Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-02
AFTER THE VICTORY
The Official Program in Determining
the Result.
COUNTING TIE ELECTORAL VOTES
Usually Perfunctory Action, but
Complications Possible
IF A CLIO S Z CON Z E S T

After the hurrahs of victory sent up
by the winning party tomorrow night
and the election of Mckinley or Bryan is
announced as assured there is an official
program to be carried out which may re-
suit in serious complications in the event
of close election.
The first step in the program looking to
the official announcement Of the result
of the election will be taken on the second
Monday in January next following the
battle of the ballots. On that day the cleo
tors will meet at such place as the legis-
latures of the states shall prescribe Then
on the second Wednesday in February
both houses of Congress in joint session
receive the returns and declare the result,
which declaration is subject to no appeal.
Usually IA PerfunctOry Action.
AS rule, the action of. Congress in aD-
proving the returns is merely perfunctory,
and those who fill the galleries of the
House of Representatives to witness ii
only expect to the ratification of
declaration already well known. But the
second Wednesday in February after the
election always sees the House of Repre-
Sentatives crowded, and in the event of the
successful candidate having but a small
majority of the electoral votes, with
charges of unfairness of some kind linger-
ing about the returns. there is always
possibility of the development of situa-
ZION to throw the country into state of
eXciteE..nt, as was the case when the Til
den-fl2yeS contest was Waged. On that
Wednesday morning the Senate will pro-
tced III q body to the House of Represen-
tatiVeS. The returns from the various
states will have been sent to the President
Of the Senate by the respective governors.
In order to secure the sure delivery of
these important missives they are sent in
duplicate one copy by mail and another
by messenger, the latter generally being
che of the electors.
During the long official life of the late
Capt. Bassett assistant doorkeeper of the
Senate, 1t was one of the duties in which
he took great pride to carry these docu-
nents at the head of the column of Sena-
tors from the Senate chamber to the House,
where he laid them on the Speakers desk
after that official retired from the presiding
officers chair in favor of the Vice Presi-
dent. Members OF the House receive the
visiting Senators by allowing them to have
their seats on the floor, those vacatng
their customary places usually finding seats
On the sofas and chairs about the sides of
The chamber.
Opening the Sealed Packages.
When the proceedings have been opened
With prayer, the President of the Senate
opens the sealed packages which contain
the electoral certificates, the votes being
counted in the alphabetical order of the
states. These certificates are received by
,ellers, two of whom are Representatives
and two Senators. If there is any objec-
ton to the returns from any state it must
be submitted in writing and be concise and
clear in statement 1t must be signed by
at least one Senator and one Representa-
tive and its consideration must be by the
Two houses of Congress separately. When
such objection is received the houses Sepa-
rate, the Senators returning to the Senate
chamber. The majority of one house is
rot sufficient to reject the returns from
any state, but the two bodies must concur
tc secure such action. The important pre-
ceeding of passing upon the validity of the
electoral vote must be concluded before the
fifth day after the first meeting of the two
houses. no recess is allowed until the
work of Congress In this respect is COM
pleted
If Landslide.
If there is landslide one way or the
other tomorrow the official count of the
votes by Congress will be shorn of special
interest. but should the result be close there
might arise very irritating complications
These complications are regarded as es-
recialiy difficult to deal with because there
IS no little precedent on which to decide til =
five points of law which would be apt to
:. arise