Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-15
ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE
How it is Cast and Carried to the Capitol to
Be Canvassed.
EXPENSE FOR THE SPECIAL MESSENGERS
Cumbersome Method of Collecting
and Delivering the Stntcs' Vote
Tolerated because of An
tiIuc Precedent.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 1i.-(Special) THAT
unique piece of political baggage known to
the American people as messenger to state
electors will shortly be vending his way to
Washington with the precious electoral vote
Of the several states. Every recurring four
years the messengers Of the electoral col
loge look forward to high old time in de-
posting the votes of the electors with the
secretary of state, president of the senate
and the judge of the district court of the
state in which said electors meet. There
have been many efforts made to amend the
old law creating these messengerships, but
up to the present time the efforts have been
Of little avail for congress has looked upon
a change in the manner of depOsiting the
votes of state electors as blow at the
fundamental principles of our government,
The law creating these messengerships was
passed in 1892, and for upward of cen
tury has been one of the bulwarks of oui
liberty. In 1904 certain amendments were
made to the law defining additional powers
of the messengers and in the manner IN
which they should carry the returns to the
seat of government at Washington.
In the Fifty-third congress Chairman
Tucker from the committee on the election
OF president and vice president presented
report to accompany house resolution 1888,
which had for its object the correction oi
certain evils growing out of the messenger
ship service, reporting back substitute
bill relating to changing the mode of trans
mission of votes of electors for president and
vice president. Like others of the kind, the
bill died in committee.
There seems to be no valid reason why the
returns of electors should not be transmitted
by the Postonice department of the govern
ment and by express rather than by the eX-
pensive method now in vogue. AS an In
stance of how much the Treasury department
PAYS messengers every four years it may be
noted that in 1872 the messengership service
cost the government $4,000; in 1876, $S,S5l
in 1850, $S,7l3.75; in 1854, $lO,3i6.7O; in 1883
S92ll.75; in 1892, Sl2,G7l.5O, and 1t Is an
tcipated that in this year, 1896, the cost
will touch, If not exceed, the figures OF
1872 that of $4,000 there being forty-tivC
states in the union and the messengers com
ing from the four points Of the compass. II
is no mere bagatclle that is paid for mileage
to these several couriers of state electors
they receiving % cents per mile coming and
goingby the best known and usually Travelled
route.
DAVE MERGERS AMENDMENT.
Representative Mercer, during the first
session of the Fifty-fourth congress, intro
duced a bill to amend certain sections Of the
revised statutes of the United States relat-
ing to presidential elections and which were
as follows
representatives of the United States Of
America in congress assembled, That sec
tions liO and lij be amended to read as
SECTION 40 The electors shall dispose
Of the certificates thus made by them In
the following manner:
II. They shall forthwith. at government
expense, forward by express to the secre-
tary of state, at the seat of government,
who is authorized and directed to deliver
the same to the president OF the senate
one OF the certificates.
postonce, through its registry department,
TO the president of the senate, at the seat
of government one other OF the Ger
'' 49, They shall forthwith cause the other
of the certificates to be delivered to the
judge of that district in which the electors
sec. ll5. Every person who, having
been delegated pursuant to sections liO ana
il to deliver certificates az lhefelh pro
vided, and having accepted such services
shall refuse or neglect to perform the same,
shall forfeit the sum of $Lgo1. -,
and the same are hereby, repealed.
No action was taken on the bill during
the first session of the Flfty-fourth con
gross and, while Congressman Mercer may
be exceedingly anxious to get his bill on
tachod. 1t Is extremely doubtful If the bill
viii become a law during the closing days
Of the present congress. That some law cor
rectng present conditions relative to can
YasslnB the vote Tor president ana vice
president should be passed Is admitted,
but congress Is a good deal like an old
woman in making changes in traditions
which have grown up in relation TO the
executive Office These messengers under
the law o. 1892 were created that there
might be no mistake as to the choice OF
states for president and vice president The
railroads and postoilce were practically un-
known and horseback and coach were the
means provided In those time-hOnored days
to. t1tn F,Raa pgar M a
his state 10 Washington. Civilization, how
ever. has ehanged all this, but has not