The Portland daily press., 1879-11-21
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE THREATENED THEFT.
Republicans Still Denied Access
to the Returns.
Republican Senators Apply for
a Writ of Mandamus.
GOV. GARCELON CONSULTING
HON. w. L. PUTNAM.
He Wants to Know If He Can Re-
sist the Supreme Court.
GOV. GARCELON CONSULTING
HON. w. l.. PUTNAM.
He Wants to Know If He Can Re-
sist the Supreme Court.

AUGUSTA Nov. 20.-Hon. Austin Harris,
Senator elect from Washington county, re-
paired to the State House this morning under
a conditional promise from Councillor John b.
Foster that he might see the returns from his
own county. Mr.. Harris told him that was all
he had asked to see. On reaching the State
House, however, he was informed by Mr.. Fos-
ter that the Council had decided otherwise
and he could not be permitted to see them.
Mr.. Harris short time after sent the follow
ing letter to the State House:
AUGUSTA. Me-, Nov. Goth, 1879.
To the Honorable the Governor and Council of
the State Of Maine:
am Senator elect from the district of
Washington county according to returns of
the several towns as published in September.
On Tuesday last addressed a communication
to your honorable body asking that you would
permit me to examine the official returns with
the view OF correcting the errors therein if any
errors can be found. This is right which
have under the laws of Maine-a right hither-
to commonly exercised by candidates for office
in this state and their attorneys without pro-
test or objection from any source. After
waiting three days without answer to my COM
munication 1 am informed by one of your
honorable board that L cannot be permitted to
inspect the returns. In view of this refusal,
SO extraordinary and so unexpected have
now to request that your honorable board will
furnish me in writing with a statement of the
errors in the returns from the county of
Washington in the vote for Senators, il there
be any errors, in order that may at once have
the necessary corrections made in accordance
with the laws of the state. will be obliged
by an early answer sent to the care of my at
torney, I'll. NJ Heath, Esq, of this city.
Very respectfully,
AUSTIN HARRIS
Mr. Focfor info oil hot 10 i
not regard the Council as under any obligation
to withhold certificates of election under the
twenty day order, but that the certificates
might all be issued today or tomorrow if the
Governor and Council should see fit to so
order.
The chief interest in the case is today trans
ferred to Bangor, where proceedings are being
initiated before Chief Justice Appleton to test
the question Of the right of candidates and
their attorneys to see the election returns.
Hon Joseph HI. Williams, ex-governor of the
state and candidate of the Democratic party
two years ago, visited the State House today
and expressed himself very freely against any
attempt to count out the Republican Senators
and Representatives. Ex-Gov. Williams unit IS
in the statement expressed by all the ex-gover-
nors that candidates have always been allowed
to examine the returns preparatory to the cor
rections allowed by the statutes Governor
Garcelon is absent from the CITY, He is under
stood to be in consultation at Portland with
VIM. l.. Putnam, Esq, as to the extent of his
right to resist any interference of the Supreme
Court.
BANGOR, Nov. 20.-Hon. Austin Harris, Re-
publican Senator elect from Washington coun-
ty, accompanied by Orville D. Baker, ESQ.,, of
Augusta, as counsel for Hon. Joseph A. Locke,
Senator elect from Cumberland county. and
others, arrived here on the evening train and
waited on Chief Justice Appleton to lay before
him petition on behalf of interested parties
refused access to the election returns ty the
officials at the State Capital 1t is understood
that the Chief Justice will determine tomor-
row what action he will take in relation to the
case.
There is much earnestness of feeling in this
community oyer the situation at Augusta, and
the utmost indignation prevails among Repub-
licans at what they regard as the unprecedent-
ed and arbitrary course of the Governor and
Council and indications of their purpose to re-
verse the result of the election
BOSTON, Nov. 20.-An Augusta special to the
Journal says Governor Garcelon in the public
reading room of the Augusta House arose in
his wrathful dignity last evening, and asserted
that no man, whether interested or otherwise,
had any right to see the official returns. If
opened to the public, "the rabble," as it is said
he styled the law-abiding people of Maine,
might mutilate or abstract them, and the only
safety was in Withholding them from all par
ties. The Executive has stiffened up wonder
fully, and there is no possibility of Republic
cans getting their rights but by compulsory
process Supplication and entreaty have
failed. Councillor Foster broke faith with
Senator elect Harris yesterday, and to soften
the thing today told him that personally he
would be glad to show him the returns for his
county, and although he denied that he had
any legal right to see returns he would, as
personal favor, give him an opportunity to see
them for his county if he couldIprevail upon the
other members Of the Council to agree to it.
Senator Harris accompanied him to the State
House, and after waiting some time was very
Suavely informed by Foster that the other
members objected, and he could not do it. This
cheap attempt of Foster to keep within the
good graces of personal friends has been char
acteristic throughout, and is intended to keep
himself sweet socially at his home, where his
society friends are largely Republicans. Re-
pubicans who hung their hopes on the politi-
cal integrity and fair dealing of the Penobscot
Councillor have greatly modified their views