The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-03-17
WASIIINGTOS.
MIR. Edmunds' Remarks on Counting
The Vote for President md vice.
President, Etc. EtC.

Washington, March l6.--In explaining the
bill to regulate the counting of votes for
President and Vice President introduced in
the Senate by Mr.. Edmunds to-day, the latter
said "Tbe bill that passed the Senate at the
last session of Congress on this subject en-
braced various propositions as to the time of
holding Presidential elections for electors in
the States and various provisions, better
regulating the law in the case of vacancies
in both the offices of President and Vice
President and so on. Its provisions also
look to future legislation by the States in re-
spect to providing means of determining
controversies in these States respe citing the
choice of electors. The time has SO run that
of course any provision Of that
kind that would apply to tho next election
would be entirely useless. In consequence OF
that I have taken that bill and modified it to
the simple propositionof providing that the
meeting of electors shall be on the second
Monday of January instead Of the second
Wednesday in December. have also modi-
fed it so as to give the time for such States
as have any existing laws eluNte for the
purpose, 10 determine for themselves, and
foreign TO tho Constitution which | believe
they have the sole right to do where
their electors are qualified. This bill, there
fore, makes the simple provision for State
disposition of any controversy and such laws
AS It NAV have in existence prior to the date
of choosing electors. 1t provides for q later
meeting of electors, in order that each State
may dispose of any controversy that may
arise, and then provides, rs the bill of las
session did for a meeting OF the two Houses
and proceeding in conformity with decisions
reached in the respective Ststes if there Il
anv ise OF dispute"
The bill WIS referred to the Select Com
mittee on Presidential Election.
XLVITu CONGRESS-SECOND SEES
SION.
SENATE. Mr.. Edmunds introduced bill
| to fix the day for the meeting of electors o
President and Vice President and to provide
| for and regulate the counting of votes for Pres
ident and Vice-President, and the decision o
questions arising thereon, he said: ''For more
| than a year, now, there has existed a larg,
and select committee Of this body charged
with the duty of considering this and othe
| COHuhLe Suulttts. bO 10 huVWt sho
committee has had no meeting, and hav,
waited, being in the minority in this body, II
the hope that some gentlemen in the majorit.
would move in what consider to be the mos
| important business; but as no movement ha
been made, feel it my duty to ask consen
to introduce this bill and that it be referred
to that committee"
On motion of Mr.. Thurman the resolution
offered by Mr.. Kellogg on Friday last for tn
appointment of a committee to investigate
certain scandalous newspaper charges mad'
against him was laid on the table by vote
81 yeas, Democrats; 25 nays, Republicans.
Mr.. Burnside, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, reported tavorably the House
Joint resolution to carry into effect the reso
luton of Congress adopted in October, 1878
in regard to memorial column at York
town. Placed on the calendar.
At the expiration of the morning hou
consideration of the Star route detcenc,
appropriation bill was resumed, MIR. Becl
continuing his remarks in advocacy OF tn
preamble. He was followed by Messrs. Tel
Ter and Garland in opposition thereto, an,
some general debate ensuel upon the bill
pending conclusion Of which, the Senate ad
journed.
HousE.-On motion of Mr.. F. Wood, o
New York. session was ordered for Satnr