Arizona republican., 1905-02-09
Ceremony of Counting in
Roosevelt and Fairbanks
ARE DECLARED ELECTED
This FOrmality Broke in Upon Inter-
eSting Debate Ofthe TOwnsend-Esch
Railroad Rate BiII-A Democratic
Claim OF Credit.

Washington, Feb. S.-AIthough the
result of the presidential election was
known early on the evening of Nov. 8.
it was not until today when the senate
and house met in joint session that
Theodore Roosevelt and Charles W.
Fairbanks were officially declared to
be elected president and vice president
respectively for four years beginning
March 4, 1895. This function of con-
gress attracted to the house chamber
where the electoral vote was canvassed
an immense gathering, prominent
among the audience being Mrs. Roose-
welt, Miss Alice Roosevelt, the presi-
dents sister, Mrs. Cowles and Mrs.
Chas. W. Fairbanks, wife of the vice
president elect. The whole proceeding
consumed exactly fifty minutes, there
by establishing a new record in count
ing the electoral vote,
For two hours preceding and for
three hours following the joint pro-
cedure, the question of freight rate re-
gulation held fun sway AS on the
previous days debate both republicans
and democrats claimed credit for orig
mating the present legislation.
Mr.. Esch of Wisconsin, who assist
ed in the framing Of the Townsend bill
summed up the arguments for and
against that bill up to the present time.
Some, he said. had regarded it as the
most important legislation since the
rebellion, while others had cOntended
that it amounted to nothing. Such ex
treme views he held to be indicative
of the fact that the bill was what it
was claimed-a compromise.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio, ridiculed the
TO
for rate legislation. He provoked
laughter when he declared that fol
lowing our foot steps, toe-markinG our
tracks, camping tonight where we
camped last night and begging to be
taken on board, is not new policy or
principle of the democratic party"
Mr.. Grosvenor was discussing the
relative merits Of the several bills, when
he vas interrupted by Mr.. Shaclleford
of Missouri with the statement that the
Hearst. bill had been denied an oppor-
tunity to be considered.
"Oh." replied Mr.. GrOsvenor, amid
laughter and republican applause,
your party denied it before we did"
The Hearst bill. he declared, was as
dead as julius Caesar, having been
slaughtered by the democratic caucus
At / o'clock Doorkeeper Lyons an
1
tenn. Frye and the senate of the Unit
ed States. President Pro TEN. Frye at
once mounted the rostrum to the right
of Speaker Cannon. At the same time
an inlaid mahogany box containing the
electoral votes was deposited on the
speakers table and opened, the sena-
tors in the meantime taking seats on
the right side of the chamber.
While they were being seated the
members of the house stood up. Pres
ident Pro tenn. Frye presided. The
teIlers of the two houses, Messrs. Bur
rows of Michigan ard Bailey of Texas,
of the senate. and Gaines of West Vir-
ginia and Russell of Texas, of the
house, then took their places at the
speakers desk and the certificates were
read by each teller in turn. The states
We're called in alphabetical order. The
first mention Of President ROOseVelts s
name came when the vote of California
was announced. 1t was the signal for
applause from the republican side. In
terest was shown intensely by the Oc-
cupants of he galleries, which We're
densely packed. At every mention Of