The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-12
LuGAN'S SUCCESSOR.

As the time draws near for the meeting
of the legislature at Springfield, the sem
atorship question becomes of mnch inter
est. The act prescribing the mode of
procedure for the election of United
States senator was passed by congress
several years ago, in consequence a case
which arose in one of the states where the
two houses of the legislature refused to
go into joint session to elect 2 senator.
The act now existing is found in the
United States Revised Statutes. entitled
the Election of Senators, and is as fol
lows:
Sec IA The legislature Of each state
which if chosen next preceding the cXpi>
ration of the time for which any senator
was elected TO represent such state in con
gress shall, OH the second Tuesday after
the meeting and organiz tion thereof,
proceed 10 elect senator in congress.
Sec. is, Such election sjIll be con
Quoted in the following manner: Each
hOuSC ohdll oPtilS ~ u ecu tpoS WV VI
each member present, name one person
for senator in congress from such state,
and the name of the person so voted for,
who receives a majority of the whole
number of votes cast in each house, shall
be entered on the journal of that house
by the clerk or secretary thereof or if
either house fails to give such majority
to any person on that day. the fact shall
be entered on the journal. At twelve
o'clock meridian of the day following that
on which proceedings are required to take
place as aforesaid, the members Of the
two houses shall convene in Joint assem-
bly,, and the journal of each house shall
then be read, and il the same person has
received majority of all the votes in
each hOnsc, he shall be declared duly
elected senator. But if the same person
has not received a majority of the votes
in each house, or il either house has
failed to take proceedings as required by
this section, the Joint assembly shall then
proceed to chose. by tjoa ooee vote Of
each member present, person for sena>
tor, and the person who receives ma
jority of all the votes of the JOINT assem-
bly,, majority of all the members elected
to both houses being present and voting,
shall be declared duly elected If no per>
son receives such majority on the first
day, the joint assembly shall meet at
twelve o'clock meridian of each succeed.
ing day during the session of the legisln
ture, and shall take at least one vote un,
til a senator is elected.
Sec. is. Whenever on the meeting o!
a legislature of any state a vacancy exist,
in the representation of such state in the
senate, the Legislature shall proceed on
the second Tuesday after meeting AM
organization, to elect person to fill such
vacancy, in the manner prescribed i'll tn,
preceding section for the eleGtion OF 4
senator for full term
Sec II. Whenever duriu @ the session
of the legislature of any state a vacanc,
occurs in the representation of such STATE
in the senate, similar proceedings to til
such vacancy shall be had on the second
Tuesday after the Legislature is organize
and has notice of such vacancy
Sec. IS. 1t shall be the duty of the
executive of the state from which am
senator has been chosen to certify hi
election, under the seal of the state, IL
the president of the senate of the Unitet
States.
Sec. 49, The certificate mentioned il
the preceding section shall be counter
signed by the secretary of state of tn.
state.