Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-31
ElFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Certificates Issued to a Repub-
 lican Majority of Four.
THERE WILL BE MANY CONTESTS.

w DE ALAN SVN LIy The Next Committee on Elections VIII Have Plenty of Work to Perform-Some Very Small Majorities That Opponents Will Try to Overcome.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-Clerk Clark, of the house of representatives, has received the certificates of 250 members-elect to the next house, and has been officially informed that certificates have been issued in all but three congressional districts Of the certificates issued 163 are to Republicans and 159 to Democrats, and of those districts still in doubt two of them are in West Virginia and one in Tennessee In all of them the Republican candidates claim majorities on the face of the returns However, should the Democratic candidates get the certificates their party will not have control, as the Re publicans will still have a majority of one and will organize the house The question is whether it will be one or seven Several Re publicans who are elected to the next house are in uncertain health. Several whose names are often mentioned are regarded as having O very uncertain tenure Of lie Every indication of ill health the part of a member of the next house is regarded with anxiety and adds another argument to the many advanced in favor of an extra session. This being the case the candidacy for the speakership is becoming more heated every day.
 Of the 163 Republicans who have received certificates of elections, it is said that MT. Cannon has 49 pledged to vote for him; MT. Reed, 3s; MT. McKinly, 23; MT. Burrows, % There are 16 unpledged southern mem- bers The other 75 members are scattered between prospective candidates. There is no telline for whom they will vote.
 Up to this time only notice of contest mas been filed in the office of the clerk of the house. This is the case of Hartsutf against Whiting the latter being the sitting Demo cratic member of the Seventh Michigan dis trict There are twenty-one counts i'll his Indictment, and he charges that votes were cast at wrong places, that aliens voted with out restraint, that fraudulent naturalization papers were issued, that illegal registration was common, and that persons were com pelled to vote the Democratic ticket under threats of personal injury. MT. Hartsuf lays particular stress upon what he calls the ''corruption fund"
 Quite a number of the cases arise out of the narrow majorities received by some of the successful candidates. Such Is the founda- tion of the contest made by Sydney E. Mudd against Representative Barnes Compton, of the Fifth Maryland district, whose majority has been placed as low as 1 vote In the Fourth New Jersey district, Samuel Fowler (Dem.), was elected by only 72 votes, and N ". Voorhees, will try to overcome this by contest Congressman Shively Dem.), of Indiana, was returned by a still smaller majority-less than 40 votes--and William A. Hoyne his Republican rival, will en- deavor to secure the seat. As compared with these efforts to overturn a few votes, the contest of T. B. Eaton, Republican of to Con James Phelan seems quite herculean. Mir. Phelan received 5000 majority. Charges of fraud will also be made by T. B. Posey, a Re publican, who was defeated by William F. Parrett in the First Indiana district. For the first time in many years a contested election easel is reported from Connecticut, where, in the Fourth district, Edward R. Seymour Dem.) will endeavor to unseat Fred R. Miles (Rep). William Elliott, of Beaufort, s. C., who had a con- tested case on his hands during this congress, Is again to experience the trouble. Other cases which will excite interest are those of T. G. Phelps (Rep) against Thomas J Clunie Dem.), in the Fifth California dis trict, and Jehu Baker, who defeated ''Bilr Morrison, and who has ill turn succumbed te W. G. Forman. Judge Waddil, of Rich rnond Va, will contest with George D Wise the honor of representing the Thirc NHkluld ulStAAtt 4Ao ShSh SSS II etIlI illegal voting This long list of cases doe not include the West Virginia districts which are almost certain to be contested.
 The next committee on elections will have its hands full, and will be one of the mos important to be appointed by the successor of Mr. Carlisle.
 DEATH OF MRS. GEN. SCHOFIELD.
 The wife of Mai. Gen. John M. Schofsld in command of the army of the United States, died yesrnday at the Richmond flats in this city. Mrs. Schoheld has no been in good health since her arrival il Washington some months ago The attacl of illness which resulted in her death was however, unexpected. She had been suffer ing from heart disease, complicated wit nervous trouble. Saturday night she had severe attack, and three of the late Gen Sheridan's physicians-Dr. Narrow, Surgeo O'ReiIly and Dr. Lincoln--were called ir but they were unable to do anything for tn patient.
 Mrs. Schofeid was the daughter of Pro lessor Bartlett formerly professor of phile sophy at West Point Military academy. Sh was married at the time that Gen. Schofielt then a subordinate, was detailed as iGstructc at West Point. The remains of Mrs. SchC 6sld will be taken to West Point.