The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-07-11
OF INFORMATION

Sa1lOrnld COuSFcSSlOldi ulStEICl,
and give his seat to the contestant, |
Sullivan, Democratic. One congress
man more or less doesn't make much
difference, but this is an unusual case
and capable of national results. If
the Democratic majority in the house
of representatives decides to give
Sullivan the seat, the California dele
CATION in the house will be tied
that is to say, it will consist of three
Democrats and three Republicans.
There is only one condition in which
a delegation so divided would count.
If no candidate for the presidency
should in November receive 201 cleo
toral votes, the election would be
thrown into the house. There the
vote for president is taken by states.
But each state has but one vote,
which is determined by the majority
of the delegation. If the vote be tied
the state is neutralized. A majority
of states, twenty at the present time,
is necessary to election.
In the present house, which, in the
event stated, will have to perform that
duty, the Republicans, if FELTON, from
the fifth California district, remains,
have twenty states, the number neces-
sary to elect. The Democrats only have
seventeen states, and one state, New
Hampshire is tied. If Sullivan be
given the place of FELTON,, in the event
of the election deyolying on the house,
the republicans will only have nine
teen states, or one less than the nee
essary majority. The house in that
case will stand Republican states,
nineteen; Democratic, seventeen; tied,
two-California and New Hampshire.
By this means a complication may be
contrived that has never before oc-
CURED in our history. The duty OF
electing a president has twice de-
volyed on the house. The first fail
ure by the people to elect occurred In
1900, when the rule was to vote for
president and vice-president, the can
didate having the highest number of
votes to be president, and the next
highest vice-president, provided a
majority of the electoral colleges was
in both cases obtained. On the
thirty-slxth ballot in the house
Thomas Jefferson was chosen by the
votes of ten states. Six states cast
their votes for Aaron Burr and two
were tied. There was another failure
OF the people to elect in 1924. This
occurred under the rule which is in
operation to-day, of voting for presi-
dent and yice-president separately.
In the house thirteen states voted for
John Quincy Adams, seven for An
drew Jackson and four for VIM. A
Crawford. Mr.. Adams was accord
ingly elected president.
In the event Of a failure of the
house to elect under the terms stated,
the senate elects a ce-president, who
becomes president. A failure to elect
a president by the people presumes a
failure to elect vice-president also,
but not necessarily. If q vice-presi-
dent should be elected by the people
he would become president on the
failure of the house to make a selec-
ton. But if there should be failure
on the part of the people to elect a
president and vice-president, and il
there should be failure on the part
of the house to elect president, ther
the senate is empowered, from the
two candidates for vice-president hav
ing the highest votes on the list, tc
select ce-president, who then be
Comes the president Of the United
States. But the senate stands SO Re
publicans. 81 Democrats and Inde
pendent, Riddleberger of Virginia. i
the latter should decide to cast hic
lot with the Democrats, the senate
would be tied, and no vice president
could be elected.
1t now begins to appear how fal
reaching are the political consequen
ces that may attach to Felton's seat
II by his election the vote of Califor
mia is tied, the Republicans of tht
house, on the failure of the people t.
elect, cannot choose the president, bu
neither can the Democrats. IL tn,
election then should be transferred t.
the senate, Republican success woult
depend upon an unknown politica
quantity-that is to say, Riddleber
ger. In the case of the failure of tn,
people, the house and the senate t.
chose a president and vice-president
under the old law the government
would go to the speaker of the house
But under the new law the secretar,
of state takes the place, and in case o
his death or inability the other secre
taries in specified order. The un
seating of FELTON, by these successiv,
steps may lead to secretary Bayard a