Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-15
ALL OUT AND OVER
Me-. BeIknap's Gain Of One in
Kent County
HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY SETTLED
Proceedings Of the Canvsssing Board
Y-steEtzy-A War of Wofds Over
sns Committees Reports.

SO far as Kent county 10 concerned
the congressional canvass Of votes 10 AZ
"a end The board of canvassers yes
serday. after . monkey and parrot ses-
slon devoted chiefly to calling each
other another" adopted q report
signed by two members Of the recount
committee. The eight Plain field votes
were lsft cut, the committee declaring
it had no power TO counts them. The
recount committee met yesterday
morning and prepared tho report,
which contained the vote by precincts
and the figures - compiled by the
committee, which have already been
published.
Before the circus opened in the after
noon L. j. Bates offered . resolution
asking the state Legislature 10 adopt
the double Inspector system, providing
for two sets of clerks. the ballots to be
counted as the voting progresses. Mr..
Lsuniere heartily supported the mo-
ton, and 10 Was unanimously adopted.
IL was decided to furnish each member
of the legislature from Kent county .
copy of the report.
Reports OF the Recount
When the report of the committee on
congressional recount was called for
two reports were offered, the majority
signed by John BENJAMIN and Nichol
ID. Emmons. the minority by l.. l..
Launiere. The report differed on three
points, tho first exception being as to
eight votes from Plainfeid. The ma
iority report excluded these. Mr..
Lsuniere's report recommended that
the eight votes be- counted. In the
third precinct Of the eighth ward the
minority report declared that the bal
.lots did not bear the initials OF the in
spectors. being marked "De Young
only. The counting OF these votes was
protested against. The third objection
was to counting the soldiers home
votes. it being alleged that they all
bore distinguishing marks contrary to
law.
Mr.. Launiere moved the adoption Of
the minority report and submitted an
opinion from Judge Champlin. The
Opinion held that the duties OF the
committee were only ministerial and
that IN case of discrepancies between
the tally sheets and the ballots in the
boxes 10 ~ the committees duty to re-
port the case TO the board for its con-
slderatlon.
Judge Champiin's Opinion.
Judge Champlin held that the mis-
take Of the inspectors IN Plainfield
should n Z be allowed to disfranchlse
the voters, and quoted supreme court
decisions in support of MS position,
that the duty OF the COMMITTEES was to
accept the sworn statement of the in
-pectors.
.. A. Bali moved IS an amendment
20 Mr.. Lsuniere's motion that
tue majority report De adopted.
Mr.. Benjamin submitted the opinion
OF the Hon. j.. G.. fitzCieraid.
Dir. Launlerc denied that he had
moved to adopt the minority report
and moved TO amend Mr. Balls
amendment by substituting minority
for majority. This was ruled out of
order. Mr.. Launiere then ask sd to be
nearsi. and reviewed the circumstances
connected with the missing Plainfield
votes lie ssid everybody believed
tast the votes were east for Mr.. Rich-
sfdsou and be should not be deprived
Df them. Mr.. Launiere said tue COM
mlttee. in spite OF the attornies'
opinions. had done more judicial than
ministerial business during the re-
count. "You are supposed to be honest
men snd have taken your OATH to do
your duty"