shall be submitted to both parties
boparatelY for decision and no Electoral vote
10 winch obi ictiOn shall De made shall be count.
ca except by the affirmative vote Of both
Tue Second section provides that in all cases
where more than one certificate Of the Electoral
VOte mas Deen received from the same state
they shall be referred to commission. con sis
ting OF five Senators, fve Representatives and
iour Associate Justices OF the supreme Court Of
tnt nlted states, who preside over the First
iour Associate Judges snail chose fifth Justice
70 complete the Commission, who shall not be
the Chlef ustce OF the United states To thit
Commission shall be referred all papers and
testimony relsting to the disputed returns, and
they are clothed with all powers possessed by
yestigationA majority OF the Commission
shall % necessary to determine all questions re
ntr IeETSG 70 them & Or arising out Of the matter IL
as TO which return shall be counted shall b(
made IN writing to the two Houses assembled
as proviaed in the first section, and their decis
Ion shall stand unless rejected by the concur
rent vote OF the two Houses. The Associate
justices justices who win constitute 9 portion Of thu
commission are Nathan Clifford Of Maine
Samuel F. Miller OF Iowa, Stephen J. Field o.
Catfornia.and William strong OF Pennsylvania
The Commission will be swOrB to render an
impartial Judgment, according to the COnstitu
don ana laws of the nited states
NO time 10 specified when the decisions Of the
Commission should be rendered, but It is Prov
ued that the Commission shall convene upoI
the questions being referred to them, and i'm
mediateiy proceed to their consideration ant
oetermlnation. The senior Associate Justice
Snnoru VIII preside The other four Associate
Justices one OF whom Is 70 be chosen to com
plete the Commission, are SwayDe of OHIO
Davis Of Illinois, Bradley Of New Jersey, anC
Hunt OF New York,