Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-02-08
1T CAN'T BE CALLED NEWS
GUT STILL. 1T II GOOD DEMO.
CRATIC READING.

Grover Gle yeIand and Atllai Stew
ensOn Declared EIected-JOint
Session ofThe House and Sen
ate to Hear The Votes Read
Illinois Cheered a Little.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-lmmense Gro owds
were drawn to the capitol today by the
merely formal ceremonies incident to the
official counting of the electoral votes.
The bright sunshine and the bracing
brcezes which marked the day were
boldly claimed as "Cleveland worthy"
and were sharply contrasted with the
dismal atmospheric surroundings which
have so unfortunately accompanied
nearly every one of Harrison's public ap-
pearances, commencing with drench-
ing rain on his Inauguration day and
even following him into each of his pri-
vate duck hunting expeditions.
The ceremonies attending the counting
of the vote were preceded by a joint reso-
luton introduced by Senator Hover in
1888 and which has been made applica-
BILE to all succeeding elections and been
incorporated in the revised statutes.
Vice-President Morton some days since
appointed as tellers on behalf of the
Senate for this important ceremony
Hale of Maine and Blackburn of Ken
lucky. Speaker Crisp appointed Judge
Chapman of Michigan and Henry Cabot
Lodge, Senator-elect from Massachu-
setts, as House tellers.
The actual ceremonies were nearly the
same today as four years ago with a
slight difference in the personnel. There
was a ceremonious opening of the safe in
the Vice-President's room and the act of
taking out the 88 sealed packages sup
posed to represent the votes of the
A States as received in duplicate by
mail and messenger. There was a SOL
emn procession i'll "goose step" of old
Capt. Bassett who has participated in
every presidential count for more than
60 years. escorted by squad OF Capitol
police to prevent a raid being made
| upon the precious locked boxes contain
ing the votes.
The boxes having been safely deposited
in the House, the Senate in body
followed shortly before 1 o'clock. The
| members of the upper chamber were, OF
course, received by the House with
becoming respect. The Vice President
assembled the Speakers platform and took
his scat at the right hand of Speaker
Crisp. the Senator's ranging themselves
in places assigned to them on the right
Of the hall. In this manner the count
proceeded in the presence of the densely
packed galleries and crowded floor.
| The tellcrs, having ascertainel that
the certificates were in Cue form and
properly authenticated omitted the
executive certificate OF asccrtainment OF
electors appointed and preliminary
formal statement of the proceedings OF
the college and proceeded rapidly with
the reading and ascertaiument of the
result.
The Vice-P President, having called the
joint assemblage to order, proceeded for
mally to open one of the boxes in which
was contained the returns of the electors
of various States. The first return, that
of Alabama, was handed to Senator
Hale. one of the tellers. who, in a low
but distinct voice, read statement show
ing that eleven votes of that State had
been cast for Cleveland and Stevenson.
Then certificates were presented without
formal reading. the tellers merely stating
the result. There was the utmost dig
nifty preserved until Teller Blackburn an
nounced that the State of Illinois had
cast24 votes for Cleveland and Stevenson.
Then few of the spectators broke into
applause, which was promptly checked
by the Vice-P President, who in few dig
nifed words, called upon the spectators
not to disturb the decorum which ought
to characterize great national transac.
ton which was now proceeding
in the presence of the great
American people. After the last
certificate had been read and the results
footed up the vice-President made the
customary announcement that under
the law this was sufficient declaration
that Grover Cleveland of the State o.
New York had been elected President o.
the United States, and Adlai E. Steven
son Vice-President, each for the tern
beginning March 4, 1898, and that this
result would be entered together with 6
list of the votes on the journals of the
Senate and House.
The joint session was then declared
dissolved, the Senate withdrew and eact
house resumed business in its own cham
ber.