The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-14
HARRISON'S ELECTION
Formally Declared in the Joint
= Session Of Congress,
INTERESTING CEREMONIES
That are Witnessed in this Country
but Once in -Four Years-somo
Amusing Incidents occur dur
Ing the Count of the Votes.

WASHINGTON, b. c., Feb. l3.-The
chamber OF the House presented q lively
scene this moraing. Although nothing
OF sensational character was expected,
the galleries were filed an hour before
noon by a crowd OF interested spectators
who were eager to witness the cere'
monies attending the counting Of the
electoral vote. The ladies were in the
majority, and with their handsome cos.
tunes formed u pretty frame to the
Kaleidoscope picture presented on the
floor below. The corridors in the rear
Of the galleries were thronged with sight.
seers, who were contented il, by rising
on their tip toes, they could glance over
the shoulders OF the more fortunate per.
sons who had secured n iOothold in the
doorways. Many ladies were upon the
floor pleading with members for passes
to the already Over.illGd galleries. Be-
side the Speakers chair was placed one
for Senator Ingalls,, who, as presiding
officer OF the Senate, was TO preside over
the Joint assembly, and in the area in
front Of the clerks desk were placed n
number Of richly upholstered chairs and
lounges for the accommodation OF Sem
ators. AT noon the Speakers gavel
hushed the hum OF conversation, and
the chaplain made an appropriate prayer.
At two minutes before o'clock Colo.
mel Canad0y, Serge geant.at'Arms Of the
Senate, appeared ut the door OF the
House, his arm linked in that OF Jim
Christie, assistant doorkeeper OF the
Senate. They stopped while the AS.
sistaut Clerk Of the House, standing in
the center aisle, addressed the Chair
and announced the coming Of the SEN
ate. As the announcement was made,
the members OF the House rose and re-
mained standing while the Senatorial
procession entered. Behind Canaday
and Christie came the venerable Cap.
tain Bassett, assistant doorkeeper OF the
Senate, bearing in either hand n big
brown box. Between Captain Bassett
came two special officers who have for
weeks stood guard over the room OF the
President OF the Senate, where the
electoral votes have been deposited.
Then came President Of the Senate pro
tempore John Il. ingalls,, his arm linked
in that OF General Anson McCook, Sec.
retary OF the Senate, then Senators
Maudorson and Harris, and behind them,
two and two, the rest OF the Senators.
The Representatives remained stand.
ing until the Senators had taken tho
seats assigned them, and then Senator
Ingalls,, seated on the right hand OF the
Speaker, called the joint assembly 10
order. Mr.. IngsllS said: "This being
the day and the hour appointed for
opening the certificates and counting
the votes Of electors for President, the
Senate and House of Representatives
have met together pursuant to the Con-
stitution and laws Of the United States.
If there be no objection TO the electoral
vote Of the State OF Alabama, the certif.
cate will be read by the tGllers, who will
make list OF the votes thereof"
The presiding officer then broke the
seal OF the certificate from Alabama, and
handed it to Senator Manderson, one OF
the telers, who read the document in
clear voice. 1t was in due form, and
showed that the ten electoral votes Of
Alabama had been cast for Cleveland
and Thurman. The certificate gave in
minute detail the proceedings OF the
meeting OF the electors in Montgomery
and contained tho ballots cast by each
eleCtor for President and Vice President.
1t was accompanied by statement from
the Governor OF Alabama certifying to
the election OF the electors therein
named. It's reading consumed seven.
teen minutes.
When the reading Of the certificate
was concluded, the individual votes
were read and the result recorded by
the tellers. The electoral vote Of Arkan.
sas was next presented and was reNd by
Senator Harris. At the conclusion OF
the reading Senator Edmunds, who has
consulted with the presiding officer,
arose and asked unanimous consent that
the reading OF the certificates be dis.
penscd with. No objection was made,
and thereafter the tellers simply an.
nounCed the result.
Just before the announcement OF the
vote OF Delaware, Mr.. Cox rose and
called attention to n clause in the law OF
February 3, 1887, providing that the
presiding officer should call for objec.
lions after tho announcement Of each
vote. Several amusing errors were made
by the tellers in announcing the votes
Mr.. ErmentrOut had tho vote OF Della.
ware for Vice President cast for "Levi
Pho, Allan G. Thurman" an an.
nouncement which was greeted with
laughter.
Senator MandersOn announced that in
Illinois Benjamin Harrison and Levi p.
Morton had received "twenty votes
each" "FOr whAt2" asked Senator Hoar
from his seat in the front row, and the
Senators about him laughed quietly.
When Indiana was reached Senator
Harris took the certificate in his hand
and announced in his peculiarly dOlibcr.
atc way that the certificate, appearing to
be in good form, showed that Grover
Cleveland" There was Il shout OF
laughter from the galleries aud the floor
and the proceedings were suspended for
fully q minute. Then the reading OF the
certificate proceeded. Al It's conclusion
Senator ingalls, arose and called Rtten.
ton briefly to the breach Of dignity and
deCorum and expressed the hope that II
wuild not occur ngain. When the vote
Of Oregon was reached, Senator ingalls,
announced that there were too many
papers in the envelopes and tellers aC.
oOrdingly examined them. They re.
poFted TINT there was but ono in dupli.
cate, and ~ that seemed TO be In due
form no objection was made 10 II.
At 9:4O the count Of the electoral vote
was completed, and Harrison and Nor.
ton were declared elected President and
Vice President.