The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-12-17
Providing for lie Electoral
COuni.

Providing for tlte Electoral
Count.
One ofthe mast importnnt matters
that will come before this Congress
and one in which the Whole country
is deeply interested in having set
tied, is the revision and amendment
ofthe laws regulating the electoral
count.
The Washington dispatches give
.us the assurance thnt the House COM
mittee having this matter in charge.
has now agreed upon a report and
bill which 1t will make to the House
as soon as can be done under the
rules, and Will ask day for its con-
sideration.
Two propositions were referred to
this committee, One was toso amend
the Constellation so as to abolish the
electoral system, and provide for a
direct vote ~. the people for Presi-
dent and Vice. President. but there
was no possibility that an amend
mept TO The Constitution could now
be passed BY Congress and ratified
by three.fourihs Of the State l3egisla-
lures before the next Presidential
election. The defects Of the present
system, which we're made apparent
during the last Electoral count, there
fore, pFolp,Ited the consideration Of
-s !. !. s..-..i.i..i., .sv.,s re.
tered .lie committee uafi'ig The
eStra session.
his second proposition Is emepa-
led IN Dill % reguiate inc eicc.of,
al count, which we flnd published
entire IN an exchange, although not
yet presented 10 Congress.
The bill y quite Lengthy. preferio
ing, as IL does Az the details OF me
arrangements i9r counting inc vnee
ny the Two Houses IN Jo'hs meeting
and the nloue OF proceedings
among its man features '!re .he PRO,
visions Tor disposlns OF objections 70
any cert'heate- sNch oG]ections
must DC MADE IN wriung, orlei, ana
without argument 'hey must pe
signed oya senator ana hFpfeSehea-
I'VE anu must De aeciue'i oy each
House separately, there can oe no
debate ~ lhe JOINT meeting; IN sep
arate meetings 70 decide OBJECTIONS,
each memoer may speak i've mih'
utes, once only, ana after two hours
OF such debate the nam question
shall oe put. These provisions com
mend themselves and require no
comment.
The most important provisions OF
the bill, and those which are intend
ed to remedy The defects OF existing
statutes where the most t'ol'l,le arose
IN the last count, are contained In
sections seven and eight
These sect ions provide that N the
meeting Of the two Houses the Presl,
dent OF the Senate shall preside, and
shall open all certihcates and papers
purporting to be certificates OF eltc,
toral votes, and that the votes shall
then be counted by both Houses ac.
cording to the certificates, unless
some of them be rejected by both
Houses. II there be contested cleo
ton IN any state il may be deterniin-
ed by its highest judicial trihnnalin
accordance with its laws, Such til
bupal shall certify It's decision, ,in.
der,seal 10 the presidential the Sen
ate forthwith to ne opened by him
in joint meeting ut the same time
the electoral certificates are opened.
Contested votes shall be counted by
such judicial decision unless each
House, voting separately, shall dis.
sent therefrom. IF there be dis.
puted election without such a decis-
ion certified contested votes shall not
Sc counted, unless each House, yot
ing separately, decides that they
shall be counted. If there be con
ilicting judicial decisions or conflict.
ing electoral certificates from any
State, that decision orcertiicate held
by each house to be the lawful one
shall be conclusive. Unless rejected
by both houses. these provisions set.