American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-01-17
THE MAINE TROUBLES.

THos. b. SWAN, of Minat and Nose
Hartman, Kennebunk, Fusion members
elect of the Maine Legislature, on the 6tl
made affidavit that they had been APP
preached by Republican agents and of
fered money if they would sign certain
papers disappearing of the action o
the Governor and Council and refusing
to accept seats in the House; that il
order to unmask this attempt at bribery
they say, after consultation with friends,
they decided to and did accept the
money offered, which was 81 GOO apiece,
and that it was stated to one of them
that enough Fusion members had been
induced to stay away to prevent quo
rum being present.
The Maine Republicans assert that
the published affidavits of Swan and
Hartman, declaring that money was
paid Fusion members of the Legislature
to prevent quorum from appearing,
are unsupported by evidence, and chal-
lenge the opposition to produce the
names of the Republicans alleged to
have paid the money.
The Maine Legislature formally
organized on the eth. In the House,
Assistant Clerk Gibbs called the certi-
fed roll of members and &C answered
TO their names. Eugene Hale, Republi-
can, stated that the names of certain
elected members were not on the roll,
and moved that they be included.
Objections were made, and the
Clerk refused to put the motion,
whereupon the Republicans, with
the exception of Hale, with
drew in n body. Upon notification that
the House was then ready to organize,
Governor Garcelon appeared and quail
fed the members. He announced that
&c members, being quorum, had
taken and subscribed the necessary oath,
and were regularly and duly constituted
the House of Representatives. This an
was received with applause
from the outside. Governor Garcelon
said he would now put into their hands
the opinion of the Supreme Court
as well as the petition of the gentlemen
from certain cities claiming seats, and
invoked their careful consideration of |
the same. Three Fusionists, Sproul, |
Voter and Snow, refused to participate |
n the proceedings. The House then |
its organization by the cleo
ton of John c. Talbot as Speaker and
E. Gibbs as Clerk. The SEN
ate organized by the election of Fusion
officers. The State-house was denseIy |
packed with spectators, but no disturb
ance occurred.
The Maine Legislature, on the sth,
appointed a joint select committee to
investigate the alleged bribery and in
of members. Mr.. Hale an
in the House that the Republi-
can members were now ready to be
sworn in.
AT the opening of the Senate on the
9TH but one Republican took his sent
Locke of Cumberland. In the House
not a single Republican was present,
and therefore no quorum. Swan of
,Iinat arose and made statement that
81 900 had been paid him not to appear
1t the organization of the Legislature.
Wallace r. White of Winthrop was the
nan who paid him the money.
Mr.. Swan produced a draft
which he said he had purchased
With the 81, 900 as sooz as it came into
lis possession, and which he now de-
Jared himself ready to turn over to
White as he (Swan) had no claim upon
t. A similar statement was made by
Hartman of Kennebunk, who displayed
he bills he had received. Clark of
lobleboro said he had been APP
,roached for the same purpose
senator Blaine published card deny.
ng unequivocally the reports that he
vas concerned in or had any knowledge
f any attempt to bride members of the
egislature.-The official term of Gov.
having expired by limita-
ion, during the interregnum Gen.
Commander-in-Ch Chief of
he military forces, Temporal
lily assumed the direction of affairs in
ident to the protection of State prop
rty.-The President of the Senate an
ounced that there being no vacancy in
he office of Governor such as is
by the Constitution, he
ad no authority to assume the Gov
rnor's prerogative of swearing in men, .