The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-02-09
THE BILL.
Text Of the Bill as II Passed n senat

Text OF the Bill as Il Passed the Senate
/; After an all night session devoted t.
; debate, the senate on the twenty-fittl
passed the joint committees electoral
bill by the overwhelming vote of AZ tC
:. 17-more than two-thirds.
On the 26th the house passed the bill
by a vote of 1911 to Sc.
FirEt-It is a temporary measure designed
: for the settlement of questions at issue in
} the present complication only, and not in.
tended as a rule to govern future electoral
counts.
SecOnd-The time for beginning the cleo
toral count is changed from February ii to
February 1.
Third-The two houses meet in the hall of
the house of representatives as heretofore,
and everything pretending to be a certificate
is opened by the president of the senate and
handed to the tellers, of which there are four,
WE from each house, the certificates being
opened in alphabetical order of the states,
beginning with the letter A..
Fourth-When a certificate has been read
the president of the senate calls for objec-
tons, which must be in writing and argued
by at least one senator and one representa-
tive, whether there be only one or two re-
turns from the state, in the case of which OBJ
lection is made.
Fifth-If there is only one return, the SEN
ate withdraws and the objections are consid-
cred in the following manner:
/. The presiding officers state the ohjec-
lions, and each senator and representative
may speak ten minutes and not Oftener than
once, but the main question shall be put af-
ter two hours debate.
II. A recess may be taken until ten o'clock
next day, pending the consideration of any
objection, and the house may transact leg.
~islative business while waiting the action of
the other on objections.
III. When the two houses have voted they
Immediately meet again, and the presiding
officers announce their decisions.
". If both concur in the objection it is
sustained, and if they disagree it is over
ruled.
S,xth-If there are two returns the obiec-
tions are referred to q commission, whose
composition and mode Of action are thus
stated:
/. Each Of the houses elect five members
by a viva -voce vote on January 80, and the
associate justices of the supreme court as.
signed to the following districts, first (jus-
tice Ciifford), third Justice Strong, eighth
Justice Millerl and ninth Justice Fieldb
choose q fifth justice, who with themselves
will form part of the commission.
ii. The Oldest justice (Cliford) presides
oNNI tIC uhu huhitItSttIb " SDtC-
ial oath to its members to impartially exam
inc and to consider all questions.
III. 1t is not in the power of either nous
to dissolve the commission or withdraw any
of its members, but they fill vacancies caused
by the death or inability to act of any of their
respective members, and the remaining JUS
tices in the same manner replace any of the
justices il a vacancy arises among them from
the same causes.
~. The commission is given the same
powers, now possessed by the two houses act
ing separately or together, to decide upon
the electoral votes, and submits its decision
in writing to the two houses, which there
upon meet again in joint session.
V. The counting of the votes proceed in
conformity with the decision Of this commits
sion, unless, upon objection made to it in
writing, signed by five senator and repre-
sentatives, the two houses eoncurrently or
der otherwise.
Seventh-the certificates being opened
and read in the alphabetical order of states,
when objection is made to the vote of any
state, no other certificate is opened until the
objections are acted upon and finally dis
posed of.
Eighth-While in joint session no debate
is permitted, and no motion, except to with
draw, allowed. Debate can only be had in
separate session, already specified, and ad-
journment only as provided when the two
houses are considering objections.
Ninth-Nothing in the act is to be re-
garded as impairing or affecting any right
under the constitution or laws to question
the right or title of whoever shall be de-
clared president by proceeding in the courts.