Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-09
Counting the Electoral Vote.


The count OF the Presidential vote took place
in the House OF Representatives to-day. The
galleries were crowded to overfowtng and so
great was the rush that ladies who held tickets
were admitted On the 1oor Of the House. There
was quite gathering OF notables. In the diplo-
mauc gallery were the japanese Minister, sew
eTal attaches OF the legation and their ladies'
p 10 noon neither the President nor any men,
per OF ms FAMILY were in the seats reserved for
tnem, neither was any member of the Cabinet
Mrs. Secretary Sherman chaperoned quite
number OF young ladies', including some OF the
lady guests at the White House.
when the Senate, preceded by Sergeant-at-
Arms Bright, was announced. Vice President
Wheeler and Secretary Birch were locked arm
In arm followed oy Senators Thurman and
boxes were carried by the venerable Isaac Bas-
sett, and contained the votes OF the electoral
college These were guarded by four special
ling filed In with the Senate, and the absence
OF the former especially created good deal of
comment.
After the Senate had been seated In the front
rows OF seats reserved for them Vice President
Wheeler called the joint convention to order.
Speaker Randall sat on his left. The tellers
Messrs. Hamlin and Thurman, and Messr5
House and Crowley, took seats at the clerks
desk.
The first vote counted was that returned by
the electoral college Of Alabama. Senator Ham
lin read the certitcate while Senator Thurman
and the other tellers were ready with the tally
sheet to record it. The reading was dreadfully
slow and painfully monotonous.
At twenty minutes after 12 while the vote of
the state OF Arkansas was being read, Senator
Conkling appeared at the main entrance OF the
hall. For a few minutes he stood there as II
awaiting for some one to escort him to a seat
All In the front row had been taken. A red
morocco chair from the retiring room was
brought in, and he sat within the area, With
senator's Saunders and Bayard thanking him on
the right.
To read all the papers recorded with the votes
OF the states occupied about fifteen minutes for
each state In the case OF Arkansas and Alabama.
When California was about to be read the con-
Vention, upon motion made by Mr.. Reagan OF
Texas, dispensed with the reading of all fnfor-
NAL papers, and read only the certificates Of the
governor and secretary OF state of each state
This saved time very materially.
AttOrney-General DeVens came In While the
vote OF Colorado was being read, and occupied
seat On the floor. Secretary Evarts came into
the House when the certificate of the vote OF
Florida was being read.
The count proceeded to the end In a monoto-
nous and formal way, with the single exception
OF the Georgia episode. noted In the regular
Congressional report of TIE STAR.
private secretary Rogers occupied seat on
the floor, fanked by Gov. Pound and Represen-
tatlye Ketcham. Ex-senator Fenton, OF New
York. was an interested spectator. When read
ing the certificate of New York Mr.. Thurman
made slip OF the tongue. and said, "Winfield
5. Hancock. of New York, instead of Pennsyl-
area In front OF the Speakers chair. Within
TWO feet OF him sat Senator Bayard, but the two
senators neither spoke nor looked towards each
other. among the prominent men who were
on the floor was Gen. William G. Preston, Of
Kentucky.
When the list of states had been gone
through With, senator Thurman announced to
the joint assembly that the whole number OF
votes cast was 369. OF which 1s5 was majority;
that James A. Garfield had received Ola votes,
being majority OF the whole; that II the votes
o T Georgia were counted Hancock would have
155 votes; Ii not counted 144 votes but that In
either event GARFIELD would have majority
The same announcement was made In regard to
VICE President. whereupOn Vice President
Wheeler declared that Garfield and Arthur had
been duly elected President and Vice President
This was greeted with applause, and at 1875
fhe joint session was dissolved and the Senate
Withdrew