Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-06-03
NEW BILL FOR COUNTING THE PRES
IDENTIAL VOTE.

The House Committee on the state OF the
law respecting the a>certainment and de
claratiou of the result OF the election OF
President and Vice President, have agreed
upon bin. and authorized Representative
Bicknen. the chairman. 10 report il 20 the
House. with the approval OF the commit
tee The title and provisions OF the meas
urc are - follows:
4 bin 10 amend >undry provisions oichap-
ter /. title 3, of the Revised Statutes OF
the United States, relating 10 PreSiden-
tial elections, and 20 provide for and
regulate the counting OF the votes for
President and Vice President, and the
decision OF questions arising thereon.
FirSt-ElectorS Of President and Vice
President are 10 Dee appointed in each State
on the Tuesday next after the hr>t Mon
day in November.
Secoud-They vote by ballot on the sec
ond Monday I'm December next after their
appointment.
Third-They make three certificates,
one of them TO be delivered To the Pre>i-
dent of the Senate. by special messenger,
before the second Monday in January then
next. another 10 be sent 10 him 10y mail
forthwith, and the third TO be delivered
forthwith To the District Judge OF the dis
trict i'm which they meet.
Fourth-If the certificate is not received
hv the President of the Senate on orbefOrc
the second Monday in January, he must
notify the Secretary OF State forthwith,
who Shall send a special messenger 10 the
District Judge for the certificate deposited
with him.
FiNh-ControvcrsieSa a. tocleCtoral votes
in anv State NAV he passed upon by its
highest judicial tribunal, who shall send
it, decision, under seal, 10 the President
OF the Senate.
SiNth-Both Houses of Congress shall
meet ON the second Monday in February next
after themeetiug of the electors. The Pre>i-
dent of the Senate shall preside. Two
tcllcr> shall be appointed by the Senate,
and two by the House.
Seventh-The President of the Senate
shall open all the certificates, and al the
votes shall be counted by the two Houses
I'm the alphabetical order of the States ~
certified, unless rejected by both Houses.
III there be a controversy i'm any State and
a certified decision of il by its highest judi
cial tribunal, the electoral votes of that
State shall De counted in accordance there
with. unless the decision Dc reversed by
4
and no such judicial decision, the contest
cd votes shall not be counted unless both
Houses concur therein. II there be con-
nictins judicial decisions or conflicting
certificates. the decision or certificate held
by both Houses TO be given by the proper
authority shall be conclusive unless re-
iected by both Houses.
Eighth-The tellerS make 4 list of the
votes rs counted and the President OF the
Senate announces the result, and said an
nOunccment, with list of the votes, shall
be entered on the journal of each House.
Ninth-Op opening any certificate the
President Of the Senate calls for objections.
Objections must be in writing, brief, with
out argument, and signed by one Senator
and one Representative. Objections are
decided separately by each House, the
Senate withdrawing. During the meeting
OF the two Houses the presiding officer
shall have power 10 preserve order, and
no debate shall be allowed.
Tenth-ln the separate meetings 10 de-
eide upon objections, each Senator or
Representative may speak five minutes,
and once only; and after two hours of
such debate the main question shall be put
Eleventh-The joint meeting shall not
be dissolved until the count shall be COM
pleted. No recess shall be taken except
upon q question arising under this act, in
which case either House, acting separate
" may take a recess of such House not
beyond the next day; but if the count be
not completed before the first meeting no
further or other recess shall be taken by
either House.
Twelfth-Sections l3l, lS5, iS6, 40, l4l,
l42, l47, l4S, and l49 of the Revised Stat
uteS are repealed.