New-York tribune., 1901-02-14
ELECTORAL VOTE COUNTED
ELECTION OF MKINLEY AND ROUSE
WELT FORMALLY DECLARED
IN CONGRESS.
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1sUNs.l

By TELEGRAPH THE TRlbCNS-j
Washington, Feb. 13.-The always interesting al
though by no means pompous proceeding of count
ing the electoral attracted TO the Cdpl'oi 'o
day crowd that taxed the capacity OF the coln-
mOdiOus public galleries of the House <Auilissiol
limited TO ticket holders, ana not eve" OH y,
these were able TO squeeze through the doors and
witness the exercises. The proceeding Is nearly as
old as the Republic itself, although II Is ohiy OF
ouadrennial occurrence. and the ceremony OF con-
gress pursuant to constitutional mandate, soiis
through the motion of counting the electoral vote
and declaring the result usually is novel proceed
ing the participants for the most part as wen
as TO the spectators. II was marked Io-uaS oS
several incidents that We're not on the pro-
cramme and these added spice TO an oc-
currence that otherwise would have been duH
and unnoteworthy One OF these was thae
Charles H. Grosvenor OF Ohio with his mind
thoroughly impressed with the great responsibility
OF his office as of the teers and his soul soar
ing into the empyrean of bliss at the thought or
the glorious victory he had helped to achieve an
nounced solemnly that the four votes or COLORADO
had been cast for Theodore Roosevelt, OF New
York for Vice-President Of the United States
The great crowd greeted this slip of the tongue
with loud and uproarious laughter James D.
Richardson. of Tennessee if to offset for the
Democrats the advantage which General Grosvenor
unwittingly had given to the Republicans. came
very announcing the electoral vote or Utah
for Adai z. Stevenson OF illinois, for Vice-Presi-
dent. Mr.. Richardson droned out the Christian
name of the defeated Democrats candidate Tor
Vice-Presdent when reading the Utah returns. ana
a warning litter from the audience admonished
him that he was about to duplicate the mistake
made by General Grosveuor. Then the Tenhes-
seean quickly corrected himself and declared that
the three electoral votes of Utah for Ece-Presi-
dent had been east for Theodore Roosevelt.
The whole ceremony consumed an hour. TO the
few men and women from foreign countries who
occupied In the diplomatic gallery II doubt
less of little interest. because OF It's siInpcty
visiting British newspaper man. who witnessed
sha
while General Grosvenors mistake was being
laughed at that Americans are never serious
The Englshman appeared to have been expecting
some such performance as that by which EDWARD
VII lately proclaimed King There were no
heraIds In gilt trapptngs. no pursuivants and
courtiers and the British visitor doubtless like the
other foreigners in the diplomatic gallery. was
disappointed So many Americans for that
matter for truth to tell the proceeding. except Tor
several mistakes that made. was so tame.
formal and coiorlsss that the average American OF
practical mind wonders why II necessary
And still. II the ceremony must continue as part
OF the election Of President and Vice-President IL
obviously will be insisted in future that II have some
regular form as to several important details. not
the least Of which is that the electoral returns be
made In the same style and phraseology. Under the
existing system. rather lack of system. every
thing Is haphaZard In the matter OF the form and
phraseoogy OF these returns. Some to-day were
short and some were long. some were typewriter.
Some bound round with red silk, some with
blue silk and some with no silk Some OF the
States that went Democratic in November sent in
their electoral vote for William Jennings Bryan.
some for William J. Bryan and some simply for
w j. Bryan. The Republican tellers-Senator
Chandler and Representative Grosvenor pro-
nounced the given name of Bryans running mate
as ~ IL were spelled 'Adleye." and the Democratic
tel!ers-senator Ca.rery and Representative Rich
ardson-persistently pronounced II "Adee" Sen
flaH yh. praSfd dAnr- AlaNf
"Rooslefelt." Senator Carery pronounced the name
.Rozevelt" General Grosvenor called IT "Rossfelt'
and Mr Richardson mostly got IT 'Rosenfelt-"
ENTRANCE OF THE SENATORS.
The Constitution requires that the second
Wednesday in February succeeding a Presidential
election the Senate. At o'clock .. m on that day,
shall meet In Joint session with the House. IN the
hall of the latter. and open. count and announce
the result OF the electoral vote. which previously
has been sent the President OF the Senate under
seal from the State capitals. In pursuance OF this
mandate the Senate. or at least about two-thirds
OF the members, filed solemnly from It's chamber
in the north wing Of the Capitol into the hall OF the
House OF Representatives. which is in the south
wing. II 1855 when the Senators formed in
line and began their march down the long corridor.
which debouches into three rOtundas before IL
reaches the main entrance of the House The pro-
cesslon was led by Secretary Bennett, OF Brooklyn,
debonnair and trim. and Sergeant-at-Arms Rams
dell. OF Indianapolis OF dignhed and martial mien.
Then. with locked arms and two by two, came the
Senators President FRYE first, Of course accom-
panied by the solemn visaged Allen Of Nebraska
When he knew II nearly time for the Senators
start their march. Speaker Henderson alb
ruptly suspended proceedings In the House and
cleared the first three rows of seats on the Demo-
cratic side for the accommodation OF the Senators
The Democrats occupy the right wing Of the House
and the law prescrihes that the Senators shall sit
on the right OF the presiding officer during the
count OF the votes. Speaker Henderson explained
this IN spoogetic way 10 the Democrats when
he ordered them TO vacate their desks "Ths law
directs 20 do this he said. he told them TO
move back.
Only for instant did the Senatorial procession
halt when it's head passed through the door OF the
House, This for the purpose OF permitting
Sergeant-at-Arms Kennedy 10 perform his mart of
the ceremony. which consisted In the announce.
ment: "Mr Speaker. the President pro tempore and
the Senate OF the United States" sharp crack
OF the Speakers gavel brought the members OF the
House to their feet and they remained standing
until the Senators filed down the middle aisle and
took the seats provided for them. Senator FRYE as
President pro tenn OF the Senate, assembled the dais
and took The chair Of the Speaker with that
functionary his left and with teller. on the
part OF the Senate and House occupying the desks
in front of the Speaker that belonged 10 House
Before business could proceed further IL was
necessary 10 have the returns count and these
vera brought in by the assistant sergeant-at-arms
of the Senate. Blrney Layton. an Ohio Democrat
who divides the honOrS OF puchritude In the Senate
wing Of the Capitol with Secretary Bennett. The
certificates returns were in two boxes specially
constructed Tor the occasion by the Senate
penter Zimmermann who has 70 make a new set
OF boxes every four years. because under the un-
empted OF their precious contents. the property
| OF the President pro tempore. The boxes used
to-day were made OF rosewood and were gold
L IA hatE AFf mt h