The herald., 1897-02-11
] ELECTORAL VOTE COUNTED
By the NatioEaI Congress in
Joint Session
WITH FORMAS. SOLEMNiTY
Mckinley and Hobart Are Declared to
Be Elected
Business Being Resumed In the Senate-nor-
gan Withdraws the Canal Bill
for This Session
Associated Press Special Wire


toral votes of the forty five states of the
union were formally counted at the joint
session of the house and senate Alo
today for that purpose, and Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson proclaimed the election
of Mckinley and Hobart as president
and vice president respectively. Al
though the sky was overcast the weather
was auspicious and the galleries OF the
hall of representatives were thfohgeo'
The general public hssieged the doors
in vain, as but small space was reserved
for them. Ladies were arrayed in gay
toilettes and gave touches of color to the
brilliant setting of the scene. Many dis
tinguished personages witnessed the
count. among them Ambassador Pate
notre and Chancellor Bouve, of the
French embassy; Mr.. Chat Chung OF the
Chinese legation, Baron Won Thleimah'
Secretary Matsu of the Japanese lega-
ton, Viscount Thyrso of the portuguese
legation and Sir Richard Cartwright
of the, Canadian government. NO mem
her of President Clevelands $ family was
present. A Gordon of blue coated, prass-
buttoned police hedged about the sena-
tors as they marched majestically over
TO the house preceded by Vice President
Stevenson and Mr.. Cox, secretary of the
senate. with the returns locked III a
cherry -colored box. This guarding OF
the returns was precaution 1lrst taken
by Acting Vice Presdgnt Ferry OF Men
igan twenty years ago, during the WIG
excitement attending the Tilden- Hayes
contest, in anticipation OF a possible
raid
AS the house and senate sat in joint
session today and listened quietly to the
count. those stirring days were recalled.
OF the fifteen men who sat on the 1ah-
Gus electoral commission which declded
that contest by peaceful means, SEN
ator Hoar of Massachusetts was the only
one present today. The others, except
ing Justice Field, have all retired from
public life or have passed away. Inc
vicissitudes of political fortune in two
short decades have removed all but sew
enteen of those who then sat IN either
end of the capitol. Most of the seven
teen survivors were conspicuous TO-DAY
in Joint assembly. Two of them, Sen
ator Sherman, who is soon to be called
to the first place in the Mckinley cab
met and Senator Morrill, of Vermont,
author of the war tariff, entered publ1c
life together forty years ago. The oth-
ers were Senators Teller OF Colorado,
Gordon of Georgia, Allison of Iowa,
Cockrell of Missouri. Mitchell of Ore
gon and Senators Hale and Frye of
Maine. Burrows of Michigan, Mills of
Texas, Blackburn of Kentucky and Ell
kins of West Virginia, who were then
in the house.
Vice President Stevenson was also
member of the house at that time. Mr..
Cannon of Illinois (who lost one term)
and Mr.. Culberson Of Texas alone sur
yived in the house the mutations OF
twenty years ago. although Mr.. Danford
of Ohio who was member of that con-
press. is also a member of the presen;
body.
Senator Jones of Arkansas and Sena-
tor Butler of North Carolina, who man
aged the Democratic and Populistic
campaigns. were present, but did not
appear to take a deep interest in the
count.
Prominent also in the sea of faces
was white-haired Senator Palmer of
Illinois, who headed the Gold Demo-
cratic ticket last fall.
The count itself was of very formal
character. Vice President Stevenson sat
at the side of Speaker Reed and pre-
sided over the joint session. Senators
Lodge and Blackburn, on the part of
the senate, and Messrs. Grosvenor and
Richardson on the part of the house
acted as tellers. The returns were opened
by the vice president and announced by
the tellers. The reading of the certif-
after that of Alabama had been read.
No demonstration occurred a any time
during the count, but when the vice
president, at its conclusion, announced
the result there was round of applause
both on the floor and in the galleries.
The totals were as follows:
For Observation-Disclosures, 271; Bry-
an, 176.
For vice president-Hobart, 271; Sew
all 149; Watson %.
The only incident of the proceedings
occurred when Senator Lodge raised a
laugh by announcing the vote Of Mis-
souri,. He gave it by mistake to Nc
Kinley
The announcement or the state of the
vote today is the only notification the
president-elect and vice presdent-elec
will receive. No official communication
is sent TO them.
The galleries of the house save a
small space capable of seating only 200
persons, were strictly reserved for tick
ct holders. Stairways and elevators
were besieged in vain by eager multi
tudes. Tickets had been distributed by
senators and representatives. The spec
tators consequently constituted a dis
tinguished assemblage. Although the
ceremonies were not begun until / o'clock
the galleries We're thrown open to ticket
holders al 10 O'Clock. In half an hour
all tne galleries, except those reserved
for the diplomatic corps and president
were packed to the doors. Many ladies
IN gay toilets We're present The crowds
IN she galleries We're in the best Of hu-
NOR, while on the floor members good
naturedly exchanged salutations
Exactly at 12 o'clock Speaker Reed
IN long black frock coat. ascended the
rostrum. Rev. Mr Couden. the blind
chaplain, delivered an inspiring PRAYER
Many spectators stood with bowed
heads. AS soon as the reading of the
journal began the tattle broke forth
again, only to be INTERRUPTED with q
round of applause from the Republicare
when Dingley, chairman of the commit
tee on ways and means and floor leader
OF the house, walked duwn the aisle to
his seat. When the reading was cono
cluded some routine business wastranc
acted 10 XIII time until the event of the
day was due Va 'iie
AT l2;oo the house took recess of five
minutes In the meantime every seat
IN the galleries, save those reserved for
the executive and diplomatic corne Voc
taken. No member of the president's
household was in the gallery reserved
Tor hin but the family of Vice Preef-
dent Stevenson occupied one of tba
plush-covered benches. The diplornatfr
gallery was almost empty. only half q
dozen foreign representatives. bei,,p
present. They included secretaries of
the Chinese and Japanese legations
The dearth of diplomats was accounted
for by the fact that many were af
Charleston 6 q witness II, Or : h -, ~. =. -