Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-30
,MAY SECURE THEIR SEATS.
Some More Douglas County Repub-
licans for the House.
HOW THE COMMITTEE FIGURES.
Uhc Democratic Members Will File a
Minority Rcport-The Submits
sionists May Call Up Their
'yu Little Measure To-day.
The Douglas Comfy Contests.

... LINCOLN. Neb., Jan. % Especial TO THE
Bee The house committee on privileges
and elections held a meeting last evening and
examined the alleged poll books and tally
sheets from the First and Second precincts
bf the Second ward aud the First precinct Of
the Third. They found Irregularities Of the
grossost kind and were unable TO tell from
What precincts the returns pUrported to be
. long. They found in the First precinct Of
of the Second ward that the average vote
for representatives was about one hundred
larger than the number of ballots found in
the box or the number of names on the poll
books. The Irregularities, in fact, were TOO
numerous to mention, and of such nature
es 10 raise the gravcst doubts as TO the legal.
ity of the returns.
Mr. Mahoney. attorney for the sitting
members, asked the committee to count the
ballots IN the First precinct of the Fourth
ward, and stated as the basis of his
felucst that the number of ballots returned
tor the democratic candidates for represent
ptives were 100 less than the head of the
ticket received, and that the republican
nominees for the same Office fell behind the
electors about forty votes.
Rayner and Meeker opposed the counting
OF the ballots in any precinct not In dispute,
and stated that time would not permit them
TO MAKE a canvass of all the returns from
Douglas county.
Mahoney claimed that the sitting members
bad not been served with notice by the con
eestants of any dispute as to the legality of
Che returns from the Second ,precinc of the
Second ward, where the grossest irregular.
fties occurred. A democratic member sug-
gestcd that the only way to determine the
matter and find where the discrepancies be-
tween the poll-boOks and the number of bal
lots occurred was to canvass the returns.
Wostover objected, and stated that the
committee had not sufficient evidence to con-
vince them that the ballots had been kept
according to law, and had not been tampered
with and the majority of the committee
tacitly agreed with the speaker
The committee held final meeting this
evening. BY vote of eight to three-De-
laney, Mates, jr., and O'Sullivan-they de-
Glued to throw out the First precinct of the
Second ward. This will seat O'3rien by
majority of seventy-four over Mcmillan, and
Specht by tifty-eight over Fenno. Four re.
publcans, Meeker, Fenton Fieldgrove and
Rayner, will file minority report recon-
mending that the returns from the Second
precinct Of the First ward be also ex-
Ciu3e2, and fight will be made on the floor
ever this question. Should it carry, it will
elect Estabrook oy six votes over Morrissey.
The reports have not been written and may
pot be ready to file Tomorrow. On this point
Ehe members of the committee are non-com-
INITIAL. Delaney, O'Sullivan and Mates, jr..
will file another minority report in which
they will claim that the votes in all disputed
precincts should be canvassed by the COM
mittee. A hot time is expected when the con-
hicting reports come up for action.
Meeker introduced in the committee re-
port to throw out all tn rec districts. but the
pommittee voted on eacch separately.
Chrsty, OF Dodge, voted with the republi-
cans for the majority report. On concluding
The First district of the Third ward, which
would seat Condor and unseat Gardner, only
Meelter votey aye. An effort will be made
10 hove Estabrook given the privilege of the
hoor. If successful he will make q ringing
epeech in his own behalf. The democrats
are reconciled to losing two seats. Tehre is
talk of trading votes between submissionists
end democrats, but there is strong feeling
against such q deal