The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-03
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
ADJOURNS AFTER a TWO DAYS
SESSION AT tits CAPITOL.
There Was Nothing For 1t TO Do ard 1t
did 1t and Went Home Cost
the State 1868.

'The King Of France marched up bill,
and then marched down again"
And yet l doubt seriously II he did
not accomplish more than did the Elector-
al College of North Carolina at their
meeting here. They were in session two
days, at a cost to the State Of S36S.40,
and oil that they did can be told in one
word Of two syllables-N-O-T-HI-N-G.
This, however, was no fault Of the Elec-
tors, but Of our Immaculate election law,
which seems to have been drawn by a
man who not had very little common
sense but was criminally ignorant Of the
law
The Electors did the best to do
something hatch up some kind of bust
ness-but all i'm vain. Had DR. York been
present, / cannot, for the life OF me-
imagine what they would have talked
about AS it was, the eccentric Doctor
and his mule "Gin'l Jackson" furnished
a topic for endless discussion and
brought forth some strong legal argu
ments as to the manner in which the
Doctors place should be filled in case
"Gin'l Jackson" did not get him here in
time to cast his vote The Electoral Col
lege was in session nearly one hour Tues
day and about the same length OF time
yesterday and this was I'll they did.
After exhausting the subject they adj
journed, leaving matters just as they
found them, except that the
resolution introduced by Mr. Kluttz at
the meeting Tuesday, in regard to filing
vacancies, will come up at the January
meeting.
The following members compose the
Electoral College for North Carolina:
Electors-at-Large- B. Davis, of
New Hanover, and Locke Craig, Of Bun
combe
First District Ralph Rowland, of Car
teret
Second District Howard f Freeman,
OF Wilson.
Third District-Charles r. Thomas. of
Craven
Fourth District william s Bailey, Of
Nash fs~
Fifth District William D. Merritt, Of
Person,
sixth District -Boni. Il. Keith, of New
Hanover
seventh District-Theo. +. KIuttz, of
Rowan.
Eighth District-Dr. Tyre York of
Wilkes.
Ninth District Robert n. Gilmer, Of
Haywood.
TIE PROCEEDINGS,
The Electoral College met yesterday
morning in the Senate Chamber at 1915
o'clock Col r. B. Davis, of New Han
over, in the chair and w d. Merritt, of
Person, Secretary.
The roll-call showed ali the members
of the college in the hall, except Messrs.
Kluttz, Bailey and DR. York. Messrs.
Kluttz and Bailey came in in few min
utes but DIR. York did not arrive.
The president announced that the first
business before the body was the unfin-
ish business in regard to the filling Of the
vacancy Qecasioned by the absence Of
Or. York
Mr. Gilmer suggested that the reso-
luton of the elector from the Seventh
district (Afr. Kluttz) be eXpunged from
the minutes as, after investigating the
matter, he was of the opinion that this
was not the proper time for the introduc-
ton OF such a resolution or the filling
Of a vacancy. He, however, asked that
the matter be left open until Mr. Kluttz
should arrive.
Mr.. Thomas agreed with Mr.. Gilmer
rs to the time Of filing a vacancy, but
both he and Mr.. Craig could see 10
harm to come from leaving the resolu-
ton on the minutes.
At this point Mr.. Kluttz came in and
said ne had just been in consultation
with the Attorney-G General and that his
opinion was that, under the Federal law,
this body had no right to declare vacan-
az at this time, as it was not the time
To vote. Even had the Electoral College,
he said, the right to declare a vacancy
and fill it, such action would be in con
travention to the Federal law and on
the nth OF January DIR. York would
have a right to come here and demand
that he be allowed to vote. The ques-
ton OF vacancy can only be considered
at a time when the Electoral College
ASSEMBLIES to vote.
Mr. Gilmer then reiterated his argu-
ment that the introduction of Mr.
Kluttz's resolution on Tuesday being
entirely out of order and unnecessary,
it should now be withdrawn, as it was
not pertinent to the business of the body.
Though the Governor was right in call
ing the College together, as required by
the State law" he said, "the Jurisdiction
Of the body now in session is limited. The
Federal law provides that any vacancy
shall be filed when the College meets to
cast its vote. Section 1873, chapter /, of
the Revised Statutes of the United
States, passed by the Congress of 1874
says: Each State may by law provide
for the filing OF any vacancies which
may occur in its college of electors when
such college meets to give its electoral
votes
Mr.. Craig held that it was evident
the Legislature intended that all vaean-
cies should be filed to-day, therefore,
he moved that the whole matter be post
poned until the meeting in January.
Mr.. Gilmer moved to amend this by
moving that the motion be laid on the
table.
aa5sr. Thomas agreed with the view Of
the law taken by Messrs. Gilmer and
Kluttz and explained at length the pro-
visions regarding the casting Of the cleo
A.uoI xvota oud the DECLARING Of a VaCaO-