Year: 1877

THE BILL AND REPORT OF THE JOINT CoNMITTks
| on COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
WASHINGTON. Jan. lS.-In the Senate,
one O'Clock, Senator Edmunds from the
special committee to devise means for count
| ing the electoral vote, submitted a report
accompanied by the bill. lie said he was
happy to say the report was signed by all
the members Of both committees. with oae
exception. The committee would desire to
take the bill up at the earliest possible
day. probably Saturday but certainly Mon
day, and would press it to final considera-
tion. The committee was of the opinion
that the measure they recommended was
not what could be called compromise, but
a measure of justice in aid of constitutional
government. No one would have the right
TO say that anybody's views had been
surrendered IN any respect.


THE BILL.


The following is an abstract of the main
points which comprise the bill. 1t provides
that both branches of Congress shall meet
in the hall of the House on the first Thurs
day In February. In case of only one
return being received from state, it shall
not be rejected, except by concurrent vote
OF the two Houses in case two or more
conflicting returns are presented, they shall
all be submitted, and any or all of them
to which objection is mads by Senator
and one Representative. shall be referred to
trlpartite commission, to be constituted
as follows: each House shall, on the Tues
day preceding the first Th ursday in February
elect BY viva voce vote, five members to
serve on the commission, and on the same
day, the justices of the supreme court OF
the first, third. eighth, aud ninth circuits
lxR
and Field) shall meet and select a fifth as
ciate justice of the supreme court, to COM
plete the tribunal. All members OF the
commission are to take special oath 70
lmpartially consider the questions
referred to them, and to decide them sc-
cording to the constitution and laws, the
decisions pronounced BY the tribunal To
stand a. fnalities, unless O7er.ruiet by
concurrent action Of both branches of Con
gress.


Senator Morton is the only member OF the
jolnt committee who did not sign the re-
port.


rHk REPosr ACCOMPANYING THE BILL.


The report submitted with the bill to both
Houses of Congre 50. contains q review of the
provisions Of the bill, and states it was
framed in accordance with the constitution.
and regards it as unas>aIlahle on the ground
Ut unconstitutionality. The report then
discusses the fitness OF the means proposed
to solve the difficulty, and the committee
say. I'VE think then, that TO provide clear
and lawful means of performing a
great and necessary function OF the
government in time OF much
public dispute, is OF tar greaterlmpOrtance,
than the particular advantage that any
man or party may in the course of events
h,,r k.y I'll
ored to provide such lawful agencies of de
cision in the present case as shall be tine most
fair and impartial possible under the cir
cumstances. Each of the branches of the
legislature and judiciary are represented in
the tribunal in equal proportions. Tho
composition of the judicial part OF the com
mission looks to n selection from different
parts of the republic, while it is thought to
be tree from any preponderancc Of suppoS-
able bias, and an addition Ct q necessary
constituent part OF the whole commission in
order to obtain an uresen number
il left to the agency farthest removed
from prejudice of any existing attainabls
one. Ii would be difficult, II not impossible.
We think, to establish a tribunal that could
be less subject of party criticism than
such q one. The principle OF its cOnstltu-
tion Is so absolutely tair that We are unable
to perceive how the most extreme partisan
can asssil it. unless he prefers to embark
his wishes upon the stormy sea OF unregu-
lated procedure. hot disputes and danger
Gus results, that can neither be measured
nor defined. rather than upon fixed and
regular course of law, that ensures the
peace and order of society. whatever party
may be disappointed in It's hopes.


PRESIDENT GRANT vIkws.


NRw YORK, JAN 19-The Tribune states
that the President. in conversation with q
friend on the proposed electoral comprO-
mise. said he had not yet had time TO ex-
anime the bill critically, but on general
principles he approved OF q measure of the
character alluded to, and it not objection
able in details, IT it did not contain prOyi-
sions at variance with the spirit and letter
OF the constitution, he would accord to II
his prompt approval. lie said that hs was
much encouraged by the prospect OF a peace
full solution OF the difficulty, for the two
parties in Congress. through committee,
| having once agreed upon a common basis OF
| adjustment of their differences. 1t will not
be difficult to bring about final settlement
| The country he said, IL now IN q condition
| to begin a period of uneXampled prosperity,
| founded on correct principles Of business
and proper standards of value, and all that
is wanting is an amicable and satisfactory
settlement of the presidential question.
VICE PRESIDENT FERRY


| looks upon the proposed plan OF settlement,
| If it becomes a law, AS relieving him IRON
grave responsibility one, however, from
which he would not shrink in the absence
| OF legislation distinctly defining his powers
under the constitute n.


SENATOR NORTON


stated to one of toe House members OF tho
committee, that, although he should not
sign the report, he should probably say
nothing in the Senate to oppose the passage
OF ;se bill.