New-York tribune., 1891-12-25

dressed to the Governor, the Secretary OF state
and tho Controller, separate copy TO each.
These were the returns which were corrected
by the Dutchess Supervisors in accordance with
Judge Barnards decision. Nevertheless, al
though it is not denied by anybody that the
County Clerk performed this official act which
he was bound to perform, the fact remains that
the corrected returns are not OH file in the Office
of the Secretary of State. Why not? Our Al
bany correspondent. in letter which we printed
yesterday, explains
Mr. Emans says that he awakened on Monday
night in poughkecpe after he had mailed the election
returns and there YVES delivered to him stay OF pro-
cecngs In the Dutchess County cases issued by Judge
Ingraham that he at took o train for ALBANY.
consulted with the Attorney General. in Albany, ard
recovered possession Of tho election papers IL Is OBJ
vious, OF course, that David b. Iil. Edward "empie
and Frank Rice perfectly well aware OF what ey
were doing when they surrendered these three I'M
portant letters to County Clerk Emans. II Is believed
that Mr.. Hill and Mr. wcmpc solved the problem OF
how to evade receiving the Objectionable election re-
turns OF Duchess County by simply giving Deputy
Attorney General Maynard Mr.. Emans the keys OF
their postofce boxes, thus permitting the intereepuoh
OF the letters by them.
But the courts have held that the mailing of letters Is
prcsumptive evidence that they were received; ana
Mr. Hill and Mr. Wemplc, In any case, cannot escape
the verdict Of their fellow-citzens that they wfuly
gave back to County Clerk Emans the truthful elcc-
ton returns OF Duchess County AS for Frank Rice,
the Secretary OF State his responsibility is greater even
than that OF the other State officers concerned IN ths
affair for he is the chairman of the State board OF
Canvassers lie should be eager to place before his
fellow members of that Eoard the most accurate eieo
ton returns he ca obtain There Is reason to suspect
that County Clerk Emans, of Dutchess County, re-
gained possession Of the returns Of that county III ue
Office of Secretary Of State for Mr. Rice was careful
TO say to-day "Tllo Dutchess County election returns
sent here by County Clerk Emans are not In this ONCE
"Will You cay that no such election returns have
been received I" he was asked.
Al have answered your question:" replied Mr.. Rice.
say that no such election returns are in this ONCE.
We submit that in view of this significant In
cdent Frank Rice is to be regarded as having
placed himself upon the black list No concelv-
able reason can be assigned for the course he is
pursuing other than a wish to have the State
Board OF Canvassers give validity to the bogus
Dutchess returns which were first sent to Albany.
The terms in which he replied to our correspond
ents question were not those which an Official
would have employed who was not ashamed OF
himself. own you say that no such returns
have been receiyed?" asked our correspondent
Il have answered your question:" replied Mr..
Rice. 81 say that no such returns are in the
office" An evasive reply, the reply of trickster
scheming in the dark and afraid TO show his
hand and not of faithful public servant who
had nothing to conceal.
You can step aside, Frank Rice. Your noto-
rious boss, the tainted Hill, may have further
use for you. But reputable citizens have not.
You have sold out TO ballot thieves.