The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-13

formed the committee. The Council voted
that twenty days should be given for that purs
pose and that candidate or his counsel bring
ing the record of the town should have access
to the returns. They did not intend that
parties should examine returns and then go to
the records and change the records. He had
not himself seen any of the returns up to the
18th of November. On the 9th of that month
he knew nothing of any so-called scheme of
counting out"
In the afternoon the examination was held
in Representatives Hall, Which was crowded.
Mr. Hale conducting the investigation. Gov
Garcelon was shown the returns from several
towns and said he neither knew or inquired
the politics of the persons to whom certificates
of election were issued. The certificates were
brought to him to sign which he supposed were
made out in accordance with returns. He had
not time to examine every case. The list of
tabulations were shown him where VIM. III.
Thomas (Rep) was erased and Leonard III.
Beals substituted; John Durham erased and
Alfred Cushman substituted, Sc. The letter
'G was placed opposite several names in
pencil. He supposed that it stood for "Green-
back" He had no knowledge before of what
the list contained. He did not know that GER
tifcates of election had been issued to rs Dem
ocrats and Fusionists and 81 Republicans.
The matter was not discussed in his presence.
Nothing was said about counting in quorum
OF Fusionists. He had heard it on the streets
Q-When did you first learn that such a
thing had happened?
Ans.-Through the papers.
He had picked up a memorandum on the
floor OF the council chamber which had figures
giving 70 representatives on one side and II on
the other.
Q-Were you surprised when you heard the
result of certifcating?
Ans-I was. 1t was rather a pleasing. sur
| prise.
10 sold 1,a had Int bout
had been his rule to decide individual cases on
| their merit. If he had signed any certificate
| that was wrong the facts were falsely put be-
| fore him. No one was counted out. The re-
turns were examined to see if they came up to
| the constitutional requirements of legal re-
turns. He considered that the law makes the
l<GOvernor and Council judges concerning the
legality of the returns. He had presumed that
| his Council were honest and honorable men
| and had compiled the tabulations according to
law. In cases where there was question he
| would look into the matter himself. He had
| acted honestly. Certain rules had been laid
down which were applied to returns regardless
| of party and these rules were carried eOut clear
through. There had not been an instance
where Democrat had been allowed to correct
| the returns.
The individual cases were then taken up
that have heretofore been given. The votes
for John 7. Wallace Oem.,) in Robbinston
were counted for John T. Wallace, Jr. Gar
design it was not according to the rules estab-
lished. They should have been counted for
two separate persons. In Deblois the votes
for John T. Wallace were counted for John T.
Wallace, Jr. He said the rule was not fol-
lowed in that case. In Kossuth the votes for
John r. Talbot were counted for James r.
| Talbot, the fusion candidate. He should have
put it in separate column. In this town the
whole number of votes were not carried out.
That, he said, according to the rule establish
ed, would throw out the town entirely. In
the Staceyvile, senatorial returns the votes
were not carried out opposite each name, but
the names were enclosed in brace, one set of
figures answering for all They were counted
for all. Garcelon said he knew nothing about
it. Had he he would not have allowed it. In
Lincoln Plantation Charles Rankins was voted
fer with the final s left from his name, yet the
votes were counted for Charles Rankins Dem
ocrat) In Hanover Francis w. Redlond's
votes were not counted for Francis W. Redlon
(Republican.) In Raymond votes for Isaac F.
Quimby were counted for Isaac f. Quinby
(FusionstD while in Ashland votes for John
Burnam Republican) were not counted be.
cause the same should have been spelled
Burnham. Had these cases been brought to
him he said he would have applied the same
rule to all.
GLOW did it happen Governor?''
Answer-"You must call upon the commit
tee of the Council for an answer
He coul1 see no merit in throwing out one
and allowing others to remain. Other returns
showing the same facts were shown. Another
ruleA laid down was that returns signed in
the handwriting of one person should be re-
jected. Garcelon examined the Somervilee
returns and pronounced the selectmen's names
clearly in the handwriting of one person. The
return had been counted. New Sharon had
been rejected because the Governor and Coun-
Gil had decided that the selectmen's names had
been written by one person. The Governor
said he was not clear about it, On this return
the Republican Senator, Smith, was counted
out. Numerous other cases were shown the
Governor, much of the same character, most
of which he acknowledged were surprises to
him.. In some cases he acknowledged there
had lplainly been erasures and interference
with the tabulations.
The whole number of votes rule was then
the rule had not been followed, returns Of that
character being counted in and counted out.
| Harrington was counted ont because affidavits
| shew that the records were not made up in
town meeting. That he regarded as one of
the plain requirements of the constitution.
| Not only must the returns be made up in open
town meeting but the records also. In regard
to MIR. Pillsbury he had scarcely any converse
ton with him before issuing the certificates.
After that he saw him quite frequently. He
considered the Governor and Council had a
right to enquire whether candidate voted
for was an alien.
The Governor gave his testimony very readi-
| ly. His examination will continue tomorrow
afternoon as Gov Garcelon is obliged to return
to Lewiston tonight.