The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-16


in all the places where men congregate
to joint debates on tho provisions of the
new ballot law. and in view OF the di-
yersity Of opinions expressed by intelli-
gent and well informed men, it is
scarcely to be wondered at that the
election last Tuesday was conducted
with great irregularity. There is scarce
ly principle laid down in the law that
does not appear to be open to two de-
liberate constructions, widely at vari-
ance.
Yesterday morning when the board
OF county commissioners reassembled
10 canvass the vote the election officers
OF different precincts whose returns re-
quired explanation, were present in re-
spouse to summonses issued the day
before, but the commissioners decided
not to examine them until after the
count OF ballots was completed. This
was then resumed.
There was little of public interest in
the mornings proceedings, except the
fact that in Webster district every pre-
cincts return and its ballots were found
to tally to a vote, and nothing was
found which required inquiry or expla-
ton. gentleman from Webster re-
marked, when he heard this:
''The judges and clerks in Webster all
came up and sought instruction in the
working OF the new law, and so were
posted. Judges who thought they were
too intelligent and too well posted to
need information or study are the ones
who have bungled theirwork SO badly"
In Centre one precinct had nineteen
ballots sealed up in an envelope, for
the reason that the Judges, as they said
in their certificate, did not know
whether to count them or not"
Centre was finished, and precinct OF
Richie counted before the noon recess.
The board reassembled at . p. IN. and
began the count OF the other precincts
of the last district.
ELEVEN BALLOTS DESTROYED.
In precinct No. Of Richie district
there were 220 voters returned, and
only 200 ballots. The election commits
sioners asserted that during the count
eleven ballots were rejected and de-
stroyed on account of being mutilated,
and this was supposed to account for
the discrepancy.
In another precinct one challenged
ballot, not counted, was still deposited
in the bag, and the number of voters
named agreed with the ballots this re-
jected one included.
The city precincts finished at 2:40,
and Liberty taken up. Precinct was
D. K. In precinct 9 two counts were
made, and it was found TO tally all
right The members OF the board have
not made high reputation as adopts
in counting.
In Richland No. the ballots tailed,
allowing for one marked, Ballot not
properly scratched and not counted"
With few exceptions the tickets in
Richland No. were folded fiat, that is,
had but two folds instead of four. The
count was all right.
Triadelphia No. was counted once
by Mr.. KOCH, who made it 244. Then
DR.. Bates counted it at 246, which was
right. No. was also gone over twice,
the first count being 279 and the second
$50, which was what the certificates
called for.
The Triadelphia town precinct judges
certified that they kept the polls open
till 5:07 p. m. All tho others closed, as
agreed beforehand, at 4:40. The
almanacs agree that the sun set on that
day at 4:40 p. m.
The last two precincts OF Triadelphia
district were found to be all right, and
this concluded the count, which was
finished at 4:l0
AS TO LAW POINTS.
Mr.. McGregor moved 10 submit to
Prosecutor Howard, as the boards law
advisor, several gu estions, that he
might have time to form his opinion
and give it when the board meets this
morning.
These questions were in substance:
]. Should ballots on which is written
q number or other mark be counted?
2. Should colored, or sample ballots
be counted?
5. Sould ballots on which but one
poll clerks name is signed be counted?
4. What part Of the expense OF re-
count should the party demanding it
pay the recount does not result in his
election?
5. Should ballots scratched in pencil
be counted?
Q. Should ballots only partly marked
be counted?
4. What should be done in regard to
the ballots sealed in envelopes and in
the hands OF the clerk OF the circuit
court2
These questions were informally re-
ferred to the prosecuting attorney.
The board then adjourned to 10 a. m.
to-day. When it reassembles this lore
noon the order OF business will be the
canvassing and tabulating OF the vote
as certified by the election commission
ers. Tho result OF this time-consuming
iormality was printed very correctly in
the INTRLlIGENcER yesterday morning.
The table will be very useful for com.
parison of precinct votes hereafter.
Just what tine board will do about
the discrepancy OF votes recorded in tho
certificates and the ballots returned in
the sealed bags, nobody has yet VEN
tured to suggest. They will not, how
ever, 90 behind the returns until the
recount is begun.
The canvassing OF the returns will
certainly consume hall OF to-day's ses-
sion, and possibly more. After this the
officars Of precincts where discrepancies
were found are to be inquired of as to
why this is thus, which will also con-
sumo some time, so that the recounts
already demanded, or to be demanded,
cannot in all probability begin before
tomorrow forenoon. The board may
not be ready to begin it then.
MARSHALL COUNTY RETURNS.