The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-09
COUNTING THE VOTES.
LAST FORMALTTY PREVIOUS TO
THE INAUGURATION.
An Immense Crowd Gather to witness the
Ccrcmony-Clev and stevenson
0mciaiiy Declared Elected.

WeNct AiONuS MtIt UIdRn 10 lit AdlltOl
to-day by the merely formal ceremonies
incident to the official counting Of the
electoral vote. The bright sunshine and
tonic bracing breezes which marked the
day were boldly claimed as Cleveland
weather" and were sharply contrasted
with the dismal atmospheric surround
ings which have so unfortunately ac-
oompanied nearly every one Of MIR. Har-
rison's public appearances, commencing
with the drenching rain on his inaugu-
ration day. and even following him into
each Of his private duck hunting expedi-
tions.
The ceremonies attending the counting
OF the vote are prescribed by the joint
resolution reported by Senator Hoar In
ISIS. and which has been made applicable
10 all succeeding elections, and been in
corporated in a supplement TO the re-
vised statutes. Nice-President Morton
some days since appointed as tellers on
behalf Of the Senate for this important
ceremony Hale of Maine, and Blackburn
OF Kentucky. Speaker Crisp appointed
Judge Chipman Of Michigan and Henry
cabot Lodge. Senator-elect from Massa-
chusetts. as House tellers.
The actual ceremonies were nearly the
same to-day as they were four years ago,
with a slight difference in personnel.
There was "A ceremoniOus opening OF the
safe I'm the Nice-President's room taking
out of eighty-eight sealed packages, sup
posed TO represent the votes Of forty-four
states. as received in duplicate by mail
and messenger. There was a solemn pro-
ccssion under the lead of old Captain Bas-
sett. who has participated in every presi
Dental court for more than sixty years
escorted by squad of Capitol police 70
prevent a raid being made upon the pre-
cious locked boxes containing the votes.
The boxes having been safely deposited
in the House. the Senate, in "A body fol-
lowed shortly before / o'clock. Members
Of the Upper Chamber were, Of course,
received by the House with becoming re-
speCt The Vice-President ascended the
Speakers platform and took his seat at
the right Of Speaker Crisp. the Senators
ranging themselves in places assigned TO
them on the right of the hall, and the
Speaker sitting at the left hand Of the
Vice President In this manner the count
proceeded in the presence of densely
packed galleries and a crowded floor.
Following precedents observed upon for
ner occasions. unless 2 demand is made
that a certificate be reported in full, the
tellers having ascertained that the GER
tihcates are in due form, and properly
authenticated. omitted the executive GER
tihcate Of the ascertainment OF electors
appointed. and the preliminary formal
statement Of the proceedings Of the cleo
toral colleges. and proceeded rapidly with
reading and ascertainment Of the re-
suit
The Vice President having called the
joint assemblage 10 order. proceeded for
mally 10 open one Of the boxes, in which
were contained the returns OF the electors
Of the various States. The first return,
that OF Alabama, was handed 10 Senator
Hale. one OF the tellers. who I'm o low but
"a cbg
ing that the eleven votes OF that state
had been cast for Cleveland and Steven
son. Then certificates were presented
without formal reading. tellers merely
stating the result. There was the utmost
dignity preserved. until Teller Black
burn announced that the State OF Illinois
had cast twenty-fOur votes for Cleveland
and Stevenson. Then few OF the spec
tators broke into applause. which was
promptly checked by the Nice-President
who i'm a few dgnified words. called upon
the spectators not 10 disturb the decorum
which ought to characterize the great
national transaction which was now pro-
ceeding I'm the presence Of the American
people.
After the last certificate had been read
and the results footed up. the Nice-Presi-
dent made the customary announcement
that under the law this was sufficient
declaration that Grover Cleveland, of the
President OF the United States. and that
kdlaf T.. Stevenson had been elected Vice
President Of the United States, each for
the term beginning March 4, 1898, and that
this result would be entered, together
with the list Of votes, on the journals OF
the Senate and House OF Representatives.
The Joint session was then declared dis
solved. the Senate withdrew, and each
House resumed business in it's own cham
Der
There were some interesting and anus
iug incidents Of the electoral count not
recorded ia the official proceedings. The
older senators and members could not Ie-
frain from commenting III private on the
contrast between the extremely pleasant
surroundings Of to-day's dndisputed count
and the angry mutterings Of discomfort
which accompanied the count Of siXte IN
years ago. when al each entrance 20 the
Capitol soldiers with fixed bayonets were
stationed to exclude from the building
everyone who could not show proper Gre
dentials emitting him 10 admission Even
members Of Congress We're challenged,
and on the floor representatives made
vigorous and fiery protests against the
Capitol Of the nation being cordoned by
"a military force. To-day everything was
peace. But there WAS some humOr. The
strict rules Of the House governing ad-
mission 10 the floor were suspended, and,
as one member-eYidcntly not friend or
female sunrage-remarked the floor of
the House looked as the Senate would
look II the Populists Of the Western States
eventually succeeded in electing women
senators.
The first break in the decorum OF the
Irocccdings mot merely the incidental
arpisusc which greeted the announce
re1t Of the vote Of illinois, occurred |
when Judge Chipman. Of Michigan. evil |
denly more familiar with the names |
~ The Democratic candidates than with |
ftose on the Republican ticket. proclaim |
"a that California had cast one vote for |
"Nltty-Law" Reid for ice-President. |
THE ripple Of laughter which greeted this |
a1nouncement was increased into a roar |
when the President subsequently |
gave Judge Chipman another Republican |
STATE TO handle and he succeeded in Civ |
lae "White-law" In two syllables instead |
81, threc
The Vice. President distributed the GER |
na0ates with an impartial hand among |
tte leliers
Senator Blackburn announced the result |
~ The States committed 10 him in his |
deep sonorous voice. and with abundance |
~ verb!age Mr. Cabot Lodge cut every |
thing short. and generally omitted the |
Tact that the gentlemen named had been |