Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-13
WASHINGTON.
Discussing Senator Edmunds and tho
Electoral Count.
l..


Spccil 10 ke REGISTER.
WASHINGTON, February ll.-Republicsn
sentiment at the Capital Is strongly averse
TO accepting the logical conclusions Of
Mr.. Edmunds method of declaring the re.
suit of the electoral count He said simply
that Cleveland and Hendricks had a major
ity of the electoral vote as it appeared from
the certificates read, but coupled even this
mid assertion with the statement that he
was simply making public announcement
and did not claim to have authority to reach
or to announce any legal conclusions.
PrecedentS.
There are one or two precedents tor
this form Of announcement, but this does
not in any way decrease the disgust Of
Republican Senators and Representatives.
1t is true the constitution gives no direct
authority to the Vice President to announce
the result positively. But it does say that
he is to open the electoral returns and that
they are to be counted in the presence of
both Houses of Congress,-pIesumably, in
the meaning Of the trainers of our organic
law under his supervision. That being the
case it would seem to be superfuoOs to
mention the fact that the result is to be an
nounced by the Vice President as no au-
thority either for counting or announcing
the result is given to anyone else.
Such is the old-time Republican doctrine
which led James G. Blaine, Oliver p. Nor
ton, and all the Republican leaders in the
Senate excepting COnkling to vote against
the interference of the Electoral Commis-
sion in the counting of the electoral vote Of
| 1876. Mr. Edmunds flies in the face OF pre-
cedent and of party consistency and ma kes-
an announcement, the meaning Of which is
so prOblematical that many Democrats left
the hall OF the House Of Representatives,
feeling that it must pOrtend some coming
attempt on the part Of the Republican party
to question the validity of the result.
| Dissenting.
Ii was this feeling which showed itself in
such = way as TO make Republican Senators
feel that they owed it to their party to make
known their disagreement with Mr.. Ed
munds in his new version of the constitu-
tionsl law governing the count Of the cleo
| toral vote, and no sooner had the Senator
got back 20 its own chamber than a resolu-
ton was presented BY Ingalls,. the sharp
tongued giant Of Kansas aud seconded by
John Sherman, Of Ohio, expressing such
dissent
A similar resolution was presented in the
House by Keifer, who always puts him self
at the head of any sentiment on the Repnb.
| hcan side which he has the intellectual
scuteness to discern. Both resolutions went
over, under the rules, but it is well known
that they reflect the views Of vast ma jor-
ity of the Republican members in the Senate
and House.
Divided.
Democratic sentiment is divided and
some Of the more considerate Democratic
Senators and members of the House en-.
dorse Edmund's position claiming that after
the position their party took on the question
of counting the electoral vote in February,
1877 and prior to that time, they can do
nothing else. AS matter of fact, however,
Ferry, who was acting Vice President at
the time, did announce the result most pos
itively and without any disclaimer Of any
kind after the count Of the Electoral Com
mission had been ratified by the refusal Of
the House and Senate to jointly non-con.
Germ in any of its findings.
The Committee on Rules, Of the Hoase Of
Representatives, will report resolution to-
morrow or next day to the effect that the
House meet regularly at II q. m. instead Of
| l2 M, beginning with Monday. This ia
held to mean that the majority Of the Com
mittee on Rules, in which Mr.. Randall is
a very important factor. is anxious to avoid
an extra session if possible. 1t begins to
look as though such a session could be
averted unless there is an organized
effort to force IT, which has not shown itself
as yet. The House made some excellent
progress with the postal appropriation bill
yesterday afternoon. 1t is not likely thai
the Senate after reeeding from it!
general legislation rule in the case Of the
Pension appropriation bill, viii undertake
to hold out on that point in the case o
other appropriation bills. J. A.