Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
The American People are Again Re
minded Of the Weak Point In
Their Constitution.
inadequate Laws for the Election Of the
Head ofthe Nation and for Count
ing tho Popular Vote,
TIE srNArr

NiSlh ou tue ots JuStNh q benNer CITY I
railroad lands was referred
Mr. Allison, from the committee on
appropriations, reported the army 40. |
preparation bill. Placed on the calen. |
dar.
Mr.. Garland introduced bill to TO.
locate the Hot Springs reservation IN
Arkansas, and presented memorial
from the citizens OF Hot Springs rclat.
ing thereto Referred.
The senate passed the bill providing
permanent reservations for the In
dians In Northern Montana.
AT five minutes before IL o'clock y
message was received announcing that
the house Of representatives would at
IL o'clock be ready TO receive the sem
ate, that in joint convention both
houses might count the electoral votes.
The chair announced that the con cur.
rent resolution providing for joint con-
ventlon would now be executed, and
the senators, headed by the president
pro tenn. and the secretary OF the SEN
ate, and preceded by the sergeAut-at-
arms, proceeded to the house Of repre-
sentatives.
At 1855 the senators returned 10 the
senate chamber aud the president pro
tenn OF that body having resumed the
chair the teltrs IN the part Of the sem
nte, Messfs Hosr and Pendleton. ap.
peared, and on their behalf Mr.. Hoar
reported the result OF the electoral
count When the tellers' report was
completed the president Of the senate
repeated verbatim the closing sem
teuce Of tho announcement made by
Lad - laa HalaIswsr to -
declaration OF the vote. That
PRECEDENT makes this declsr.
alton only aa a public statement
| In the presence OF the two houses OF
congress Of the contents Of the paper
opened and resd on this occasion, and
not as possessing any authority 10 law
70 declare any legal conclusion what
ever
Mr. Conger Of Michigan ssid tn At he
desired, as one Of the members Of the
senate, to say that he entirely di.senttd
from the declaration that the president
of the senate or the vice-president had
no other power in announcing
that vote than 10 announce the fact
and he did not know by what author
| lty that sentence had been made part
of the declaration.
Mr. Sherman said: 81 also wish fol-
my self, having put on record my opin
ion Oh this question ut other times, &
again assert and put on record my
opinion that, II the declaration
made was the declaration of TIN
gentleman who presided on that Oc
casiOn, expressing his own opinion
IL should not be taken as 3 prece
dent except 80 far as IL may command
the Judgment Of mankind hereafter
believe that the vlce.pre,ident OF tn
United States declared and exercise
constitutional power when he pre-
sided over that body to-day and count
ed the vote, and that his announce
ment Of the vote IL conclusive OF 81
argument upon the question
and that In doing 30 b
not only gave his own opinion AS IN
result OF certain pap re- given TO him
but that he made the Ionly consliuI
tional declaration provided for undf
the existing Law ss IN who 10 to /
president OF the United States after th
4th Of March,
After remarks by Messrs. Hoa
Lapham. Wilson and Ingalls on II
subject the chair (Mr. Edmund
= said that he regarded the senate rs !
no way responsible for the de claratlO
= made by him. He bad performed h
constitutional duty, and on his Ow
responsibility made the declaration r
ferred 10
Mr. ingalls, offered the foIlowir
resolution: Resolved, that the Sci
p ate does not ascent TO the co
3 Guiding declaration OF the presldel
, OF the senate in the announcemel
). OF the vote for president and vlce.prt
' ident OF the United States made Ia Il
presence OF the two houses OF congTe
y Mr.. Bayard: "Let that go over un
o 10 morrow" The resolution we
g over accordingly,
= Mr.. Hoar offered the following res
luton:
whereas, the senate having N
the house Of representatives. In accol
ance with the 5th section OF the act
March, 1892 relative tn the preside
and vice. president OF the Unit
y States, and the electoral vo
re having been opened
OF the PRECEDENT Of the senate IN the pr
euce OF tho two houses of congress u
q, c0unted by the ttllers appointed
n the part OF the two HOUSES, aud II
~ praIing that the whole number
Electors appointed 10 vote for pre-
"A dent and vlce-rTe-ideDt OF
H. United States Is 40l. OF which q n
~ loruy ls 2nl, ana Il further appear
- that Grover Cleveland Of New Va
had received 2l9 vOtee for president
the United SA,es. aud that ThOs.
Hendricks Of Indiana had recyiy
2l9 votes for vice preside
nfthe United States, which Is a u
- inrlty OF the votes Of the whole NUM-
ok IT electors appointed; aud the 81
~ having been duly declared by
= president of the senate 10 the presei
ee Of the two hnusea, therefore
Resolved, that the senate IL Of
ne opinion that the constitution aud Ia
&C have Deep duly executed, and that
lAI further declaration OF these faclI
.Ie necessary
'gs The senate resumed eOnpiderat
OF the bill 70 repeal the pre-, mptiol
OF timber culture laws, gn1 after consit
VII allie discussion the bill was repeal
Some amendments were reject
Pending their discussion the sen
a