New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-13
THE ELECTORAL COUNT.

COMMITTEE or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. KNOTS
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MOTIVES FOR HAsTY
ACUoN-POsITIoN OF THE MINORITY-THE AC-
TON OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
tBr rRIEGKAPH THE rRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-The Committee on
the Powers Privileges and Duties Of the House appears
DESTROYS Of acting goad 10 force the moro important
and conservative committee the electoral count for
ward into extreme partisan position without wait
ing for the committee complete its work. and At
time when conciatory feeling prevails In both par
tee, and belief that amicable settlement OF the
existing difficulties is day by day growing more probable
this organization hasens to throw irebrand into the
House. Through Proctor Knott IL to-day presented
Of resolutions asserting the views which the
Electoral Committee in she interests OF peace and
harmony is expected to abandon, in part at least The
resolutions declare that the Constitution does not confer
on the President Of the Senate the power 10 examine
and ascertain the votes TO be counted that tho only
power given that officer is to receive the re-
turns keep them in safety, and open all the certificates
papers puportng to be such in the presence OF the
Senate and House that the Senate and House have
alone the power 10 examine and ascertain the votes TO
be counted that the House in exercising this power Ia
at Toast equal TO the Senate, and finally that no vote
can counted against the Judgment and determination
of the House To this report all the Democratic mem
bers OF the committee, Knott Tucker, Maish, and
Sparks gave their adhesion Randolph Tucker Is said
to have been the OF the resolutions and the
moving spirit in pushing them through the committee
The Republican members, Seelye Burchard, and Mobli
agreed TO resolution asserting. IN substance that III
the absence of legislative provision on the suect
and Of any authoritative declaration from the senate
and House of the President of the Sen
ate in opening certificates, declares and counts the
electoral votes for President and VcePrcident This
resolution was not presented to the House today Inc
resolutions Of the majority viii come up on "edhesda!
next debate. Republicans appear TO be unanimous
in the opinion that unwise and improper to precp
tate discussion OF tho question ut this time, ana tDat
the natural effect OF doing will be TO drive both par
ties in hostile attitude toward each other, ana put
additional difficulties in tho way OF an agree
ment. number of Democrats expressed nearly
the same view this evening. IT would seem
that Messrs Knott Tucker and their colleagues on the
committee are either DESTROYS OF defeating the move
rnent for an ameabe adjustment OF the differences be-
tween the two houses for the purpose of brn gng on an
omen rupture, they Jealous of the Electoral Com
mttee and were afraid that ~ 1t should report first there
would be nothing left for them to do If the House Is
prudent and patriotic il will send Mr. KDOtts resolutions
hack IN his committee on Wednesday without word OF
debate II will be observed that the Republican resolu
ton docs not assert that President of the Senate has
the sole and absolute power Of counting the vote, bur
only that he may exercise such power in case the two
bouses make no regulations upon the subject in the form
either of law or resolutions joint rules Their mean
ing far Il appears To be TINT the requirement
OF the Constitution that the shall De counted
cannot be nued by the failure OF the two houses to
agree upon regulations for counting them.
The House this afternoon voted 10 strengthen Mt
motifs committee by the addition Of two new members,
rd before the adjournment Speaker Randall appointed
"a d Dudley Field and Judge Lawrence OF ONO 10 Nil
ne positions thus provided for In point OF legal ability
the Republicans are nadeGnetey represented on TINS
committee though they considerably strer ;thened
by the appointment of Judge Lawrence. Mr. Field is
~ tbo pay aiinQn IN l. VN
sent TO Congress for the special purpose OF advocating
e Tden theory OF counting the votes and has already
fully committed himself the subject In psmphle'
which has been widely circulated IN Wash1 IN the
interest of peace and Of amiciabe Settlement or the
Presidential difficulties and an effort III be Iade TO Sc
cure an agreement Of the House and Senate committees
on counting the electoral vote, and report Ny them az
early A Wednesday next in order that the propositions
which they will have to submit can he coleH
brought before both branches Of Congress before the
House. by action on the resonti' n '"ported by Mr.
Knott's committee has defined Its position
The Senate committee counting the electoral vote
las undoubtedly agreed on some points at least what
the nature Of its recommendations Is 1t Is Impossible 10
learn authortavely for the reason that the committee
has placed additional seals secrecy upon the lips OF
every member. 1t is for some reason deemed OF the
importance by the committee that no hint OF lis
deliberations should be made public. The committee
probably believes that its plan OF settlement Will he
more favorably received and more likely TO secure the
approval OF houses If It is not known until about
ready 10 report that whatever they may have to say
in favor of it may heard in advance Of general ortiz
e,sms In ste of the secrecy there however good
many specuatOns by Senators and Representatives upon
the probable action OF the committee The foio"ihS
are sore OF the conclusions OF those not members Oh
either committee who ought to be best Informed Ii
seems quite that the Senate committee with he
execution Of Mr. Morton, has agreed: First that the
hall pnth have
tho votcs The precedents against this claim are so
numerous and unbrt that Republicans who nave held
il will be obliged TO recede Second 1t IL reported mat
the count shall take place in the hall OF the House OF
Rerr,seutatves It has occurred there 1nuch otener
than i'm the Senate Chamber and it is understood That
the majority OF the committee think that the weight Oh
nrecedepts il in favor of Sees going to the House
rother than the House going the Senate Chamber.
Third that the vote Of no State shall be rejected except
nv the action Of both houses and that II the
two houses shall be unable to agree then the questions
in dispute shall be referred to some tribunal 10 DC pro
yided IL is not learned what the character OF inns r
buna is to be- but whatever its decisions are 1t under
s,ood that both houses shall agree in advance "
abide by them 1t is not understood that tbs committee
hos agreed ON all points which likely To be involved,
hut II believed they have provided plan for the
settlement OF OF the most dihcult quesnohs ha'
have arisen The that Senator Morton Is understood
m have refused give his assent To the recommends
tons made by the OtDer members OF tue comWee WIZ
probably prevent his selection to the Presidency OF c
senate ON the resignation of Senator Ferry which, Is
will take place at early day The Senate
and House committees held their first joint session this
afternoon The meeting lasted about two hours ana the
committee resolved disclose nothing for several days
Another meeting of the committee will be held tomor-
row.
THE TELEGRAPH CONTEMPT CASES.
~, p.pNss AGAIN ARRAIGNED BEFORE THE ROUSE
-us ANSWERS UNSATISFACTORY AND HE AGAIN