Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-07
I'd EDITION.
A POLITICAL PUZZLE.
Complications in Connecticut Over
Choosing State Officers
GENERAL TRANSATLANTIC TOPICS.
Sir John Thompson Criticises Mr..
BIaine's Bering Sea Dispatch.
SENATOR CAMERON SUCCEEDS
CONNECTICUT'S NEXT GOVERNOR.
A POLITICAL PUZZLE.
GENERAL TRANSATLANTIC TOPICS.
SENATOR CAMERON SUCCEEDS
ooNNECrIcUT's NEXT GOVERNOR
The Legislature Meets to Settle the Compli'
Gated Question.

The Legislature Meets to Settle the C0mpli-
Gated Question.
HARTFORD, Conn.,, Jan. THE complicated
gubernatorial situation in Connecticut, which
has been the subject Of 20 much discussion dur
ing the past two months, is now about to be
solved. The general assembly, chosen on No
vember 4, meets today, and its first duty will
be to decide who shall be the state officers for
the next two years. According to the law of
Connecticut . candidate for q state Office must
receive Q majority of the votes cast for
the Office in order to be elected
the psoPs In The no
into the general assembly and must be decided
by both houses in joint convention. Immedi-
ately, therefore, after the two houses Of the
general assembly have notified each other that
their respective organizations have been COM
pleted committee on canvass OF votes for
state officers will be formed, consisting Of one
senator appointed by the presiding officer Of
the senate and eight representatives appointed
by the speaker Of the house. As the senate is
strongly democratic the senator appointed will
tives of the lower house, which is republican
by still larger majority, will probably consist
Of five republicans and three democrats. The
action of this committee will develop the crisis.
NORRIS APPARENTLY ELECTED.
On the face of the returns, as officially can
vassed, Mr.. Morris the democratic candidate
for governor, has q majority Of twenty-seven
votes. The officiL report, as signed by the
secretary Of state, the treasurer and the
controller, calls attention, however, to the fact
that in certain voting districts a number Of
ballots were cast which were not counted for
various persons and that no return of the names
Of the persons for whom these ballots were cast
has been made. The only way in which the
republicans can secure the election Of their
candidate for governor is by going back Of the
returns.
Two REPORTS PROBABLE.
Il is probable, therefore, that there will be
two reports presented by the committee to the
general assembly-a majority one declaring in
favor Of an investigation into the irregularities
referred to BY the official canvassers in their
report, and a minority one declaring Mr.. Nor
ris elected by the people. The former will be
accepted by the republican house of repre-
sentatives and the latter by the democratic
senate. II the democratic members Of the
committee take the other alternative, instead Of
making minority report simply retire, re-
fusing to agree to an investigation, the result
will be practically the same. The democratic
senate will then Nerely refuse to accept the
report Of the committee. That the democrats
will refuse to agree to an investigation is a
prevalent opinion, and one warranted by the
attitude Of the democratic journals throughout
the state since the result Of the November
election first became known.
ANOTHER DISPUTED POINT.
The law requires that the election Of state
officers shall take place on the second legisls-
tive day or not at all. This, too, is disputed
point, but even if it be the case the republican
house can get around it and can gain time for
conducting an investigation by taking recess.
In fact it will be able, by continuing to take re-
cesses, carefully abstaining from adjourn
ments, to postpone 1.-THE second Legislative day
as long as it chooses. Such action would result
in the present officers, who are republicans,
continuing in Office.
The situation is still further complicated by
the fact that governor must be declared
elected before the election of any other state
officers can come under consideration. Posi-
bly, this may influence the democrats toward
their candidates for other Offices, all Of
whom have on the face Of the returns much
larger majorities than Mr.. Morris has.
FARMER ELEMENT OPPOSED TO BuLKLEY.
On the other hand the farmer element in the
republican party IL strongly antagonistic to
Gov. Bulkley on account of his attitude on the
oleomargsrine question. Rather than have
him continue in Office two years longer the
republican farmers may prefer to assist in the
election Of Mr.. Morris.
1t is impossible to predict, with any degree
OF accuracy, the action of the general assembly.
All opinion, in fact. is purely speculative, for
the influences which may possibly have con-
siderable effect in forming the result are SO
many and 80 various that it is impossible to
e4ualize their effects. That the result of last
November's election will be a change in the
b lot law, in some particulars ut least, seems
10 be the consensus Of opinion in both parties.
1t Is, indeed, the only point in regard to the
election on which both democrats and republi-
cans agree.