A Coming Election

The next President of the United States has not yet been elected. He will not be elected until, on Feb. 11, the Senate and House in joint session count the votes of the Electoral College and proclaim the result.

By the mechanism prescribed by law, the electors chosen by the people at the November election meet, each group in its own state, and cast their ballots (on the second Monday in January). The ballots are sent to Congress in duplicate--one set by registered mail, the other by special messenger. A third copy of the ballots is deposited with the Federal Judge of the district. If no copy has been received by the Congress, the Secretary of State sends a special messenger to get the results.

The messenger chosen in each state to carry the ballots to Congress is generally one of the Electors, although sometimes a prominent politician gets the job. He is paid 25 cents a mile traveling expenses by the Federal Government --a neat sum, especially for him who comes from the Pacific Coast.

Soon Congress will be asked to appropriate $14,000 to pay the "expenses" of these messengers. Representative Cable has introduced a bill to do away with the messengers and, incidentally, to have the ballots counted by the Congress on the first Monday in December instead of the second Wednesday in February.

Since politicians are human, it is probable that the usual $14,000 will be appropriated.