The Portland daily press., 1880-01-17
THE USUPERS.
Pillsbury's Crowd Playing at
Government.
FIAT COUNCILLORS AND
STATE OFFICERS ELECTED
Whose Careers Will be Very Brief.

Whose Careers Will be Very Brief.
Senate.
AUGUSTA, Jan. 16.-In the Senate Mr.. At
well, from the committee on gubernatorial
vote of 1879, reported that the whole number
of votes returned was 1885 No choice has
been effected by the people, and the conmittee
report that Daniel f. Davis, Joseph H. Smith,
Alonzo Garcelon and Bion Bradbury jare the
candidates.
The report was accepted and sent to the
House.
Mr.. Hobson, of Lincoln, presented the fol-
lowing, which was read and tabled:
Whereas, it has become apparent that the
control of official patronage is dangerous
power by directing the influence OF the vast
army of office holders in one channel, enactin g
the assessment of large sums OF money for
election purposes, exciting the ambition OF un-
scrupulous men, thereby resulting in the con-
troll of the floating vote of any State where it is
attempted and giving to the dominant party
undue advantage in perpetuating its power
therefore
RESOLVED, That it is the duty of Congress to
take such steps as ars.necessary to restrict the
apponting power by placing the selection OF
postmasters in the hands of the people by cleo
ton in the town or city where the office is To-
Gated, and placing the appointment OF other
government officers with the legislatures OF
the several States where the office is located,
and take such other immediate action as may
be necessary to prevent the use OF money III
elections, to prevent intimidation and to secure
to every person the unrestricted right and priv
ilege of expressing his opinion at the ballot box
without fear, molesJation or bribery.
Before the Senate proceeded to vote on the
constitutional candidates that the House sent
said he had no doubt as to the validity of the
Senate and believed it was a legal body. If it
was legal then. our doing5 are legal, but if not
then our action was null and void. Whatever
may be the result he was for peace, and dis
eountenanced any possible resistance if the
illegality of our action was established.
A committee consisting of Patten of Penob-
scot, Parker OF Somerset and Thompson of
Knox, was appointed to receive, sort and
whole number of votes IS; necessary for a
choice 10. Joseph L. Smith had IS. The
report was accepted and Joseph L. Smith was
declared duly elected Governor of Maine.
The following were appointed committee
on the part of the Senate to wait on Mr..
Smith and inform him that he had been cleo
ted Governor: Messrs. Patten of Penobscot,
True of Cumberland and Strickland of Aroos-
took.
a message was read to the House proposing
q joint convention for the election''of seven
executive councillors.
The Deputy Secretary of State transmitted
the report of the standing committee on cleo
tions of the executive council, to which was
referred the returns Of votes given in at the
September election of last year upon the
resolve of the legislature approved March 4,
1879, amending the constitution so as to provide
for biennial elections and biennial sessions of
the legislature. The whole number of votes
thrown is reported at 5S,O15. The number of
votes given in having the word "Yes' written
or printed ON them is 54,011. The number
given in having the work ''No'' written or
printed thereon was 1904. The report was
tabled.
The Senate took a recess until o'clock p.
On coming together again the Senate ac-
copied the proposition Of the House for joint
convention to qualify the Governor and Coun-
Gil, and also proposed a joint convention for
the election Of state officers.
House.
In the House this forenoon the first business
was the presentation of report by Mr.. Dickey
of Fort Kent from the committee on elections
in the Vassalboro' case. Mr. Dickey reported
that VIM. Murray, the contestant, was elected,
having received plurality of the votes legal
ly and constitutionally thrown in Vassalboro
and Windsor. The acceptance of the report
was doubted, whereupon it was made certain
by a vote of So in the affirmative and ) in the
negative. The Speaker declared that quo
rum had not voted. He then directed the
monitors to return their divisions to see how
many members were present, and 76 were re-
ported
Mr.. Dickey asked the Speaker if it was nee
essary that all members should vote.
The Speaker ruled it was not necessary, and
also that quorum was present. He then de-
clared the report accepted.
In answer to question from Mr.. Wales of
Bddeferd the Speaker ruled that the House in
accepting the report accepted the action OF the
committee.
'oeN0
Understandings. He wanted to hear state
ment of facts, and therefore moved re-
consideration of the vote accepting the report
Mr.. Dickey replied that there was dis
crepancy in the vote of Vassalboro'. No
check list was used and none posted up. There
was a check list used, but it was not a certified
one. The testimony was conclusive on this
point. 1t was imperative on assessors to pre-
pare check list, but that was neglected. The
voting had been a very loose operation. All
the barriers that the law and constitution pro-
vides were taken down. The ballot box had
been passed outside the town house to enable
sick man in a carriage to vote.
Mr. Wales was satisfied with the explana-
ton and withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Murray was then conducted to the
Council chamber where he was qualified and
then returned and took his seat.
The report of the committee on gubernato-
rial votes in the Senate came down and was
accepted in concurrence.