Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-06
SENT FOR THE CLERK.
THE FAILURE TO CERTIFY SCOTT
COUNTYS VOTE MUST BE
EXPLAINED.
serEesnt-at-Arms Sent for the Delinquent
Onicial-vote of Alexandria City
Also Incomplete.

the secretary or the commonwealth tne
vote of that county for Governor and Lieu
tenant Governor as required to do by the
laws Of the State.
A rule has been issued against him and
he will be summoned by the Sergeant-at-
Arms of the House OF Delegates TO appear
before the joint assembly on Tuesday next
at I p. NJ. toshOw cause. II any he can, why
he should not be punished for contempt.
The case is one of considerable interest
and is Of great Importance, as the manner
in which il is treated will set an example
TO lie followed hereafter If q similar emer-
gency shall arise. SO far as Is known there
hasneyer before been such state OF things
in connection with Virginia election.
Tho consensus of opinion yesterday
seemed to be that if the Clerk had any rea-
sorable ground for not certifying an ab-
stract Of the return made by the county
commissioners he will be excused after ap-
pearing before the bar and making an ex-
pianation. thus purging himself OF any In
tended contempt; but that II he fails to
respond To the summons and make salts
factory explaDatiOn he should be punished
severely and be made an example that viii
be calculated TO deter others from acting
in like manner. Some expressed the
opinion, however. that the Clerk can give
no excuse for failing TO comply with the
law. which simply requires him to certify
TO the Secretary of the Commonwealth an
attested copy of the certificate OF the coun-
ty commissioners.
THR JOINT ASSEMBLY,.
Pursuant to q resolution adopted on
Wednesday by both the Senate and
House, the members Of the two bodies met
in Joint assembly at 1890 o'clock yester-
day in the hail Of the House TO count the
vote for Governor and Lieutenant-Goy-
ernor.
Lieutenant-Go Massey and Clerk
Pendleton, locked arm-in-arm, led the
way from the Senate chamber through
the rotunda TO the hall Of the House
Of Delegates. The latter body being
apprised by Speaker Cardweu OF the
presence of the Senate arose to receive
The senators, who were accorded seats TO
the right OF the Speaker. The JOINT ses-
sion was presided over by the Speaker OF
the House and Iieutcnant-GOvernOr Mas
soy occupied seat 10 the lett of that gen.
tleman. Colonel Bigger acted as clerk and
was assisted by Or. Pendleton.
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Or. PendotOn called the roll of the
Senate and thirty-fve members answered
to their names. The House roll was call
cd by Colonel Bigger and there were nine
tv-fve members IN the hall.
Senator Berry. of Amherst, and Delegate
Downing. Of Warren, were appointed a
committee to canvass and record the vote
The seals OF the large official envelope,
containing the abstracts from the yariou,
counties and cities were broken by Speak
er Cardwell. who handed the returns dowr
10 the committee. Clerk Bigger entered
the figures on the large tabular blank that
covered his desk.
VOTE NOT CERTIFIED.
When the city Of Alexandria was reached
the presiding officer announced that the
vote for Lieutenant-Goyernor cast in thai
city was not certified.
The presiding officer also announced
that no certified returns had been received
from Scott county.
These two cases were temporarily passed
by.
TO ADD THE FIGURES.
Messrs. johnson Of the Senate and
Jovnes OF the House were appointed to ado
the votes for Governor and Lieutenant
Governor.
SCOTT COUNTY CASE.
Mr. Hay offered the following, which was
adopted:
Whereas the Clerk Of the County Court
of SCOTT county has failed to certify the
vote of Scott county for Governor ant
Lieutenant-GOvernO
ResO'red, That the presiding officer Of
this Joint assembly appoint n committee
of three from the JOINT assembly to pro
cced 10 the county of Scott and require
from the Clerk Of said county certified
abstract and return of the votes cast tol
Governor and Lieutenant. Governor at the
election held on the 9Th day of November
lssg. and report their action to the joint
assembly.
Resoircd tvi3er, That the said committee
have pOwertO send for persons and papers
THE ALEXANDRIA VOTE.
Senator Fchols caught the ear Of th'
Chair and offered the following, which wa
Whereas the Clerk Of the Corporation
Court of the city of Alexandria has faileC
to certify the result Of the votes cast II
said city on November 5. 1889, for Lieuten
ant-GOyernOr
Res0ped That a committee consisting Of
one senator and one delegate he APPOINTED
by the presiding officer TO proceed at once
TO Alexandria city and have the said vote
certified by SAID Clerk and report the sam'
10 the Joint assembly at some future meet
lug.
WHEN TO MEET AGAIN.
Mr.. Lovenstein offered resolution pro
viding that when the joint assembly ad
iourned 1t should do 50 to meet next We'd
nesday at o'clock.
This was adopted and afterwards recon
sidered and amended by making Tuesday
the day Of meeting.
BEcoSTDERED.
Senator johnson moved to reconsidel
the vote by which the resolution offered 10y
Mr.. Hay with reference 10 sending com
mittee TO Scott county was adopted
Agreed to.
SEND FOR THE CLERK.
Mr.. johnson now offered as a substitut,
resolution providing that the Sergeant
alarms be instructed TO proceed to scot
county with power 70 bring the Clerk o
the county before the bar Of the assembly
Senator Mills stated that he had brought
10 the Secretary of the Commonwealth {
certified copy Of the returns from Scot
county. These papers, he said, were no
given to him by the Clerk, but by MaIol
Holloway, the Republican candidate to
the House
Colonel Catlett Gibson opposed the reso
luton offered by Mr.. johnson ontbe grounC
that il would be going too far to instruc
the Sergeant-at-Arms 10 arrest the Clerk.
Mr.. Jones, of Brunswick, also appealed
to the body not 10 cast such an lndlgnltl
upon the Clerk, who he was certain mean
to do nothing wrong.
Mr.. johnson withdrew his resolution.
INFORMATION FROM THE SECRETARY.
Senator Echols offered a resolution tha
the Secretary Of the Commonwealth be in
structed to inform the joint assembly WHY
no certified copy Of the returns from Scot
was transmitted to the assembly. Asreet
TO.
The Secretary Of the Commonwealth re
spOnded that no returns had been received
by him from the county.
TO SHOW CAUSE.
Senator Jones then offered the following
Resolred. That the Sergemt-at-Arms o
the House of Delegates be, and he IS here
by, required to proceed 10 the court-hous'
of the county of Scott and execute upol
the Clerk of the County Court OF sai'
county rule requiring him to appear her
on Tuesday next, at l o'clock, and shov
cause, if any he can. why be snail not D'
attached for his failure TO certify 10 tn
Secretary of the Commonwealth the yot'
cast at the election held on the 5tl
day Of November last for Governor anC
Lieutenant-G OF the Common
wealth. The said rule shall be issued an(
attested by the Clerk Of the House OF Dele
gates.
Mr.. Hay now withdrew his resolutions
and those offered 10y Senator Jones wer'
adopted after further discussion.
THE ALEXANDRIA RETURNS.
l. IL