The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-07
THE CONTEST IS NOW ON.
Hamilton and Leech viii Present
Their Cases to the Elections
Committee
Evidence to Be Heard In Support
Of Their Several
Claims.
The senate Appoints Its Committees and
Orders the Distribution OF tho Gov.
ernor's Message.

The legislature has adjourned until Mon
dav, and when it meets that day, ant
Speaker Matthews announces all the stand
ing committees OF the house. business vii
begin in earnest. Tho senate committsel
were named yesterday, which was the prin-
cipal business done by that body. Thu
main thing in the house was starting the
Hamilton-Leech contest on its way. Both
contestants have been around the house fol-
several days. anxious for something to be
done with their cases. After consultation
amonR the leaders on the democratic and
republican sides il was agreed that the
speaker announce the committee IN cleo
tions in advance of the other standing CON-
mittees. There was NO objection TO this.
and Speaker Matthews appointed d. W.
Bsechsr. ~populiat. Of Cascade county. chair
man. I. G. Bach. Of Lewis and Clarke. and
Ed Blu t. of Deer Lodge. democrats, and
Richard Jockey, OF Lewis and Clarke. and
D. ], Tallant, Of Cascade, republicans.
This the speaker regarded az about
the most equitable distribution that
could be made, each of the contestants
having two of his party friends on the
committee, and the populist chairman
holding the balance OF power. A. b. Ham,
ilton, the demooratio contestant. handed in
the certificate which the Choteau county
canvassing board decided he had a right to
after eliminating the vote OF the Box Elder
precinct on the ground of fraud. With it
he handed in the oath Of office he took be-
before Chief Justice Psmberton. Eugene
Lsech gave the speaker the certificate that
the canvassing board issued him after they
had recounted the vote and included that
OF Box Elder by order of the supreme
court. Both certificates and Hemilton's
oath of office we're handed to the eommit-
tee.
A meeting of the committee was called
for two O'Clock in the afternoon at Judge
Bach's Office in the Power block. All the
members were present except Mr.. Burk.
There was an informal discussion as to how
the committee should proceed, and the idea
was expressed shat Hamilton should have
to show the fraudulens character of the
Box Elder vote, and that Leech
might rebuff the testimony to that
effect. Hamilton said he would like to be
allowed to produce witnesses for his side
of the case. but preferred to make no for
NAL request as to the extent of the testi-
xUCuy uutAll b os III A4o ONASS NV
back to town. Leeoh was not represented
BY counsel either. but will be. Chairman
Beecher said the popuiists had asked to
have a lawyer present to represent them
also, and no one raised any objection to
this. The scope of tbs investigation was
touched on incidentally, and it was the
general expression that it should be thor
ough enough to satisfy the most exaotinR,
while not so hurried al to lead to the i'm
preston of undue haste. nor so long drawn
out a. to give color to any possible sus-
pioion Of unnecessary delay. The COM
mittee appointed A. G. Snyder clerk, md
adjourned until this morning at 10 o'clock.
when the contestants and their counsel will
be present.
When the house meets Monday afternoon
the members will find a different arrange
msnt of the desks. The present plan of
having the desks face toward the east has
already proved unsatisfactory, both on &C.
count Of the light and the acoustics. Dur
ing the recess the desks will be swung
around 80 as to face toward the north end
of the hall, where the speaker will be, the
same al it was in the last house.