The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-25
The Thirty-Fourth Senatorial
District Contest Ended.
FRAUD FOUND BY COMMITTEE.
Bill to Extend the Limit of Legisla-
tive Sessions Killed.
senator owings Has an Investigating
Committee of His Own, But Vague
Ideas as to What 1t viii Look For
or Find-New Election Called.

OLYMPIA, Jan. 2i.-ESpecial. THE Rich
ards-McCarty contest for senator from the
Thirty-fourth district, comprising the
Bellingham bay cities, was practically de-
clded today by the unanimous report of
the Senate committee on privileges and
elections, to which had been referred the
contest, 10 unseat Morris McCarty. the
Democrat, who now represents the dis
trict, and seat instead Frank H. Richards.
The reports state that there were most
glaring frauds perpetrated in Fairhaven,
and there is nothing to do but throw out
the Second ward, which gave McCarty
majority. Those who are familiar
with the facts aver that fraud was
committed. 1t was through political
treachery of some would-be prominent Re-
publicans, who endeavored to vent their
personal spite by the defeat of Mr.. Rich
ards for one of the most important poiti-
cal offices in the state that McCarty sue
ceeded in being declared elected by five
votes, and was given his certificate of cleo
ton. Richards is well known throughout
the state, and it is expected he will make
q valuable member. Following is the re-
commentator of the committee:
Mr. President: Your committee on elections
they have had under consideration the matter
OF the cor tested seat from the Thirtyfourth SEN
atorlal district Whatcom county, wherein Frank
III. Richards is the contestant and Morris Nc
Carty the contestee Both parties were before
us in person and by counsel To the evidence
adduced and authorities cited your committee
have given undivided attention, and have come
10 the following conclusiou
In the inception of this report IL is but proper
10 state that We find nothing in the evidence
that reflects on the strict integrity and honesty
cIc in, fhan taSf Erfkx,
the examination and consideration thus given
your committee find that at the last general
election held in the state, on the 4th day of No
yember, 1890, in the Thirty fourth senatorial dis
trlct, IN the county of Whateom, there were
three candidates for the seat in the state Senate,
Morris McCarty, Frank ii. Richards and NJ. r.
chestnut That according to the official returns
the entire number of votes for senator was I.555,
OF which Morris McCarty received 764, Frank III.
Richards 759, and NJ. r. Chestnut 81. giving Me-
Carly plurality OF five votes OF the entire num-
Der cast
Yonr committee further find that there were
Two votes thrown out which should have been
counted for Frank II. Richards We also find
that there were two fraudulent votes cast which
should be taken from the vote of Norris Me-
Carly, thus leaving the vote: Richards, 7l6;
Morris McCarty, 762. Your committee find from
the evidence that in the Second ward of Fair
haven frauds of most serious character were
perpetrated, and which should have received at
at the hands of the proper tribunals. We find
that from one house in said ward between twen-
ty-tiye and thirty men were registered on the
registration books of said ward, and the evi-
dence clearly shows that such house was in
capable of accommodating that many ac-
tual residents at time or even
half that number: that at that time
there were several persons living in the house
who were not voters, among them several
women. We further find that there were many
votes voted from this house, several presented
themselves to vote who dare not swear their
votes in, and from the evidence your COM
mittee is satisfied that fraudulent voting to a
great extent was INDUCED in in this ward, leav-
ing the result in,extreme doubt
For these reasons your committee unanimous
ly agree that they cannot conscientiousiy do
otherwise than recommend that the vote OF this
precinct be thrown out entirely.
We also mud many Irregularities, but they are
not OF sufficient consequence TO warrant any
further changes in the vote. The vote presented,
according to the official count of the board of
election gives McCarty plurality of nineteen
in this ward, which, being thrown out, leaves
McCartys vote in the senatorial district, 6l6, and
Richards 66l.
Your committee. therefore, recommend that
Frank III. Richards be declared entitled to n scat
in the state Senate, from the Thirty fourth sena
torial district OF Washington, now occupied by
McCarty.
All OF which we respectfully submit. together
with all evidence, exhibits and documents pre-
sented to us during the hearing OF said contest
J. III. Lone,
Il. G.. MCCRosKEY.
A. r. VAN DEvASTER.