New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-06
ELECTION BY DIRECT BALLOT.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH WILL BIT
REPORTED To THE HOUSE FAYoRABLY
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I

A CON~uTC TIONAL AMENDMENT WHICH WILL BIT
REPORTED To THE HOUSE FAyoRABLY.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WAsuNGToy, April J.-The House Committee on
the revision of the laws regulating the counting OF
the Electoral votes for President and Vice-Presiden
agreed to-day to report the following TO the House
Rcsorcd by ne Scfdtc and House Of ReprsSeHtqtirc
e That the following be proposed amendment to
Constitution of the United States. which, when rat
fed by threeourhs OF the Legislatures of the several
states shall be valid To- all nients and purposes part
OF the said Constitution, to WITT
Article rs. The President and NicePresid.nt OF the
United States shall bo chosen BY the people o tho sew
ora States Ine electors In each state shall have the
qualifications requisite for electors OF the most numer
branch OF the state legislature ana they shall vote
by ballot for the President and NccPresdent on the
day provided by law. which day shall be fixed by Con-
gress ana be the Same throughout the United STATES.
E1cn state shall DC entitled to number OF electoral
votes equal 70 the number Of Senators and Rep
rtsentatlyes 10 which the state may be entitled IN
th Congress The electoral votes ana fractions thereof
OF eacn person voted for President IN any state shall
hc ascCrtaued by multiplying his entire popular vote
therein by he whole number of the electoral votes Of inc
state ana dividing the product by the aggreate pOpu
lar vote OF thc state or a persons voted for as Presi
votes and fraction thereof To which such person shall
be entitled using for such fraction three dccimals aud
nO MORE Tie foregoing provisions shall apply To the
election uf NiccPIesd nj but no person constitution
ally Ineligible the Office Oi President shall be eligible
to that OF NIC.-Presdtnt of the United States
within days after any Presidential election. the
returning officers of general elections IN each state shall
proper returns OF the votes cast for President and
President and shall transmit the under seal to
the secretary state other officer lawfully perform
ing the duties OF such Secretary, by whom tue said re-
turns rh4l be publicly opened In the presence of the
culef executive magistrate OF the state or, in
case OF bis failure to bo present, then ia the pres
once OF the Attorney General and Auditor or Con-
trOller or the state, and said officers shall
appoint and make appOrOnment Of the electoral votes
of the state heTcubrtOrc provided, and shall there
upon make distinct lists OF all persons voted for Pres
ident and NlcePrtsdeut comprising the popular vote
by counties parishes or other principal divisions or
the State. and their appOrtlcnmen Aforesaid, which lists
they shall sgn, certify and transmit under seal TO the
seat of Of the United States directed 10 the
President of the Senate SAID HppottOnnent shall DO
made the same day throughout the United states.
The person having the highest number OF electoral
votes for President shall be the President but " two
orr persons have equal and the highest number
of such votes then from such persons the House OF Rep
rcseutntiYes shall choose Immediately by ballot the
President but cho-iug the President the votes shall
having one vote. quorum for this purpose shall coz
gist of member or members from twO-thlrds or the
states and majority OF all the States shall be necessary
To choice. And the House Of Representatives, shall
not choose President whenever the right OF choice shall
deyOlys upon them, before the fourth day of March
eut of she death other constitutional
disability Of the President. The person having the
highest number OF electoral votes as Nlce-Prc5ldcnt
shall bo Vice President, but n two or more persons
have an equal and the highest number OF such votes
then from such persons the Senate shall choose the
President. quorum for the purpose shall con
sst OF tuhrds OF tho whole uumboIlOf Senators, aud
minority tho whole number shall be necessary To a
choice.
The leading points of the report of the committee
in favor of this constitutional amendment were
published in the Washington dispatches to 1HE
TRIBUNE on Monday last.