The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-05-23
XLVITH CONGRESSIONAL SEES.
SION

SENATE-The President pro tenn. laid be-
fore the Senate communication from the
Secretary Of the Treasury, answering the
Senate resolution el u,ring regarding the
method adopted in the revenue service in
substractlng tare on foreign sugars imported
in boxes. The secretary reports that II per
cent is allowed in such cases. This rate IL
thought to represent.the average tare, but
the importer may insist upon the ascertain
ment Of the actual tare in any case
When the morning hour expired, the un.
fins he'd business, being the resolution for u
Joint rule for counting theelectoral vote, was
taken up, and Mr.. Morgan spoke in its sup
port. He expressed the hope that discussion
upon the measure would be entirely unparti-
san, as the subject was recognized rs of gem
eral public Importance. The stat.
as is advisable in regard to
the formation of the electoral college and
the forwarding of the list of votes. 1t had
not heretofore been thought by Congress,
except in the case of the electoral commits
sion, that q rule could be adopted governing
the discretion of the House when it met to
count the votes as to what lists should be
received or rejected. In 1866 Joint reso.
luton was passed by the two Houses. which
affected the rights of certain States lately in
rebellion to be represented in
the electoral college. There was
some doubt as TO the opini, n
of the President at that time as to the pro.
priptv of his partjcinotion in LEGISLATION sf.
iectiny tho electoral % 'a,een1 an tha n.,t
day after the massage of the Characterization
erd before il went 10 the President the t,yn
House- gdonted its nroyis;ons osa ioint rnIa
This WA, The d9y befnre the eicctorsl coilrgo
meetIpo. in which Mr. Lincoln was counted
in for his second term, \ few DAYS after
President Lincoln returned the ioint.rasoin.
ton, signed, but accompanied nv a
message stating that he aid NOT
think legislation that nr,yi1el matbnd
Of counting the vote reouired The concurrence
of the executive. and he believed his iona.
ture had no fleet one wav or the Other Mr.
Morgan had referred 10 this fart at the outsst
of his remarks. because il uirht bapoma Al -
,iicant in debate. II was cEin,o3 NV r,anv
that tbe President Of the senate bod snt1ori.
+, to omen and count the votes oI,bon,b bo
might be personally interested in the resplt
Mr. Iincnln had in the case raf,r,al 10 40.
clined TO patticinate in tbot which d. fran.
cbised eleven States which wouid otberwi.o
have beer counted against him. Mr.. Norgon
hoped this examnle, 90 we'll in sccord With
the principles of our free government,
should be always regarded with respect, and
the opinion OF Mr.. Liz coin on this important
subject be given the weight it deserved. The
Joint rule formerly in force had been aban.
doncd bv the party adopting il. Wheth.
err for political reasons or not he could not
say. Il was nat demanded for the safety Of
the people. He thought the one proposed bv
him ia iciously defined the duties of the pre-.
siding officer, as TO LAYING the
votes before the Houees. The rule heretofore
in force recurring the concurrence of both
houses in receiving the vote was pslbably in
violation of the constitution. It cave either
house the right of disfranchise arbitrarily.
The proposed Joint rule left each house free
in deciding all questions arising. The rule of
decision provided for was in accordance with
the universal practice where the action of
three bodies was TO be had on question. The
States pass upon the validity of returns 80 far
as their validity depends on State laws. In
the Joint meeting of the two houses in which
the States are also represented this VALIDITY