Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1880-03-30
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our regular Correspondent

cresslnerl to which ! referred several
weeks ago, that it il necessary to
make some provision at this session
for counting the electoral te, has
developed into a disposition to act
The position and desperate temper Of
the Republican leaders az this time Is
sufficient to convince the most lIno-
cent and conGding Democrat that the
height Of political unwisdom would BE-
TO leave the matter where u was III
the last contest, with the chances that
under the direction Of Cameron and
Conkling, the President Of the BEL ate
would assume to declare the result IN
his own way, and make President
TO suit himself and party. This is
what the Radicals set out to 90 the
last time. before the Electoral Com
mission was created, and it is what
they would undertake to do next win
ter, in spite Of Congress unless there
is more definite Legislation than now
exists.
Nevertheless, the position is not
without difficulties to the Democrats
Any measure they might adopt, how
ever fair and impartial. would be de-
nounced by the Republicans as par
tisan scheme to "seize the Presidency"
and any bill passed that did not give
the Republicans some advantage,
would be vetoed by the fraud who sits
in u seat to which another was elect
cd. The thieves who have stolen the
office once are exceedingly nervous
aud full Of suspicion. Under the cir
cumstances the most available and I'M
Objectionable course for the Democrats
seems TO be tho reenactment OF the
22d Joint Rule framed by the Repub-
leans when they had both Houses of
Congress, but hastily repealed by the
Radical Senate when the Democrats
came in possession OF the House.
This rule provides for joint session
of the two houses, the appointment Of
tellers, To whom the certificates are
handed when opened by the President
of the Senate, and for u separate vote
Of each House upon the acceptance of
any vote to which there Is objection.
Under it both Houses must concur to
count the vote Of State objected to
1t would thus be in. the power of Con
gress to reject votes deemed fraudu-
lent or irregular just as the Republic
an Congress rejected several states in
1869 and 1878 Yet the Radical soul
is much narrowed up at the thought
OF a Democratic Congress adopting
one Of its own rules, and following
some Of its own precedents. it ap
pears to be not oaly Revolutionary
hut Unreasonable" for Democrats to
do those things which were eminent.
~ wise and patriotic when done by
their opponents.
Several remarkable bills for the
benefit Of the soldiers of the late war
have been introduced during the pres
ent session, among them the now
Weaver bill and the
Singleton bill, which proposes to give |
TO each officer and soldier land war.
rant. or 5000 in lieu Of il Another
which provides COR an enormous in-E
crease OF the number of pensioners,
has been introduced in the House by /
Mr.. Fort. It authorizes and directs
the Secretary OF the Interior ''t1 place
upon tue pension-roles, subject to all I
general laws nd regulations, the
names Of all persons who served as Of /
iccrs or enlisted men in the Ar
ny or Navy of the United States.
ncIuding Militia aud volunteers,