The New York herald., 1877-01-19
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, jan 49, 1877.
THE TWO HoUsEs-sCENEs DURING THE
READINo--vIEws OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
AND coNGREssMEN ON THE MEASURE.
Tho report that the joint committee would bring in
their bill this morning drew together a considerable
audience the galleries of the houses. As moth.
ing definite known of the bill by the members OF
either house the reading at,entively listened to.
Great curiosity evident among the Senators us to
whether tho report unanimous, and when the
Clerk TO close the report without reading the
signatures he reminded that he had them,
and there hum Of satisfied curiosity when 1t ap.
pcarcd that Senator Mortons name alone missing
In the House Mr.. Proctor Knott, Chairman of tho
Committee to Ascertain the Powers and Privileges of
tho House in the Counting OF the Electoral Vote,
fused, tho opening OF the session, to give way
Mr. Payne, VINO, as Chairman OF tho House branch OF
the Joint committee, wished TO report Mr. Knott
sisted his right to precedence, apparently thinking
that this his last chance and that after the joint
committees bill was proposed his own special
topic would have but a secondary inter.
est Several gentlemen suggested that Mr.
Knott had better wait till the joi.t
committee had reported, but no refused, and the
House, by 141 TO 81, gave HIM the loor He made his
report and n speech, and when that done Mr.
Payne reported. After the report and bill had been
read Mr.. Payne moved that II be rccommitted with
leave to print and remarked that the time fixed in
the bill for beginning tho Of the vote Is less than
two weeks of, tho committee would call up their
very and hoped that the House would be in
clincd to consider IL without needless delay.
The reading very closely listened to, many men,
bcrs sitting IN chairs Immediately in front OF the
Clerks desk order TO hear the better.
The same curiosity manifested In the Senate
when the committee presented their report There is
great excitement . Washington tonight over tho
matter and the bill Is the general theme of discussion
everywhere at hotels tho receptions and at din
per parties.
Tho following results Of interviews with leading gov
ernment officials aud Congressman will show the feel
ing
senator Kernan OF New York, SAYS that II we arc
to have arbitration he docs not know OF any better
way settling the controversy than by the provisions
OF the bill II will least have the effect OF nllaying
excitement In tho country by showing that there Is a
Willingness to consider the difficulty and aside
party spirit We must look to the interests OF the
whole country and be guided by tho teachings OF
patriotism.
Secretary Morrill, says that ne would not mix poll
tics up with the Court lie would prefer to subnit
tho electoral the Court alone and there Is pre-
ccdcpt In law Tor this-at least IT is provided for
within the States by some Of their constitutions.
Postmaster General Tyncr, who Is Mr.. Morton's
follower. was asked tonight what no thought OF the
electoral bill, and he rcplied-
~ think nothing Of IT, II Is unwarrantcd by tho
constitution which points out the way the vote shall
bc counted and the constitution cannot be nuihcd by
any Congressional committee by Congress ITSELF "
on It's being suggested that thcrc were many able
lawyers the committee Mr. Tyncr, who himself Is
iawvey nnewcred.-
g" cant help that II requires no legal
mind 10 that the proposed measure
Is In violation OF the constitution. Any person OF com
mon sense can secit Do you suppose Tor moment
that " the democrats honestly believe they havo 1856
votes they would favor such measured Not at Nil.
You would not lind democrat In either house who
wou.d favor II Speaker Randall were to-day Prcsi
dent oi The senate he would repudiatc such measure
aud insist hts right, under the constitution, 10 count
tue vote The know that Hayes is elected,
bu, give their support this bill because they
chance Of counting IN Tidcn."
Senator Morton, who from the FIRST has bcon
wavcringly opposed 10 the bill, whom the question
asked oI HIM what he thought OF the work Of the