Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-11
THE RESULT ANNOUNCED.
Formal Count of the Electoral
Vote Had.
NO SENSATIONAL EVENTS
Occurred To Mar the Solemn Procedure Of
Casting Up the Returns
HILL AND TuRPlE REMAINED AWAY
qua Canal Bill, But Gives Due No
tice of What May Be Expected
Agricultural Appropriations.

Washington, Feb. 10-The house Joined
today with the senate in witnessing the
count of the electoral vote for president
and vice president of the United States
for the term beginning March A, 1897, and
after the announcement of the result, ad-
journed until tomorrow. The votes of
the several states were read in turn by
the tellers-Senators Lodge (rep Mass.),
and Blackburn dem. Ky.) and Repre-
sentatives Grosvenor (rep. o. and Rich
ardson (dem Tenn.),- and the result stated
by Vice-President Stevenson, who presid-
ed over the joint convention. 1t was that
Mckinley had received 271 votes for pres
ident and Bryan 176; that Mr.. Hobart had
received 271 votes for vice-president, Mr..
Sewall 49, and Mr.. Watson 27. 1t was
stated that this was a sufficient declara-
tion in law of the election of Messrs. Nc
Kinley and Hobart for the term stated as
president and vice-president respective
ly.
The proceedings were witnessed by an
immense crowd of spectators that filled
all the galleries, but without the crush in
the building that has marked previous
similar occasions.
The spectators of the count were largely
the members of congress families
and their intimate friends, the galleries,
by resolution, having been reserved for
their use One section of about 200 seats
was thrown open to the public. The
abandonment by Representative Murray,
of South Carolina, of his previously an
nounced intention to object to the count
ing of the vote of that state had the effect
of decreasing general interest in the pro-
ceedingS.
4. 1t fell to Mr.. Grosvenor's lot to an
nounce the votes of South Carolina for
Bryan and Sewall. AS he did so an ex-
pectant silence fell on the assembly, but
not whisper of protest was heard Mr..
Grosvenor declared that the certificate
appeared in proper form, and 1t was ac-
cepted.
In the hour prior to the assembling of
the 1oint convention the fortified tions and
the postofflce appropriation bills were re-
ported and placed on the calendar.
The fertilization bill carries an appro-
priation Of $9,17S,328, or upwards of $9,-
100000 below the estimates. No new
works are authorized the policy adopted
in the Fiftieth congress of continuing
present projects being adhered to.
The postof1ice appropriation bill carries
an appropriation of $95, ,714, being ST.
9O3,6 ,697 below the estimates, and $3,04O,-
$50 greater than the amount for the
present fiscal year.
There is an increase in the allowance
for the delivery service and also for let
ter carriers in new free delivery offices.
The members of the senate headed by
Sergeant-at-Arms Bright and Assist
ant Layton appeared at the main door on
the north side a few minutes before
O'Clock and were announced by Door
keeper Glenn. Following the vice-presi-
dent and Secretary of the Senate Cox,
came two of the doorkeepers carrying
the mahogany boxes containing the seal
ed election returns in the several states.
The nestors of the senate, Messrs. Nor
rill of Vermont, and Sherman, of Ohio,
headed the procession and took the seats
Immediately in front of the speaker and
to his right. The other senators, the
representatives rising to their feet, found
their places in the first four rows on the
east side of the hall.
At one minute before 1 o'clock Vice
President Stevenson called the Joint con-
vention to order, Speaker Reed sitting at
his left and Senators Lodge, and Black
burn and Representatives Grosvenor and
Richardson, the tellers of their respective
houses, in front at the clerks desk. Mr..
Stevenson said:
."The senate and house of representa-
tives have met together in joint session
pursuant to the constitution and laws
of the United States, on this day appoint
ed for opening of the certificates and
counting of the votes of electors for
president and vice-president of the Unit
ed States. The certificate of the state of
Alabama will be read by the tellers"
Senator Blackburn then read the GER
tificate of the vote of the Alabama elect
ors in full and the result announced by
hm--11 votes for William J. Bryan, of
Nebraska, for president. and II votes for
Arthur Sewall, of Maine, for vice-presi-
dent.
Senator Sherman-I move, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that the reading of the formal GER
tificate be omitted in the case of the
remaining states.
The e-president-Unless objection Is
made, the certificates of the remaining
states will not be read, but the result
will be announced by the tellers after
they have satisfied themselves of the
correctness of the returns.
The tellers then, in rotation, announced
the votes of the several states. The en-
velope in each case was handed to the
tellers, opened and the certificates ex-
amined. This required minute or more.
There were no surprises in the announce
ments, the electors having voted as it
was expected they would when chosen
last November. Mr.. Grosvenor's state
ment that California had cast an electoral
vote for Arthur j. Sewall, of Maine.
for vice-president of the United States''
evoked several questions as to the ac-
curacy of the ~" but no formal action
was taken.
A laugh was raised at the expense of
Senator Lodge, who announced the vote
of the state of Missouri as that of the
state of William Mckinley, which It was
not at all, its vote having gone to Bryan.
1t also fell to Mr.. Grosvenor to an
nounce the vote of Ohio. which he did
with sense of satisfaction, manifest to
all.
The call of the states having been COM
pleted, the vice-president said the tellers
would announce the result of the vote.
This was done by Senator Lodge and
handed to tii5 yice-president. The vote
by states was:
Alabama-Bryan H. Sewail, II.
Arkansas-Bryan, s; Sewall, s; Wat
son, 8. .r
misunderstanding, s.; Bryan. 1; Ho-
bart, 8; Sewall. 1.
Colorado-Bryan, 4; Sewall. A.
onnecticut-McKinley. 6; Hobart, 8.
Observation-Disclosures &: Hobart &.