Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-11-19

roneous may be corrected by the record No
such correction can be made without applca-
ton within twenty days after the returns are
opened, stating the error alleged, and reason
able notice thereof given to the person to be
affected by such correction"
Messrs. Baker & Baker, counsel in these
cases, desire to have it stated that it has been
the uniform and unbroken habit for the Gov
ernor and Council to permit any candidate or
his attorney to freely examine the returns.
Nor has it ever been known that any person
applying to examine the returns was refused.
The seven ex-Governors now in town, Arson
=. Morrill,, Hannibal Hamlin, Lot NJ Nor
ril, Israel Washburne, Sidney Perham, Nell
son Dingley, Jr., and Selden Connor, desire
to add their testimony to that of the Messrs.
Baker. Their joint experience as chief exec
utives of the State, stretches over quarter
of century of time. The election returns
are closely sealed until "opened" by the
Governor and Council, and the right to cor
rect is mere mockery, these ex-GOvernors say,
if the candidate is not permitted to examine
the returns, to see if anything requires cor
lcge that the senior member of their firm has
practiced before Governor and Council of
different political parties, on disputed elec-
ton cases for the past forty years, and that
this is the first time in which he was ever re-
fused the fullest and freest access to the re-
turns, either in the presence of the Council,
or in the office of the Secretary OF State.
Councillor John b. Foster, on the other
hand, dcfiantly maintains that no one except
the members of the council shall have any
access or inspection whatever of the re-
turns, and he characterizes the request of the
republican Senators elect an infamous out
rage, without precedent or justification. In
answer to Mr. Foster, the members Of the
republican advisory committee assert that
counsel and next friends of all the demo-
cratic candidates have seen the returns af-
fecting their side, and have had ample OPP
portunity to correct all the errors in their re-
turns in advance of the returns being official
~ opened. individual members of the COM
mitee assert that whenever legal investiga
ton can be had it will be clearly proven that
the returns were surreptitiously "opencd'
some weeks since and that democratic Coun-
cillors and outside friends have had all tech
nical errors on their side corrected, and that
republican candidates are now refused the
slightest access to the returns to find if there
be errors affecting them. The committee as
sert that it can be proven beyond all doubt
that as late as Saturday last corrected returns
were received from democratic towns by the
Secretary of State, and that these corrected
returns were sworn to as made in open town
meeting on the day of election, Sept. sth
Hon. Thomas b. Reed remains in the city
as advisory counsel with the Messrs. Baker
Baker, and the republicans assembled at
the Capital have chosen the following gentle
men to act as an advisory committee during
the crisis, viz:
Hon. Lewis Barker Bangor,
Hon. Nelson Dingley, Jr., lewiston
Hon. Selden Connor, Augusta,
Hon. Frederick \. Pike. Calais,
Hon. l.. A. Emery, Ellsworth,
Hon. A. A. Strout, Portland.
1t is the general understanding in this city
this evening that this committee will advise
resort to judicial process to test at the out
set the preliminary question. whether those
claiming to be elected as Senators and Rep
resentatives have not the right to an exami-
nation of the returns as an absolutely essen
tial step, preparatory to the application for
corrections, as provided for in the laws. The
resident justices of the Supreme Court in this
county are Judge Libbey, a democrat, and
Judge Danforth, a republican. Under the
judicial system of Maine, the parties in cases
of this character are at liberty to commence
proceedings before any one of the eight
judges comprising the Supreme Court.
The Senators elect and their counsel state
that while they were remaining in the ante
room and were refused admission to the Coun-
ell Chamber there were various parties GO
ing in and out with perfect freedom. The
business of the Council for the day is under
stood to have been the consideration of APP
plications for pardon for violations of the
liquor law.
Governor Garcelon arrived in the city last
evening, having been absent during the
whole day.