The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
COUNT ING OF
ELECTORAL VOTE
Ceremony Will Take Place
Ten Days Hence.
SENATE AND HOUSE JOIN
Frye and Cannon Will Jointly Preside
Over the Unique Assembly-Two
Messengers Tauy.

the Constitution of the United States,
when the Senate ard House will assem-
bic Jointly in the Hall Of Representa-
t1ves to canvass the vote of the States
for President and Vice President for
the term from March 4,i905, to March
/ 4, 1909
This interesting meeting viii take
place Wednesday, February s, and will
be presided over by President pro tenn
pore Frye Of the Senate sad Speaker
Cannon of the House, the latter sitting
at the left OF the former, on the House
| rostrum.
1t viii he the one occasion when the
Speaker involuntarily yields place in
his own branch of Congress TO any
other legislative dignitary.
Although for all practical purposes.
and to the satisfaction Of the people Of
the country, the election Of Roosevelt
| and Fairbanks was conceded by every
one the day after the election last No
vember, this consensus of opinion was
not sufficient to meet the requirements
OF the Constitution. To obey the letter
as well as the spirit Of the law of the
Republic, the dignihed and impressive
formality~of counting the vote viii be
gone through with
Safeguard of Law.
In order to guard against any posi-
bic delay. the loss of a States ballot or
any unlawful interference with the reg
istering of the VIII Of the people ex-
pressed at the polls, elaborate safe
guards are taken
The law requires that three sets of
certificates shall be made out by each
board Of elections. After all have been
deposited IN heavy envelopes and the
seal Of the State applied, one is intrust-
eG to a messenger to deliver TO the
Washington authorities. Another set is
sent by mail. and the third is placed
in the custody of the nearest judge OF
the circuit court.
It is the intention OF Congress TO
open the envelopes brought TO Wash
ington by the personal messengers, but
| the second set VIII be preserved also
Should some mishap befall the bearer
Isof any States vote, the mall copy will
be utilized. But should this go astray
also, the Senate will dispatch an agent
10 the judge having the third set, and
bring that to Washington
In Senate's Custody.
Both before and after the canvass of
the returns in the joint meeting of Con-
gress in the Hall Of Representatives,
| the Senate is the custodian OF the bal
| lots.
For several weeks past messengers
! from various parts of the country have
| been arriving in Washington. bearing
carefully guarded sealed envelopes con-
| tanning the certificates of the various
State boards Of elections. As the docu-
nents have been received they have
| been placed in an old-fashioned iron
safe. feet by . x feet square. standing
| in an alcoye in the room Of the Vice
| President, where they are TO remain
| until the day the counting is to take
/ place.
State Departments Inquiries.
Although II is presumed that any man
intrusted with the duty of carrying a
States electoral vote to- WASHINGTON
appreciates the high honor conferred
| upon him and his responsibility under
the circumstances, Ii is not so sure
| that he realizes the provisions of Law
10 guard against accidents in connec-
ton with the recording OF the vote II
fact, three of the messengers have not
yet arrived with the electoral vote OF
their respective States, and in conse.
Quence, as long age as the middle part
of the past week the State Department
made inquiries, and proceeded to senC
out the special messengers called fol
by law to make q special trip to tht
judge of the circuit court and receive
the third copy placed in his custody
for safe keeping
| The anxiety incident to the failure OF
these three messengers 10 arrive lee
| to inquiries being addressed TO tht
Senators from those States As it hap
!! pened. each of the three States is rep
i resented in the Senate by two Demo
Gratis, and their States electoral vote:
will be cast for Parker
One Senator explained that the mes
senger from his State had already
started for Washington, but was max
ing a leisureIy trip. seeing the coun
try on the way and meaning to kill
two birds with one stone by arriving
here lust the day before the counting
of the vote. He wished to be presen
at the ceremony, and was wholly II
/ ignorance of the laws requirement. anC
OF the fact that lad not his Senator
teleerapned him 10 hurry 20 Washing
ton. he might have arrived only to fine
that a special messenger had heater
him here with the third set of electora
records.
An Honor Appreciated.
To be the bearer OF States electora
vote TO Washington. is considered
high honor by men who take an inter
est in politics at all the State capitals
II gives them a high temporary distinc
ton among their fellows at home, bu
before they conclude their official dut,
they usually learn that 1t brings then
some bitter disappointments as well
These they try TO forget as quickly a
possible, of course, but never unde
any circumstances do they permit thei
home friends to hear about such unfor
tunate mishaDs.
The most dreadful disappointment
which usually befalls the bearer of
States electoral vote Is the discover,
that Washington does not enthuse, and
in fact. bubble over with excess OF pa
triotic delight to greet him on his ar
rival on such an important public mis-
sion The electoral messenger start
from his distant home the most import
ant man III his community. for the tim
being He arrives under the shadow o
the great white dome 10 discover ina
he is not never was, and never WI
be as great a parsonage on his mission
as he had convinced himself, hefor
| g ayftn he