The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-12
Forty-Fourth Congress.
SENATE.

NAShlndIONj Il Gus ~
The chair presented to the senate follow
ing communication
Washington, Feb. 0, 1877.-Sir: l am
directed by the electoral commission to in-
form the senate that it has considered and
decided upon the matters submitted to it
under an act of congress concerning the
electoral votes from the state of Florida,
and herewith, by direction Of said commits
sion, transmit you said decision in writ
ing, signed by the members agreeing there
in to be read at the meeting of the two
houses, according to said act. All the GER
tificates and papers sent to the commission
by the president of the senate are herewith
returned.
TSigned,1 NATHAN CLIFFORD,
President of the Commission.
Hon. THos. w. FERRY, president OF the
senate.
The sergeant-at-arms was instructed to
request the attendance of absent senators.
The following is the conference commit
tee on the fertilization appropriation bill
Window, Logan and Davis of New York.
The senators having returned, the OBJ
jections submitted by Mr. Field were read.
Mr.. Stevenson moved that the senate take
recess till 10 o'clock Monday. Rejected
ayes 90, nays IA strict party vote.
THE SENATE AND HOUSE IN JOINT SESSION.
At 1856 o'clock the senate, headed by
officers, marched to the hall of the house.
THE SENATE ENTERS THE HOUSE.
The rotunda of the capitol is crowded
with both sexes, anxious to reach the house
galleries. But they are disappointed, the
admission continuing by tickets. Precise
ly at o'clock the doorkeeper of the house
announced the senate of the United States.
The members arose and remained standing
while the senate, one of its officers having
in charge two strong mahogany boxes con-
tanning the returns, filed In and took seats.
The president of the senate took the speak
er's chair, the speaker occupying a chair
on his left.
The decision of the electoral commission
having been read, written objections were
made to it by Mr.. Field on the part of five
senators and twelve representatives, and
then the two houses separated.
HOUSE.
Aft9r the separation Of the joint meeting,
as soon as the house had come to order Mr..
Lynde moved that the house take recess
until ten Monday.
Mr.. Hall raised point Of order that un-
der the provisions of the electoral bill il
was not competent for the house to take a
recess at this time. The only thing they
could do was to proceed Immediately to de-
termine whether 1t would coincide in the
decision of the electoral commission. The
bill provided that when the houses separate
to consider objections to the decision of the
commission, they shall proceed to argue
whether they shall support the decision
and that no other business shall intervene
He appealed to the chair not to override
the point of order, which to q certain ex
tent tested the efficiency of the bill.
Mr.. Springer opposed the point of order
holding that there was nothing in the bill
which prevented the house from taking {
recess. He thought it was not unreason
able that the house should ask for two
days to consider the decision which thu
commission had been nearly ten days con
sidering.
Mr.. McCrary thought the house had nov
arrived ut a point where it was obliged
under the constitution of the United States
to count the votes, and in that stage tn
house could take no recess until state wa
reached which would have to go to tn
commission.
Mr.. Kasson said in the conclusion Of tn
report OF the joint committee cd the cleo
toral vote it was stated that the passage o
the electoral bill was necessary TO ALA.
public excitement and agitation. If tn
majority of the house took recess unit
Monday instead OF going on with the ooun
public agitation would be increased ten
fold. The people of the country woul
ask why fine house was suspendipg tn
} process of law and postponing action o
the decision of the commission. The
: would asa If 1t was the intention of III
house to prevent the completion of tn
presidential count.
Mr.. Brooks stated that the language @
the constitution was imperative; that whe
the votes are opened they shall be counted
and that for seventy-fve years there ha
not been single instance of recess bein