Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-12
PROVIDING FOR THE ELECTORAL
COUNT


one of the most important matters
that will come before this Congress, and
one i'm which the whole country is
deeply interested in having settled, is
the revision and amendment OF the laws
regulating the electoral count.
The Washington dispatches give us
the assurance that the House committee
having this matter in charge, has now
agreed upon areport and bill which twill
make TO the House rs soon as can
be done under the rules, AMI will ask a
day for its consideration.
Two propositions wcr, referred to
this committee. One was 10 SO amend
the Constitution as to abolish the cleo
toral system, and provide for a direct
vote by the people Tor President and
Vicc-Prcsident, but there was no possi-
biHty that an amendment to the Con-
stitution could now be passed 10y Con-
gress and ratified by threc-iourths Of
the State Legislature before the next
Presidential election. The defects OF
the present system, which We're made
apparent during the last electoral count,
therefore, prompted the consideration Of
another proposition, which was referred
to the committee during the extra ses-
sion.
This second proposition is embodied
i'm "bill to regulate the electoral count, ~
which we find published entire in an
exchange, although not vet presented to
Congress.
The bill is quite lengthy, prescribing,
rs it does, all the details OF the arrange
ments for counting the vote by the two
Houses in Joint meeting and the mode
of proceedings Among its main fea-
lures are the provisions for disposing Of
objections toany certificate. Such OBJ
jectious must be made in writing, brief,
and without argument; they must be
signed by a Senator AMI Representative,
and mus, be decided by each House
separately. There can be no debate at
the Joint meeting. In separate meetings
To- decide objections, each member may
speak five minutes, once only, and after
two hours Of such debate the main ques-
ton shall be put. These provisions
commend themselves and require no
comment.
The most important provisions OF the
bill, and those which are intended to
remedy the defects of existing statutes
where the most trouble arose in the last
count, are contained in sections seven
and eight.
These sections provide that in the
meeting OF the two Houses the Presi-
dent Of the Senate shall preside, and
shall open all certificates and papers
purpOrting to be certiiicatcsot electoral
votes. and that the votes shall then be
counted by both Houses according to
the certificates, unless some Of them be
rejected by both Houses. II there be
contested election in any State it may be
determined 10y its highest judicial tribu-
nal i'm accordance with its laws. Such
tribunal shall certify its decision, under
seal, to the President Of the Senate forth
with to be opened by him in joint meet
inc at the same time the elect
oral certificates are opened. Contested
votes shall be counted by the two
Houses in accordance with such judi
cial decision, unless each House, voting
separately, shall dissent thereirom. Ii
there be a disputed election without
such decision certified contested votes
shall not be counted, unless each House,
voting separately, decides thatthey shall
be counted. Ii there be conflicting ju-
dicial decisions or conflicting electoral
certificates from any State, that decision
or certificate held by each House 10 be
the lawful one, shall be conclusive. Tn
less rejected by both houses, these pro-
visions settle the question who shall
count the electoral votes. They place
the right Of counting where it belongs,
viz, in both Houses of Congress.
The subject OF preparing an amend
ment TO the Constitution, securing a
direct vote for President, has also been
considered by the committee, and re-
port agreed upon.
A LITTLE girl in our Sunday School,
who had been pulling her doll to pieces
during the week, was asked by the
teacher. "What was Adam made Ot2'
Answer. "Dust.' "And what was
Eve made Oi2' Answer: "Saw-
dust.