Mr. TRUMBULL. This bill was very care fully considered in the committee, and that very question was talked over. The committee were aware that there was a difference in this respect in the different States. I think most of the new States, so far as I am acquainted all the western States, elect by a viva voce vote. The reason that is given for it there, and it has always struck me with considerable force, is that the members of a Legislature act in a representative capacity and their constituents have a right to know how they vote. They are acting for their constituency. Then there is this additional reason: it prevents any deception or cheating by putting in false ballots or double ballots or anythin of that kind. Where each person's name is ca led and he responds how he votes, every member of the body knows and the constituency know how each representative votes. Upon principle it would seem that they ought to have that right. It is desir able to have the practice uniform, and that is the very object o the bill. It occurred to the committee that there could not be any serious objection to voting in this way, and, indeed, no objection except such as would row out of a former practice. We are all a ittle wedded to our habits and customs and ways of doing business; but, outside of that, it was thought by the committee that it would be much better to make the mode of voting uniform. I will say further, that the committee were unanimous in regard to this bill. It is a bill the want of which has been felt ever since I have been a member of Congress whenever a contested election has arisen; and'such cases have most frequently arisen out of the diffieulty of the 2 Houses of a Legislature meeting together. It has always been considered desirable that congress should passlsome law on the subject. an I think the ComJudiciary, of which I have been a member for the last 8 or 10 years, in discussingthis matter have always agreed that it was desirable that Congress should pass some law on the subject and avoid those contests that arise from the fact that a factions opposition in one branch of the Legislature orthe other sometimes vents the 2 Houses from meeting tOgether. Several occasions have passed by and it has remained, until anotheroccasion recently arose to call attention to the subject. Then some member of the Senate, I think the Senfrom Oregon, [Mr. wH.LIAMS] introduced a resolution instructing the ComJudiciary to inquire into this matter, and this bill was preparer] in consequence of that res olution which went to the committee. It is impossible to make it conform exactly to the practice which has prevailed in the several States, because the practice has been unlike in the different States. In my State we have always elected by joint convention; we never had separate action in each House; but out of deference to the practice which has prevailed, I think, in most of the NewEngland States, and also in the State of NewYork, of voting in separate Houses, it was thought better, as no evil could result from that, t). adopt that ‘plan for the election of Senators; but in case that failed, to provide that the 2 Houses then should come together and make an election. The public interest requires that each State should be represented in the Senate of the U.S., and it may sometimes happen that the 2 branches of the Legislature are of different polities and then will not meet together to elect a Senator. We think the pubic interest is not subserved by leaving a State unrepresented; the intention of the Constitution is that it should be represented, and it is for the public good that we should have a law that will produce uniformity in these elections and secure representation. In regard to the suggestion that the Senfrom Maine has made in reference to the bal lot, I do not see that there can be any substantial reason given against the other mode of voting, and there are some reasons for it, that I think in some of the States they would be somewhat tenacious of. I know it has been discussed in my State; wc have had this question of voting by ballot and viva voce very extensively discussed in the State of Illinois during the last ten or 15 years, and we altered our constitution in that respect.