The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-02-11
Final Ceremony in the Presiden-
tial Election Performed in
Joint Session.
Vote Counted by Tellers and An
nounced by the Vice
President.
Fifty Minutes Consumed in Max
ing the Count--How 1t
Was Done.

WASHINGTON, Feb 1.-THE first pub
lie exercises in connection with the in.
coming administration occurred at the
Capitol when the two houses OF con-
gress, in joint session, in the spacious
hall of representatives, counted the
electoral vote of the various states and
listened to Vice President Stevenson
formally promulgate the election OF
William Mckinley as president, and
Garret A. Hobart as vice president OF
the United States. Although the sky
was overcast with dull, leaden clouds
the weather was pleasant and propi-
tious.
AS is usual on state occasions, the
public streamed to the Capitol III great
crowds, but the galleries of the house,
save for small space capable OF seat
ing only 200 persons, were strictly re-
served for ticketholders, SO the stair
ways and elevators were besieged in
vain by the eager multitudes. The
tickets had been distributed by the
senators and representatives and the
spectators consequently constituted
Most Dist .ng uished Assemblage.
Although the ceremonies were not to
begin until o'clock, the galleries were
thrown open to the fortunate possessors'
Of tickets at 10 o'clock, and within half
an hour all the galleries except those
reserved for the diplomatic corps and
the president were packed to the doors.
Many ladies in gay toilets were present.
The crowds in the galleries were i'll
the best of humor as they waited for
the ceremonies to begin, while on the
floor the members good naturedly ex-
changed sa)utations.
Exactly at IL o'clock, Speaker Reed
ascended the rostrum, and standing III
front of the bright American flag which
draped the wall in his rear. with one
sharp rap of his gavel. subdued the
countless babel of voices.
Rev. Couden, the blind chaplain,
seemed impressed with the spirit of the
occasion, and delivered an inspiring
prayer. Many of the spectators rose
and stood with bowed heads. AS soon
as the reading of the journal was be-
gun, the babel broke forth again, only
to be interrupted with sharp round of
applause from the Republicans, as Mr.
Dingley, chairman Cf the committee on
ways aud means and the floor leader
of the house, walked down the aisle to
his seat. When the reading was con.
cluded, some routine matters in which
the spectators were in nowise inter-
ested were transacted to kill time until
the event of the day was due.
At II go p. IN. the house took a recess
for five minutes.
In the meantime every seat in the
galleries, save those reserved for the
executive and the diplomatic corps, was
taken. No member of the presidents
household was in the gallery reserved
for him, but the family of Vice Presi.
dent Stevenson occupied one Of the
plush covered benches.
Senators Walked Across.
Shortly before clock the members
of the senate left their chamber at the
north side of the capitol, and walked
across to the house, passing through
the vast rotnnda and the old hall of
representatives, now statuary hall,
where the civic and martial heroes Of
the states looked down upon them.
Their approach was heralded by the
entrance of Colonel Richard J. Bright,
the sergeant.at-a arms of the senate, who
announced: 1.-The senate of the United
States.
Then in solemn procession they flied
in, preceded by Mr.. Cox, clerk of the
senate, and Vice President Stevenson,
and took their seats in the first four
rows to the right of the speakers desk,
which had been vacated for that pur-
pose during the recess. The members
of the house remained standing while
the senators took their places. The as
sistant of Mr.~Cox carried the red
cherry, steel clasped box in which the
returns of the 45 states reposed.
MT. Stevenson Presided.
Vice president Stevenson, who by
law presided over the joint session,
took his place by the side Of Speaker
Reed. The tellers, Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts, and Senator Blackburn
Of Kentucky, ON behalf of the senate,
and Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio and MIR.
Richardson of Tennessee on behalf OF
the house, ascended to the clerks desk