SELECT COMMITTEES.

SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COUNTING ELECTORAL VOTES, WITH POWER TO CONFER WITH HOUSE COMMITTEE.

Messrs. GEORGE F. EDMUNDS, of Vermont.

OLIVER P. MORTON, of Indiana.

FREDERICK T. FRELINGHUYSEN, of New Jersey.

ROSCOE CONKLING, of New York.

ALLEN G. THURMAN, of Ohio.

THOMAS F. BAYARD, of Delaware.

MATT. W. RANSOM, of North Carolina.

HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON COUNTING ELECTORAL VOTES, TO ACT IN CONJUNCTION WITH SENATE COMMITTEE.

Messrs. HENRY B. PAYNE, of Ohio.

EPPA HUNTON, of Virginia.

ABRAM S. HEWITT, of New York.
WILLIAM M. SPRINGER, of Illinois.

GEORGE W. MCCRARY, of Iowa.
GEORGE F. HOAR, of Massachusetts.

GEORGE WILLARD, of Michigan.

COUNTING ELECTORAL VOTES.

APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 7, 1876.

Mr. McCrary offered the following:

"Whereas there are differences of opinion as to the proper mode of counting the electoral votes for President and Vice-President and as to the manner of determining questions that may arise as to the legality and validity of returns made of such votes by the several States;

"And whereas it is of the utmost importance that all differences of opinion and all doubt and uncertainty upon these questions should be removed, to the end that the votes may be counted and the result declared by a tribunal whose authority none can question and whose decision all will accept as final: Therefore,

"Resolved, That a committee of five members of this House be appointed by the Speaker, to act in conjunction with any similar committee that may be appointed by the Senate, to prepare and report without delay such a measure, either legislative or constitutional, as may in their judgment be best calculated to accomplish the desired end, and that said committee have leave to report at any time."

The resolution was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 14, 1876. Mr. Knott, from the Judiciary Committee, reported the following substitute for Mr. McCrary's resolution:

"Whereas there are differences of opinion as to the proper mode of counting the electoral votes for President and Vice-President, and as to the manner of determining questions that may arise as to the legality and validity of returns made of such votes by the several States;

"And whereas it is of the utmost importance that all differences of opinion and all doubt and uncertainty upon these questions should be removed, to the end therefore that the votes may be counted and the result declared by a tribunal whose authority none can question and whose decision all will accept as final: Therefore,

"Resolved, That a committee of seven members of this House be appointed by the Speaker, to act in conjunction with any similar committee that may be appointed by the Senate, to prepare and report without delay such a measure, either legislative or constitutional, as may in their judgment be best calculated to accomplish the desired end, and that said committte have leave to report at any time.

"Resolved, That a committee of seven members be appointed by the Speaker of this House to ascertain and report what are the privileges, powers, and duties of the House of Representatives in counting the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States, and that said committee have leave to report at any time."

The resolutions were adopted.

IN THE SENATE, December 18, 1876.

Mr. Edmunds moved to take up the following resolution, which had been offered on the Friday before, in answer to the message of the House that a similar resolution had been adopted in that body:

"Resolved, That the message of the House of Representatives on the subject of the presidential election be referred to a select committee of seven Senators, with power to prepare and report, without unnecessary delay, such a measure, either of a legislative or other character, as may, in their judgment, be best calculated to accomplish the lawful counting of the electoral votes, and best disposition of all questions connected therewith, and the due declaration of the result; and that said committee have power to confer and act with the committee of the House of Representatives named in said message, and to report by bill or otherwise."

The resolution was adopted.

IN THE SENATE, December 21, 1876.

The President pro tempore appointed as the special committee respecting the counting of the electoral votes authorized by the resolution of the 18th instant, Messrs. Edmunds, Morton, Frelinghuysen, Logan, Thurman, Bayard, and Ransom.

IN THE SENATE, December 29, 1876.

The President pro tempore laid before the Senate the following communication; which was read:

"Hon. T. W. FERRY,

"President Senate, Washington, D. C.:

"CHICAGO, December 27, 1876.

"I cannot return to Washington in time to act on committee on presidential question. I must ask to be excused from serving, and ask that you appoint some one to act in my place.

"J. A. LOGAN.”

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Will the Senate excuse the Senator from Illinois from further service upon this committee as per request?

The question being put, Mr. Logan was excused; and the President pro tempore being by unanimous consent authorized to fill the vacancy, Mr. Conkling was appointed.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 22, 1876.

The Speaker announced the following committees:

Committee to ascertain and report what are the privileges, powers, and duties of the House of Representatives in counting the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States: Mr. Knott of Kentucky, Mr. Sparks of Illinois, Mr. Tucker of Virginia, Mr. Maish of Pennsylvania, Mr. Burchard of Illinois, Mr. Seelye of Massachusetts, and Mr. Monroe of Ohio.

Mr. Monroe was excused, and Mr. McDill, of Iowa, was appointed to fill his place. Committee to meet with the Senate committee as to the counting of the electoral votes for President and Vice-President: Mr. Payne of Ohio, Mr. Hunton of Virginia, Mr. Hewitt of New York, Mr. Springer of Illinois, Mr. McCrary of Iowa, Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts, and Mr. Willard of Michigan.

ORDER TO COMPÍLE AND PRINT.

December 23, 1876. Mr. Springer, from the committee appointed to confer with a similar committee on the part of the Senate in reference to counting the votes for President and Vice-President, reported the following resolution and asked its adoption:

"Resolved, That the special commitee to confer with a similar committee on the part of the Senate in reference to counting the electoral votes for President and Vice-President be authorized to compile and print for the use of that committee and the House the proceedings and debates of Congress relating to the counting of the electoral votes from the first election of President and Vice-President to the present time; and that said committee shall have power to employ such clerical assistance as may be necessary in the preparation of said compilation."

There being no objection, the resolution was adopted.