Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-03-23
GOV. GARCELON.


We publish below, the report of the
first days proceedings, as 1t appeared IN
the Portland ArgSs. We have taken
this repor, from Democratic paper, IN
order that persons who are inclined to
question Republican authority, can have
no excuse for disbelieving the evidence.
Let all candid men who were inclined
10 condemn the Republican course last
January, read this report and say who
was right. Look at the list Of errors,
and violations of the Council rules, which
Gov. Gazcelon, on this first day, admits
10 have existed in the tabulation sheets.
There are a number of cases here which
refer TO Oxford County, and which are
sufficient to prove the charges we have
repeatedly made, that in order TO retain
the fruits Of a Fusion victory in Oxford
County. every ves;ige of fairness in the
count was swept away. Republicans
were counted out on defects, such as ex-
listed in Fusion towns. where the Fusion
lists were certihcated.
Mr.. Garcelon's testimony IN relation
TO State funds, is still more astonishing.
lie admits that he drew some SIX thou
sand dollars Of State funds, from the
several unexpended balances Of other APP
preparations; that he took the money
into his own possession, and that he has,
since his term of Office expired, been pay
ing bills which accrued during his admin
istra,ion. lie has now nearly thousand
dollars Of State money in his hands,
which he has no, expended. This con-
duct is certainly criminal in its negligence.
We shall give more Of the important
facts of his testimony in future issues.
AUGUSTA, March y.
Hon. Alonzo Garcelon OF Lewiston, ex-
Governor OF Maine. was before the Hale
investigating committee today, in response
10 a summons.
The testimony in the forenoon, begin-
ming AZ II O'Clock, concerned chiefly the
time when the tabulaiiOuS OF returns DC
Gan. which Was about the l7th of Novem-
Der. IL near n the Governor could rcmcm-
Der The subject matter OF tahultiunS
was agreed upon at that time. Up 10 that
time. he testified, no outside parties had
seen or i'm any way examined the returns.
Some time during the SESSION of the
Council. beginning that day, the commit
tee on elections, consisting Of i've COUP
cillors. reported that they had opened and
tabulatel the returns. The tabUlatiouS
and results were IN the hands OF The COM
mittee: he knew nothing in regard 10 the
result. committee of republicans,
through Dingley, Lindsey and Emery,
waited upon him and asked To see the IT.
turns. He thought il was very singular
proceeding; he did not consent % show
the returns promiscuously before himself
and Council had had time 10 examine
them. He understood they claimed
the right 10 see them. He did not
understand that To- be the practice.
hut he saw no reason then why the IT
turns should not lie cNumincd. and 80 iu-
formed the committee The Council voted
THAI twenty days should be given for that
purpose. aud that a candidate or his coun-
ell, bringing a record Of the town, should
have access 10 the returns. They did not
intend that parties should examine the re-
turns and then 90 10 the records and
change the records. He had not, himself,
seen any Of the returns up 10 the 18th OF
November on the 27th Of that month
knew nothing OF the So-called scheme OF
counting out"
In the afternoon. the examination was
held in Representatives, Hall, which was
crowded, Mr.. Hale conducting the exam
inaiiOn. Gov. Garcelon was shown re
turns from several towns, and said he
neither knew nor inquired OF the politics
of the persons TO whom certificates OF
election were issued. The certificates
were brought 10 him 10 sign, which he
supposed were made out in accordance
with the returns. He had not time 10 ex-
anime every case.
A list OF fluctuations was shown him,
where VIM. II. Thomas, rep, was erased
and Leonard II. Beale substituted; John
Burnham erased and Alfred Cushman sub
stituted, etc The letter &c" was placed
opposite several names in pencil; supposed
that stood for .sGreenback." He had no
knowledge before of what the list con-
tanned; did not know that certificates OF
election had been issued TO IS Democrats
and Fusionists, and 81 republicans; the
matter was not discussed in his presence.
Nothing was said about counting in
quorum OF Fusionists; had heard IL on
the streets referred 10 incidentally.
Where did you first learn that such
thing had happened."
Ans-"Through the papers" He had
picked up 4 memorandum on the floor Of
the Council chamber, which had figures
giving 20 representatives on one side and
II on the other.
''Were you surprised when you heard
the result Of certifcating:"
Ans.-'I was; II was rather pleasing
surprise"
He said he had cared but little about il.
II had been his rule TO decide individual
cases on their merit. II he had signed
any certificate that was wrong the facts
were falsely put before him. No one was
counted out. Returns were examined 10
see if they came up 10 the constitutional
requirements Of legal returns. He consid-
cred that the law makes the Governor aud
Council judges concerning the legality of
returns. He had presumed that his Coun-
Gil were honest and honorable men, and
had compiled fluctuations according 10
law. In a case where there was ques-
ton he would look into the matter himself.
He had acted honestly. Certain rules had
been laid down, which were applied to re-
turns regardless OF party, and these rules
had been carried out clear through. There
had not been an instance where Demo
crat had been allowed TO correct the re-
turn.
Individual cases were then taken up,
which have heretofore been given. The
votes for john L. Wallace, Dem, in Rob
binston, were counted for John L. Wal
lace, Jr. He said that whether that was a
mistake or design il was not according TO
rules established. They should have been
counted for two separate persons IN
Deblos, votes for John L. Wallace were
eonptaJ far Iohn Il Wallace Ir He said