The Portland daily press., 1880-01-09
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE GREAT FRAUD.
BRIEF SESSIONS OF SENATE
AND HOUSE YESTERDAY.
Republican Members Ask to be
Qualified.
PRESIDENT LAMSON RE-
FUSES TO ADMINISTER
THE OATHS.
An Interesting Question
Raised.
Republicans Still Allege No
Quorum in The House.
THE NAME OF THE
ALLEGED BRIBER
GIVEN.
He Pronounces the Charge
Utterly False.
THE ARGUS LIKELY TO EAT
HUMBLE PIE.
The Guard at the State House In
creased.
The Guard at the State House In
creased.
1Special Despatch to the Press.

ing nice little trap was sprung upon the fus-
ionists by Senator Locke. His motion of yes
terday in relation to joint commit tee of
seven to examine and report upon the returns
of votes for Senators was designed to have
been brought up today just before closing and
reconsidered, but before this could be attempt
ed, Mr.. Locke, who was keeping run of the
game, sprang to his feet and moved to adj
journ, and before the opposition move could
be made, the President had put the motion
and it was carried, which effectually kills any
further reconsideration.
The Senate chamber 4his morning was al
most Destitute of spectators, none being in the
gallery and only one OR two ex-Senators upon
the floor. Among the number we noticed
Hon. j. w. Fairbanks Of Pennington.
The following is the protest of the Repre-
sentatives from the disfranchised cities, which
was drawn up by Mr.. Strout of Portland, and
presented TO the House by Mr.. Hale yester-
day:
To the House Of Representatives..
The undersigned have been legally elected
to represent the cities of Portland, Lewiston,
Saco, Bath and Rockland in the Legislature
which has this day assembled. In their cleo
ton all the requirements of law were COM
piled with; the expression of the will OF their
constituents was free and unbiased, and the
maiorities by which they were SO elected were
so large that no question could arise as to what
was the will of the people as expressed at the
polls.
But although thus duly elected, the names
of the undersigned have been omitted from
the certified roll required by law to be furnish
ed by the Secretary of State to the clerk OF the
preceding House of Representatives. and they
are thereby deprived of their right to take
part in the organization OF the House to which
they have been chosen. The alleged reason
for this denial of their privileges and the dis
franchisement of the cities they represent is
certain technical errors claimed to exist IN
the returns made by the clerks of the several
cities, over which the undersigned had no SUI
pervision Or control, which defects, had they
existed, would not have affected the validity
of their election.
The Constitution of this state provides that
the Justices Of the Supreme Judicial Court
shall be obliged ''to give their opinion upon
solemn occasions when required by the Cover
nor, Council, Senate Or House OF representa-
tives.' Awaiting himself Of this important
right, the Governor has requested the opinion
of the Court upon the questions OF law in
volved in the discharge of the duties of the
Governor and Council in connection with
these returns and the sufficiency OF the returns
themselves, and in every case where the I'M
dersigned are concerned all the objections to
ion of the Court to be without foundation.
And it further appears as matter OF law that
the returns were valid and sufficient. Upon
the announcement of this opinion the under
signed made application to the Governor ana
Council to have their names and places OF res
idence reported to the Secretary OF State TO be
included in the certified roll as Representa-
tives-elect, in order that they should represent
their several constituencies in the duties they
were elected to discharge, but their petitions
I'D
summoned to take their seats to which the
undersigned have been elected and no notice
has been given that these seats will be contest
ed, but the several cities above named are lett
unrepresented and without voice in the pro-
ceedingS of this branch of the legislature.
In view of these facts the undersigned rely
ing upon that sense Of justice which controls
the conduct of upright men IN the dlScnarge OF
public duties, appeal to this House, and In the
name of the people of the people whom they
are the lawful representatives, respectfully re-
quest to be admitted to the seats to which they
were elected, thereby securing to them the
privileges to which they are justly entitled,
and to their constituents the recognition OF that
right of equal representation when is tne un-
DERIVING and vital principle OF a Republican
form of government
(Signed)
ALMoN A. STRoUT,
REUEL S. MAXCY, Reps.
SAMUEL A. TRUE, of
NATHAN Ii. REDLON, Forulanu.
BYRON D. VERRILL,
LIBERTY y. HUrcH1NsoN,) Reps
SILAs w. Cook, OF
GEO. PARKER. Rep. of Saco
GUY G. GOss, Rep. of Bath,
J. S. WILLoUGHBY, Rep. OF
THEo. S. SIMoNToN, Rockland.
Tonight the members of Gov. Garcelons
Councilar in state of blssful uncertainty as
to whether or not they are in office GOV.
Garcelon babe the Council good bye this after
noon and has gone home, and seemed greatly
pleased that his term of official trials and per-
plexities was over. There is undoubtedly
dead lock in the several departments OF state
and there is no telling at this hour what the
result will be. DIR. Parker, one of the Council
in conversation tonight rem arked that he
would really like to know whether he was
member of the Council still or not. If he was
satisfied that he was he should stay and fight
it out but if not he was ready and willing
to return to his home as business required his
immediate presence there.
A visit to the State House this evening re-
vealed an unprecedented state OF affairs. Ihe
main entrance to the rotunda is barrlcaded
with heavy joist and the interior is occupied
by strong guard
No signs of any arms were noticed, but they
are undoubtedly ready at hand, and Judging
by smothered conversation coming from COM
mittee rooms there is also strong guards,
stationed within ready for action at moments
notice. The guards themselves are very
reticent and careful to examine everything
upon and about the person of the visitor which
has the least suspicion of not being all right.
The Fusionists evidently fear an attempt to
capture the State House and have taken these
measures TO prevent it as the guards do not
wear badge of regular or special city police.
This belief is strengthened from the foot that
unusual strictness was observed in the admls-
sion of spectators to the capitol to-day, scarcely
anybody besides those entitled to be present
gaining access.
The Republicans contend that the fusionists
have organized the House without constitu-
tional quorum and will not be convinced to the
contrary This is now shown, they say, and
can be proved to the court by the record as