Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-01-21
fFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.
LETTER FROM HARRISBURG.
HARR1sBURa, Pa, Jan. IA, 1870.


THE FINDLAY-sCULL CASE.
At the organization of the State Senate
two parties presented themselves claiming
a seat as representatives from the Twentieth /
Senatorial district composed of the counties
of Somerset, Bedford and Fulton, and each |
holding a certificate of election. According |
to one statement, signed by three return
Judges, one from each county, Hiram Find |
Law. the Democratic candidate, was elected !
by majority Of twenty-three votes. Ano-
ther statement, signed bY one return judge,
gave Edward Scull, the Republican can
didate, majority of seventeen votes. From
the latter statement it appears the vote of
/ Allegheny township, in Somerset county,
was omitted, which constituted the differ
| ence in the two returns. As a reason for
/ this omission it is alleged that the returns
| from this township were not received until
after the board of return judges had ad-
iourned, and should not therefore be connt-
ed. When the case came before the Senate
/ the whole matter was referred to q select
committee OF three to examine and report
which of the claimants was prinla .facie en-
titled to the seat The committee presented
two reports-a majority report signed By
Senators White and Howard, giving the
seat to Mr.. Scull, and minority report
signed by Senator Davis, giving the seat TO
Mr.. Findlay. The question on the adoption
of the majority report involved the Senate
in prolonged discussion. Senator Lowry,
Republican from Erie, sided with the Demo
Gratis, and in support Of his position pro
duCed letter frona Ev- Attorney General
Brewster, addressed to himself sustaining
his course. On the question Of adopting the
report the vote stood fifteen to fifteen
Senators Lowry and Billingfelt voting with
the Democrats, which determined the ques-
ton in the negative-0n Wednesday morn
ing Hiram Endlay was sworn in and took
his seat as Senator from the Twentieth dis
trict Scull will, however, contest the seat
J As the Senate is now constituted the Re
! publicans have a majority Of three, with one
Republican and one Democratic seat con-
tested
} The election of State Treasurer took place
on Wednesday. Since the caucus nomina-
ton of Maekey there has been aquiet rumor
, Of a coalition between the Democrats and
} the dissenting Republicans to secure his de-
feat, which would be virtually breaking
up of the Cameron ring This rumor was
given additional weight from the fact that
, on Friday, W. W. Irwin. the candidate de-
S feated in caucus, was close.ed with Senators
e Wallace and Buckalew, though nothing
e tangible could be learned Of the result of the
interview. 1t has since transpired that
3 Irwin gave Wallace list of the Republi-
( cans that would support him on the day Of
{ election, notwithstanding the caucus nomi-
nation of Maekey. On Wednesday morn.
) ing the Democratic caucus passed resolu-
ton to support Irwin on the second ballot
in case enough Republicans voted for him
on the first to secure his election by their
aid On the first ballot Mackey received
4 60 votes, d. o. Barr, the regular Demo
! cratic candidate, 55; Irwin twelve, and three
votes were scattering. On the second
ballot all but two of the Democrats voted
s for Irwin, the vote standing Mackey GO,
Irwin &C, scattering g. not voting one. AT
this stage Of the proceedings the excitement
+ was most intense, Irwin lacking but one
t vote to secure his election, and the supper
ters Of Mackey wild over their impending
defeat. Strong efforts were made TO secure
e an adjournment; but all motions looking to
F,-ssilsI pvsSpUHCaneus quickly met
e and promptly voted down The third bal.
t lot resulted in 20 votes for Irwin to 81 for
Mackey, thus securing The former election
by nine majority. The names of the fifteen
Republicans who on the last ballot voted
for Irwin are as follows Senators Kerr
aud Lowry, and Representatives Ames,
Bowman, Burlington, Coray, Craig, God
, shalk, Herr, Leslie, MeCracken, McCreary.
ReinOehl, Wheeler and Wiley. Senator
} Billingsfelt, of Lancaster, remained absent
from the caucus, and Senator Worfel from
} the same county, refused to vote on the last
ballot
HOW BROUGHT ABOUT.
Ali sorts Of rumors are afoat as to the
manner in which the election of Irwin as
State Treasurer was accomplished. The
defeated Mackey- -Cameronites make the
most extravagant assertions of bargains en-
tered into by the dissenting Republicans
with the Democrats, and that money was
freely employed to purchase votes. There
are however no surface indications of i'm
proper means used, and the recklessness of
the statements made give them but little
weight. In conversation with one Repub
lican Senator who voted for Irwin / was
told that the only shadow of bargain made
between them and the Democrats was a
statement By their leaders that if certain
Republicans who had already defined their
position on the Findlay-Scull case; as before
the Senate, would maintain the stand they
had taken against the Cameron ring, the
Democrats would aid them in defeating the