New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-11
COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTE
WEDNESDAY Is THE DAY AND WASHINGTON
THE PLACE.
RULES AND LAWS WHICH GOVERN THE METHOD
OF PROCEDURE.

RULES AND LAWS WHICH GOVERN THE METHOD
OF PROCEDURE
Washington, Feb 10-on Wednesday Of this week
az o'clock Congress will meet In the hall Of the
House OF Representatives and count the vote Of the
electors for President and YIcePresldent Of the United
states Both branches OF Congress meet under the
provisions OF the act approved February Q, 1887,
ana unusual interest attaches TO the proceedings be-
cause OF the fast that they VIII 10 the first to be held
In accordance with that law.
I The law provides that the States may provide for
the determination of the legally chosen electors by
Judicial or other methods of procedure provided that
the determination be made at least SIX days before
the date bxed for the meeting of electors The votes
cast by the electors shall BIO certified to the State
department by the Executives OF the several states,
ana thence transmitted TO Congress. On the second
wednesday in February Congress shall convene In
Joint session. the President Of the Senate presiding
Tho votes shall be handed TO two teers Of the Senate
and two of the House previously appointed. They
shall announce the votes and after tabulang the TO.
suit 1t shah DO declared by the presiding officer,
which announcement shan be deemed sufficient
declaration Of the persons II any elected President
and Vice President OF the United States and together
with list Of the votes be entered on the journals OF
the two Houses
In case objection is made TO any vote It must DO
stated in writing clearly and concisely, without ari-
ment, and signed by at least one member Of each
House, before being entertained. When the objection
has been received the Senate shall withdraw, and the
same shall be presented to the two Houses for their
determination. When but one return Is made from a
State It shall not be rejected in case the State has
decided which Of two or more sets OF electors was
legally chosen the two Houses may determine by
concurrent action II the decision rightly made and
the vote shall then be counted as they agree II the
two Houses disagree then the vote Of the electors
declared By the Executive Of the state TO have been
legally chosen shall be counted The vote OF one
state shall be disposed Of before that Of another
Is taken up. when the two Houses separate 10 decide
an objection debate shall DO limited TO- two hours
when the main question Is TO be put When the Joint
session begins there shall be no recess except when
the Houses SEPARATE when they may take recess
until 10 O'Clock OF the succeeding day, but II the
count be not completed and the result declared before
the fifth calendar day then further recess shall DO
taken
BY an amendatory act approved October 10, 1885
the Secretary OF state Is authorized to send special
messenger after the vote OF State that has not been
received at the Department by the fourth Monday
In January The votes Of all the states have been
received by President pro TEN. ingalls, ana fecepteu
for by him. that Of Florida being secured by special
messenger OF the State Department, RS proVhcd iof
In the amendment OF october 1888.
The counting OF the electoral votes prior 10 1871
was done under Joint rule 90 OF the two Houses OF
Congress. In 1877 the Electoral Commission counted
and declared the vote In 1881 and also IN 1890 the
counting proceeded under tho terms OF the concurrent
resolutions adopted for those occasions only.