The Portland daily press., 1879-11-18

company.
am still inclined to the opinion expressed
in my dispatch last night that the returns
from all Democratic towns will be found when
they are officially opened to be correct and that
if there are sufficient infornaliies inthe returns
showing Republican majorities to overthrow
the Republican majority that the Council will
stick to the returns, no matter how much
evidence the committee may adduce showing
the actual vote of the towns, and find many
Republicans here inclined to the same OPINION
If the Council have determined upon any such
course it has been only after consultation with
many of the leading Democrats in the State.
FELIX.
ITO the Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Nov. lit is reported this morn
ing that the name of VIM. F. Richards,
Republican Representative-elect from Gardi-
ner will be contested by the Governor and
Council. Considerable excitement prevails.
Richards received about three hundred
IN aiority at the election.
The excitement over the counting out of
the Republican legislature runs very high
here to-day. By the early trains a large mum
Der of leading Republicans from all parts of
Une oUate arrlVeu III tOWli, anu tlliS cNohiii5
the hotels are crowded. Hon. Daniel E.
Davis, Governor-elect, and Ex-Govs. Hanni-
bal Hanlin. Israel Washburn, Lot NJ. Nor
rill Arson P. Morrill,, Nelson Dingley and
Sidney Perham are present. Hon. Nathan
Webb, Ex-Unted States District Attorney, is
here as counsel. Ex-Gov. Chamberlain and
Ex-Gov. Coburn have telegraphed that the
will come. Senator Blaine is here and Messrs.
Reed and Lindsey of the House. The men,
bers of the Republican State committee tor
the current year and the committee for the
next year are in town, and in addition large
number of Senators and Representatives elect
whose seats are threatened are on hand. The
Governor and Council arrived during they
day and assembled in the State House at
o'clock. 1t had been given out generally
through the State that they would at once
proceed to open the official returns AT
o'clock they were waited upon by Republican
committee of sixteen, one frem each county
Ex-Gov. Dingley acted as chairman.
The committee on reaching the anti-chamber
were informed that there would be no session
OF the Governor and Council this afternoon.
The Governor received Ex-Gov. Dingey,
however, personally and privately, and after a
brief conference Mr.. Dingley rejoined his
committee, which on further conference ap-
pointed subcommittee of three, viz: Mr.
Dingley, Mr.. Lindsey, Representative in Con
gress land Mr. Emery late Attorney General, to
have further consuita with the Governor
The conference between the subcommittee
and the Governor lasted some time, and
resulted in the Governors giving the follow
ing specific assurance viz: "That the returns
W ould not be considered open in the sense OF
allowing any amendments or corrections I'M
der the statute until the committee on the
elections should report the results of their can
vass to the Governor and Council and that
there wonld be twenty days from that time for
any corrections allowed by law and for any
hearings that might be desired He further
gave the assurance that this understanding
should be adopted by the Council and made
matter of record and public notice given there
Of In addition to the foregoing Gov. Garce-
Ion gave the following concluding assurance:
"Ample opportunity will be given to correct
any errors in the returns which can be cor
rected under the statutes. If any returns are
fatally defective you must take the con-
sequences
The Council Immediately after went into
session when the Committee on Elections re-
ported that they had canvassed a part of the
returns and opened the whole, and that twenty
days from this date would be allowed for COR
rectons, under the statutes. In order that the
attorneys of the gentlemen who were candi-
dates for Senators, Representatives and county
officers may know whether any error or omis-
-, tl,o
anime the returns. But in a subsequent coz
versation with a member of the Council it was
asserted that no one would be permitted to ex-
anime the returns except the Governor and
Council themselves. Should this rule be
adopted by the Council all opportunity to
make corrections would be destroyed. The
report of this conference to the full committee
did not give satisfaction with the position of
the Governor, for they did not understand
exactly what he meant by the phrase of "fa-
tally defective returns"
1t has been widely rumored that the vote of
the town of Kittery is to be thrown out by the
Council on the allegation that two notices of
election were posted instead Of three as re-
quired by statute. The effect of throwing out
Kittery with its large Republican majority
will be to change the result in the county of
York and elect three Democratic Senators in
stead of three Republican Senators. If this
be construed as fatally defective return,
the result of the election as announced from
the town clerks records in September will be
totally changed.
Another similar case relates to the city of
Auburn which gave large Republican ma
jority 1t is now alleged that the notice of
election was posted six days only when the law
requires seven. If the vote of Auburn be
thrown out it changes the result in Androscog-
gin county and elects two Democratic Senators
instead of two Republican Senators.
Another rumored case Is that of the town of
Cherryfeld. Here it is alleged the vote will
be thrown out because one of the selectmen is
said to be an alien. The throwing out of
Cherryfed's large Republican majority gives
the senators in Washington county to the
Democrats instead of the Republicans. The
total effect of throwing out these three towns
will change the figures in the State Senate
and give the Democrats and Greenbackersl19
senators and the Republicans II. The actual
vote as cast gives the Republicans 10 senators
and all others II. There is no evidence to
the slightest fraud in any of these towns, or
that the returns are in any way irregular. The
objections regarded by the Republicans as
wholly technical and have hitherto never
been sustained by any ruling in this state
either before the Executive Council or in the
judicial courts. So far as can be aScertained
there is no proposition pending to Withhold any
certificate on account of bribery, nor is it
known that there is d single allegation before
the Governor and Council charging bribery in
any town in the state. Many Democrats in
the state refuse to believe that the Counting
OUT scheme can be possibly entertained by
the Governor and Council.
Messrs. Baker and Baker, who are acting as
counsel for the representatives and senators
whose seats are threatened, and also for the
entire Republican membership have filed a
formal and elaborate protest with the Govern
or and G uncil against any certificate being
issued to any other person than those who APP
pear to be elected by the returns.