The record-union., 1897-02-11
In the Joint Session of the Two
Houses of Congress.
The Official Vote of the Electoral Col
lege, as Announced by Vice-Presi-
dent Stevenson was, for PreSi-
dent, Mckinley 27l, Bryan l7o,
and for Vice-President, Hobart
27I, SewaII | 40, and Watson 27.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.-The cleo
toral votes of the forty-five States
of the Union were formally counted at
the joint session of the House and
Senate held to-day for that purpose,
and Vice-President Stevenson pro-
claimed the election of Mckinley and
Hobart as President and Vice-Presi
dent, respectively.
Although the sky was overcast, the
weather was auspicious, and the gal
leries of the hall of Representatives
were thronged. The general public be-
sieged the doors in vain, as but small
space was reserved for them. Ladies
were arrayed in gay toilets, and gave
touches of color to the brilliant setting
of the scene. Many distinguished per-
sonages witnessed the count, among
them ambassador Patenotre and
Chancellor Bouve of the French EN-
bassy, Chat Chung of the Chinese Lee
cation, Baron Won Thielman, Secre-
tary Matsu of the japanese Legation,
Viscount Thyrso of the Portuguese
Legation mad Sir Richard Cartwright
of the Canadian Government. No
member of President Cleveland's fam
lily was present.
A Gordon of blue-coated, brass-but-
toned police hedged about the Sena-
tors as they marched matestically over
to the House, preceded by Vice-Pres-
ident Stevenson and Mr.. Cox, Secretary
of the Senate, with the returns locked
in a cherry colored box. This guard
ing of the returns was a precaution
first taken by Acting Vice President
Ferry of Michigan twenty years ago,
during the wild excitement attending
the Tilden-Hayes contest, in anticipa-
ton of a possible raid.
As the House and Senate sat in joint
session to-day and listened quietly to
the count, those stirring days were
recalled. OF the fifteen men who sat
on the famous Electoral Commission
which decided that contest by peace
fui means, Senator Hoar Of Massa-
chusetts was the only one present to-
day. The others, excepting Justice
Field, have all retired from public life,
or have passed away. The vicissitudeS
of political fortune in two short de-
cades have removed all but seventeen of
those who then sat in either end Of
the Capitol. Most of the seventeen
survivors were conspicuous to-day in
the joint assembly. Two of them.
Senator Sherman, who is soon to be
called to the first place in the Mckin-
ley Cabinet, and Senator Morrill, of
Vermont, author Of the war tariff en-
tered public life together forty years
ago. The others were Senators Teller
Of Colorado Gordon of Georgia, Alli-
son of Iowa, Cockrell of Missouri,
Mitchell of Oregon and Senators Hale
and Frye Of Maine, Burrows Of Michi-
gan, Mills Of Texas Blackburn of
Kentucky and Elkins of West Virginia,
who We're then in the House
Nice-President Stevenson was also
a member of the House at that time
Mr.. Cannon of Illinois (who lost one
term) and Mr.. Culbertson of Texas
alone, survived in the House the muta-
tions Of twenty years ago. although
Mr.. Danford Of Ohio, who was mem
ber of that Congress, is also a member
Of the present body.
Senator Jones Of Arkansas and Sem
ator Butler Of North Carolina. who
managed the Democratic and Populist
campains, We're present, but did not
appear TO take deep interest in the
count.
Prominent also in the sea of faces was
white haired Senator Palmer of Illinois,
who headed the gold Democratic ticket
last fall.
The count itself was Of very formal
character. Vice-President Stevenson sat
at the side of Speaker Reed and presided
over the joint session Senators Lodge
and Blackburn. on the part of the SEN
ate, and Messrs. Grosvenor and Rich
ardson, on behalf Of the House. acted as
tellers. The returns were opened by the
Fice-President. and announced by the
tellers. The reading of the certificates,
long in verbiage, was omitted after that
of Alabama had been read No demon
stration occurred at any point 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 We're as follows: For Presi-
dent, Mckinley III, Bryan 176. For
Vice President, Hobart 271, Sewall 149,
Watson 81.
The only incident of the proceedings
occurred when Senator Lodge raised a
laugh by announcing the vote of Mis-
sour. lie gave it by mistake to Nc
hiHiSS. L ie announcement or the state
Of the vote to-day is the only notifca-
tion the President-elect and the Vice
President elect will receive No official
communication is sent them.
Upon the announcement of the vote of
Connecticut there was some confusion
in the gallery opposite the Speakers
chair, caused by the fainting of a lady
She was promptly carried forth to the
corridor
There was no demonstration during
the several announcements The dig
nified and solemn President of the SEN
ate seemed to put damper on the US
ually effervescent spirits of the House.
The galleries, impressed by the pro-
found character of the proceedings, were
restrained by the quiet which reigned on
the floor. Tally cards had been dis
trfbuted at the House. and many mem
bers and several Senators checked off
the States as their votes were announc-
ed.
At the conclusion of the State an
nouncements the totals were footed up
and signed by the four tellers.
Senator Lodge, on behalf of the tel