Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-14
COUNTING THE VOTE.
RLBCTORAL BALLOTS ARR CANVASSBD IN
THE HOUSE.
Many Interested Spectators Look Upon Lively Scenes
Amusing Errors in Announcing the Votes
How the August Senators Piled In
The Result Announced.

WASHINGTON, February 13.-The cham
Der of the House presented lively scene
to-day. Although nothing of sensation
al character was expected, the galleries
filed an hour before noon by crowd of
interested spectators, who were eager to
witness the ceremonies attending the count
ing of the electoral vote.
The ladies were in Jorge majority, and
with their handsome costumes formed q
pretty frame to the Kaleidoscope picture
presented on the floor below. The cor
ridors in the rear of the galleries were
thronged with sight-seers, who were con-
tented, if by rising on their tiptoes, they
could glance over the shoulders of the
more fortunate persons who had secured
foothold in the doorwsys. Many ladies
were upon the floor, pleading with men,
bers for passes TO the already overlooking
galleries.
Beside the Speakers chair was placed
one for Senator ingalls,, who, as presiding
officer Of the Senate, was 10 preside over
the Joint assembly, and in the area in front
of the clerks desk were placed number
of richly upholstered chairs and lounges
for the accommodation of the Senator'S
At noon the Speakers gavel hushed the
hum Of conversation, and the Chaplain
made an appropriate prayer.
At two minutes before one o'clock Col.
Csnsday, Ssrgeant-at-Arms of the Senate,
appeared at the door of the House, his arm
linked in that of Jim Christie, Assistant
Dcorkeeper Of the Senate They stopped
while the Assistant Clerk of the House,
standing in the center aisle, addressed the
Chair and announced the coming of the
Senate. As the announcement was made
the members Of the House roee
and remained standing while the Senatorial
procession entered. Behind Canaday and
Christie came the venerable Captain Bas-
sett, assistant doorkeepsr of the Senate,
bearing in either hand big brown box.
Between Captain Bassett came two special
officers who have for weeks stood guard
over the room Of the President Of the Srnste,
where the electoral votes have been depos-
tied. Then came President of the Senate
pro tempore JohnJ. Ingalls,, his arm linked
in that of General Anson McCook, Secretary
of the Senate, then Senators Manderson and
Harris, and behind them, two and two, the
rest of the Senators.
The Representatives remained standing
until the Senators had taken the seats as
signed them, and then Senator IDgalls,
seated on the right hand Of the Speaker,
called the joint assembly to order. Mr..
Ingalls, said: "This being the day and the
hour appointed for opening the certificates
and counting the votes of electors for Pres
ident, the Senate and House Of Represen-
tstives have met together pursuant to the
Constitution and lawso 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 telleIs, who will
make list of the votes thereof"
The presiding officer then broke the seal
of the certificate from Alabama, and
handed IL to Senator Mandersop, one of
the tellers, who read the document in a
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
the ballots cast by each elector for Presi-
dent and Vice President. 1t was accom-
panied by statement from the Governor
of Alabama certifying to the election Of
the electors therein named. Its reading |
consumed seventeen minutes.
When the reading of the certificate was |
concluded, the individual votes were read |
aud the result recorded by the tellers. |
The electoral vote of Arkansas was next |
presented, and was read by Senator Har-
ris. At the conclusion of the reading Sen
ator Edmunds, who has consulted with the
presiding officer, arose and asked unani-
nous consent that the reading of the GER
tifcates be dispensed with. No objection
was made and thereafter the teliers simply
announced the result.
Just before the announcement of the
vote of Delaware, Mr.. Cox arose and called
attention to clause in the law OF FeDru-
ary 8, 1887, providing that the presiding
officer should call for objections after the
announcement of each vote. Several
amusing errors were made by the tellers
in announcing the votes. Mr.. Ermen-
trout had the vote Of Delaware for Vice
President csst for Levi Pho, Allen
G.. Thurman an announcement which
was greeted with laughter.
Senator Msndersen announced that in
Illinois Benjamin Harrison and Levi p.
Morton had received twenty votes each"
"For whst?" asked Senator Hoar from his
seat in the front row, and the..Senators
about him laughed quietly.
When Indiana was reached Senator Hsr
ris took the certificate in his hand and an
uounced in his peculiarly deliberate way
that the certificate, appearing to be in good
form, showed that Grover Cleveland -"
There was a shout of laughter from the
galleries and the floor and the pro-
ceedings were suspended for fully G
minutes. Then the reading of the
certificates proceeded. At its conclusion
Senator Ingalls, arose and called attention
to the breach of dignity and decorum and
express ed the hope that it would NOT occur
again. When the vote Of Oregon was
reached, Senator Ingalls, announced that
there were too many papers in the envel-
opes, and tellers accordingly examined
them. They reported that there was but
one in duplicate, aud as that seemed to be
in due form no objection was made to it.
At2:4O the count of the electoral vote
was completed, aud Harrison and Morton
were declared elected President ard Vice
President.