The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-10
COUNTING TIE VOTES.
i
Electoral Returns Opened and
Tailed in Presence Of the
Senate and House..

WASHINGTON, Feb. TO- 1S97.-For the
twenty-seventh time in the history Of the
| United States Senators and Representa-
tives met in solemn conclave today in the
Hall of the House of Representa- to
declare the vote which silently transfers
the Government of a great nation from
one set of rulers to another.
In 1888, when Washington and Adams
were elected the first President and Vice
| President of the United States, the vote
was declared in the Senate Chamber in
the City of New York. The joint session
continued to be held in the Senate until
1909, when they were transferred to the
House. where they have since been held.
The Capitol today was crowded in anti
cipation of the ceremony which was to
mark the day, but excellent arrangements
prevented confusion or the intrusion of
uninyited visitors This was in marked
| contrast with the arrangements four
years ago. The spectators of the count
were largely the members of Congress-
mems 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 Represen-
tative Murray of South Carolina, of his
previously announced intention to object
to the counting of the vote of that State,
had the effect of decreasing general in
terest in the proceedings.
Inc Executive and Diplomatic galleries
We're reserved for those entitled to occupy
them under the rules.
FlSltorS began to enter the reserved
space at an early hour and by noon no
seats remained vacant.
For the accommodation of fha Senate
and its officers, one hundred additional
chairs had been placed on the floor of
the House.
The Senators occupied the first four
rows on the right of the Vice President,
who presided over the joint convention
promptly at one O'Clock the members
OF the Senate appeared at the north door,
headed by Vice President Stevenson, Ser
geant-at-Arms Bright and Secretary Cox
and their presence was formally an
nounced to the House by Doorkeeper
Glenn.
The Representatives rose to their feet,
and remained standing until the members
of the Upper House had found the places
assigned to them. Next came two stall
box in which the certificates of the result
Of the election in the several States had
been placed by the Vice President as they
had been received by him from the mes
sengerS appointed to bring them to the
Capitol.
No returns were missing-the last from
the State of Montana, having been re-
ceived yesterday.
Vice President Stevenson, according to
the terms of the law under which the
joint convention assembled, occupied the
Speakers chair, Mr.. Reed sitting at his
left.
The teller for the House was Mr. Gros-
venor of Ohio and Mr.. Richards of Ten
nessee; for the Senate this duty was per-
formed by Senators Blackburn of Ken
lucky and Lodge of Massachusetts,.
The VIce-PreSdPnt with cPrarnOnj0uS
solemnity unlocked the electoral box and
took out the envelopes containing the.
certificates of the electoral colleges, each
envelope being. signed by all the electors
of the several States, and securely sealed.
of the State was announced and tally
was kept by the tellers of both Senate
and House.
When the counting of the vote began
there were in the Executive gallery Mrs
Stevenson, the wife of the Vice President.
and four friends; Mrs. Francis, the wife
OF the Secretary of the Interior, and
Mrs. Brewer, the wife of Justice Brewer
of the Supreme Court. In the Diplomatic
gallery were M. Patenotre, the French
Ambassador; Mr.. Chung, the Interpreter
of the Chinese Legation, and four or
five under-secretaries from South Ameri-
can legations.
At 1:5o P. NJ. the official count was an
nounced as follows:-
For President of the United States:-
William Mckinley, 21; William j. Bryan,
For Vice president of the United
sewail, 14s: Thomas m iD e. Watson. o 5z'nur ~
The Vice President thereupon declared
William Mckinley and Garret A. Ho-
bart, respectively elected President and
vice President of the United States.