Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1880-01-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Oar Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. Is, 1880.


Congress and to have done with IL IN
time for an early adjournment, there
are evidences Of "hreakersv ahead
that may set all calculations at naught.
II is understood that the Appropria-
ton Committee have so perfected their
plans as to be in position to put all
the regular bills through in an unusn-
ally short time. A member Of the
committee said yesterday that SO far
as the appropriations were concerned
they could be passed within a month
But there arc numerous outcroppings
Of a prolonged financial debate in both
houses, as well as Of other stormy dis
oussions, the end Of which cannot be
foreseen. In view Of these manifesto
tons, the general political situation
and the well-known procivities Of
congressman, | dc not think the de-
sire of the Democrats for short SEES
sion can DO realized.
There is growing feeling among
the more thoughtful and far-sighted
congressman in favor Of some lcgis-
lation on the subject of counting the
electoral vote. Aud it does not re-
qnire a remarkable foresight to dis
cover that some action in that direc-
tion would be most wise. All the
signs of the times point to contest
unprecedented in bitterness and re-
sulting perhaps in no end Of complca-
tons 1t is clear that the radical par
~ viii not give up control of the gov
ernmcnt upon a simple expression Of
the will Of the people against them, if
it can be held by hook or crook or by
the commission of any sort Of desper,
ate political crimes. True, Demo-
cratic Congress counts the votes this
time, but will not the Republicans
claim, as they did before the Electoral
Commission was created in the last
contest, that the President Of the Sens
ate has the sole right to count the
vote. and thus prccipitate deadly
struggl;' Schuyler Colfax-there are
people that remember who he is-had
an article in a late number of the Phil
adelphia Times, the sole object of
which seemed to be to point out the
power of the President of the Senate
IN making the count Vice President
Wheeler would in that case assume
10 count in the radical candidate.
A bill has been reported which is
perhaps as far as anything that could
be passed. 1t provides chat the two
houses shall meet in joint convention
under the same conditions as hereto.
fore, and that all the certificates or
papers purporting to be certificates
shall be opened by the President of
the Senate, and that in cases where
there is controversy, both houses must
concur in determining the result. I'm.
der the old twenty second joint rule
adopted by the Republicans to enable
them to throw out the vote Of the re-
constructed States, and repealed by
them in the Senate in 1876, when they
feared the Democrats might use it TO
reject Louisiana, the practice was that
mo vote objected to shall be counted
except by the concurrent vote of the
two houses" In the present bill the
vote of a State must be counted I'M
less rejected by both houses, and a de-
cision of State court in the case Of
disputed election is to stand unless
reversed by both houses. This ac-
cords substantially with the measure
so long, ably and persistently advo-
Gated in the Senate by the late Sena-
tor Morton.