The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-09
2732 2075 90 1 1 2 l 1

TOTAL. 1913
In Ward the Warden and Clerk handed in
return, by which they announced that there
was vacancy of two Councilmen. The Board
OF Aldermen, by their official count, found
vacancy of only one Common Councilman;
Messrs. Thurston and Galley, Republicans, the
latter by three majority, were elected. dis
cussion arose as to whether. the Aldermen had
the right to direct the Warden and Clerk of
the ward to correct their record so as to con-
form to the actual facts. Alderman Andrews
claimed that the Board, by the city charter,
had no such right, but that the Warden and
Clerk were the only ones who could cor
rect the returns and give certificates of cleo
ton. He did not dispute that the returns
showed only one vacancy for Councilman, but
at the same time urged that the Aldermen had
no right to instruct the ward officers as to
whom they should give certificates of election
His idea was that each branch of the City
Government was the judge of the qualii-
tions of its members, and when the members
who had certificates given them by their ward
officers took their seats the contestants
should be heard and judged by each branch.
While the other members agreed with Mr.. An
drews in the main, Mr.. Chapman thought that
the Aldermen had a right to instruct the ward
clerks to whom they should give certificates.
Mr.. Chapman also thought if the Aldermen
give over all supervision of the returns trouble
might arise. In close cont ests convenient
mistake might be made in word, and if the
Aldermen couldn't correct it then the City
Government might be organized contrary to
the will of the people as expressed at the polls.
He believed all safeguards should be made for
protecting the purity of the ballot box. He
believed precedent was worth something
The City Clerk showed the forms used in the
record by him for recording the votes were
those used since the earliest records of the city.
followed and not prec edents.
1t was voted that in future the City Clerk
make his record of the election correspond
with the record at gubernatorial election for
warded to the Secretary OF State, and it was
also voted that the City Clerk issue certificates
to those who appeared to him to be elected.
Thus the new City Government will be the
judges of its own members election
The Aldermen voted to adjourn till this eve
ming at 7.30 o'clock to hear the returns from
Ward l. 81
g The following was the vote for Councilmen
in Wards and A. where the Ward Clerk re-
turned vacancies:
WARD l. lr
Councilmen-Thurston Rep) 391; Soule
(Rep) 1863; Galley (Rep) 374; Guptill (Dem)
347; Sargent Dem) 1874; Ward (Dem) 291;
Eustis (Gr) IS; Burgess (Gr) II; Card Orr is;
scattering 9.
The whole number of ballots was 739, of
which $50 were cast in Ward proper, and SO
in 1.-THE two island wards A majority is $40,
showing that Thurston and Galley were elect
ed while Soule lacked one OF an election.
WARD 4.
Counoilmen-J ordan (Rep) 1873; Themes
(Rep) 1868; Bradford (Rep) 351; Cushman
Dem) 478; McAleny Dem) 473; Sullivan
Dem) 1893; Merrill, Is; Baker, is; ThornhilD
Is; Burleigh, 49,; scattering, 8.
Total vote, $40; necessary for choice, 425.
The vote shows no choice of third Councilman.
The Aldermen were in session from 3 to 80
and from 7.30 to 1920 p. m, the time being
given to the discussion of the question of their
lights under the charter.