The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-26
The Electoral vote--Bnl Reported by
the House Committee on the
Snhiecf.

INC OeClaTAllOu VI tnS Ioouit Va thO SLSSSAVh
Of the President and Vice President have
agreed upon bill aud authorized Repre-
sentative Bicknel, the chairman, to report
it to the House with the approval of the
committee. This bill places the duty of
counting the vote just where it belongs, in
the hands of congress, and it further limits
the business Of congress on this subject to
the simple counting of the votes and de-
caring the result. Unlike the plan put
forward by the late Senator Morton, of
Indiana, aud advocated by Senator Ed
munds, it leaves the election of president
and vice president with the people, where
it was placed by the trainers of the Con-
stitution. This bill is simple, complete
and covers the whole subject. 1t leaves
no room for republican usurpation OF any
sort. 1t is simply al application OF the
principles and intent, and IN accordance
with the spirit Of the constitution. Il has
none of the spirit Of Capitalization in it,
and for this reason, it will probably be OPP
posed by the republicans and possibly be
vetoed by our fraudulent president, who
never could have. occupied his present
position had it been law 10 1876. The
republicans are so hopelessly committed to
Capitalization and consolidation that they
cannot refrain from opposing the passage
of this bill. Anything that does not look
80 hA Of
federal government one, and that one to
be the federal government must
meet with their objection. The
proposed bill disposes of all such
schemes as that the president Of the senate
has authority to count the votes and de-
eide what votes shall be counted and thus
virtually deciding who shall be president
"a scheme that was paraded before the
country by the republicans in 1877 aud is
only the natural outgrowth Of the centraliz.
ing principles of the republican party, as
enunciated and maintained by Senator
Blaine in his recent speech on the legisla'
tive appropriation bill.
The title and provisions of the proposed
bill are as follows:
A bill to amend sundry provisions OIL
chapter /, title 3, OF the revised statutes oil
the United States relating to presidential
elections, and to provide for and regulate
the counting Of the votes for president anC
vice president, and the decision Of ques
tons arising thereon.
FlrSt-Electors Of president and vice
president are to be appointed in each state
on the Tuesday next after the first Monday
IN November.
Second-They are to vote by ballot OF
the second Monday 10 December next aftel
their appointment.
Thlrd-They are to make three certif
cates-one of them TO be delivered to thu
president Of the senate by special messen
ger before the second Monday in January
then next another to be sent to him by
mail forthwith, and the third to be de-
liverad forthwith to the district judge O.
the district in which they meet.
FOurth-lf the certificate is not received
by the president OF the senate on or be-
fore the second Monday in January he
must notify the secretary of the state forth.
with, who shall send special messenger
to the district judge for the certificate de-
posted with him.
EgM-COntroverses as to electoral
votes in any state may be passed upon by
its highest judicial tribunal. which shall
send It's decisions under seal to the presi-
dent OF the senate.
StCth-Both houses Of congress shall
meet on the second Monday in the Febru-
airy next after the meeting of the electors;
the president of the senate shall preside;
seven tellers shall be appointed by the
senate and two by the house.
SeUenth-Th1 president of the senate
shall open all the certificates, and the votes
shall be counted by the two houses in the
alphabetical order of the states as certified
unless rejected by both houses; but if
shere be controversy in any state and q
certified decision of it by its highest judi
cial tribunal the electoral vote of that
state shall be counted 10 accordance there
with, unless the decision be revised by
both houses. If there be q controversy
and no such judicial decision the contested
votes shall not be counted unless both
houses concur therein. If there be con-
flctlng Judicial decisions or conflicting GER
tlhcates the decision or certificate held by
both houses to be given by proper author
lty shall be conclusive, unless rejected by
both houses.
Eighth-The tellers are required to make
a list of the votes as counted, and the
president Of the senate to anuounce the
result, and said announcement. with list
OF the votes, shall be entered on the Jour
nal OF each house.
Ntnth-On opening any certificate the
president of the senate shall call for OBJ
joctions. Objections must be in writing,
briet, without argument, and signed by one
senator and one representative Objec-
tious are to be decided separately by each
house, the senate Withdrawing. During
the meeting of the two houses, the pre-
siding officer shall have power to preserve
order, and no debate shall be allowed.
Tenth In the separate meetings to de-
eide upon objections each senator or rep
resentative may speak five minutes, and
once only, and after two hours of such de.
bate the main question shall be put.
Eterenth-The joint meeting shall not
be dissolved until the count shall be COM
piete. No recess can be taken, except
upon question arising under this act, in
wnlcn case either house, acting separately,
may direct recess of such house not be-
Sono the next day; but if the count be net
Gu peted before the fifth day after the
shou Weeung no further or other recess
snall De taken by either house
Inc bill in conclusion reDoaIs soo.;o,.
ISd' lSo' 1876, l4O, l4I. l42. l47. las and
I4' OF the revised statutes. '
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