Year: 1877

| IlCc Vi Sdlt CuulO u Vi Sdlu CpuiiHlS-
sion, and in such appointments regard shall
be had to the impartality and freedom
from bias sought by the original appoint
ments to said commission, who shall there
upon Immediately take, and subscribe to,
the oath hereinbefore prescribed and be-
come member Of said commission to Eli
the vacancy so occasioned.


All the certificates and paper purporting
to be certificates of the electoral vote of
each State shall be opened in the al phabetical
order Of the States, as provided in section
l of this act and when there shall be more
than one Of such certificates Of papers, as
the certificates and papers from such State
shall be opened excepting duplicates of
the same return), they shall be read by the
teller, and thereupon the President OF the
Sente shall call for objections, if any. Every
objection shall be made in writing, and
shall state clearly and concisely, and with
out argument, the ground thereof, and
shall be signed by at least one Senator and
one member Of the House of Representa-
tives before the same shall be received.
When all such objections so made to any
certificate, vote or paper from State
have been received and read all such certi-
fcates, votes and papers SO objected to and
all papers accompanying the same, together
with such objections, shall be forthwith
submitted to said commission, which shall
proceed to consider the same with the same
powers, if any, now possessed for that pur-
pose by the two houses acting separately
or together, and by majority Of votes
decide whether and what votes of any such
State are the votes provided for by the
Constitution Of the United States, and how
many and what persons were duly appointed
electors in such State and may therein take
into view such petitions, depositions and
other papers if any, as shall, by the Con
stitution and now existing law be COM
petent and pertinent in such consideration :;
which decision shall be made in writing,
stating briefly the ground thereof, and signed
by the members of said commission agree
ing therein, whereupon the two houses
shall again meet, and such decision shall be
read and entered on the journal of each
house and the counting of the votes shall
proceed in conformity Herewith unes, upon
objection made thereto in writing b. at
least five Senators and five members Of the
House of Representatives., the two houses
shall separated concur in ordering other
wise, in which case such concurrent order
shall govern. No votes or papers from
any other State shall be acted upon
until the objections previously made to the
votes or papers from any State shall have
been finally disposed Of.


SEC 3 That while the two houses shall
be in meeting, as provided in this act, no
debate shall be allowed, and no question
shall be put by the presiding officer, except
to either house on motion to withdraw,
and he shall have power to preserve order.


SEC t. That when the two houses
separate to decide upon an objection that
may have been made to the counting Of
any electoral vote or votes from any State,
or upon objection to report Of said com
mission or other question arising under
this act, each Senator or Representative
may speak on such objection or question
ten minutes, and not oftener than once,
but afer such debate shall have lasted two
hours it shall be the duty Of each house to
put the main question without further
debate


SEC. s. That at such joint meeting of
the two houses seats shall be provided as
follows For the President of the Senate
the Speakers chair for the Speaker, i'm
mediately upon his left; the Senators in
the body of the hall upon the right of the
r presiding officer for the Representatives
in the body of the hall not provided for the
Senator's for the teIIers, Secretary Of the
Senate and Clerk of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, at the clerks desk for the
other officers Of the two houses, in front
of the clerks desk and upon each side of
the Speakers platform. Such joint meet
ing shall not be dissolved until the count
of the electoral votes shall be completed
and the result declared, and no recess shall
be taken unless question shall have arisen
in regard TO counting any such votes or
otherwise under this act, in which case it
shall be competent for either House, acting
separately in the manner hereinbefore pro
vided, to direct a recess Of such House, not
beyond the next day, Sunday excepted, at
the hour 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and
while any question is being considered by
said commission, either House may proceed
? with its legislative or other business.
| SEC 6. That nothing in this act shall
be held to impair or affect any right now
existing under the Constitution and laws
to question, by proceeding in the judicial
courts of the United States, the right or
title of the person who shall be declared
elected or vino shall claim to be President
or Vice President of the United States, if
any such right exists.


SEC. Z, That said commission shall make
its own rules, keep a record of its proceed
ings, and shall have power to employ such
persons US may be necessary for the transac-
ton Of its business and the execution Of
its powers.


AN inebriated individual fell down a
flight of stairs the other night, and pas
serhv. fearing him seriously injured ran to