New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-01
WARNING TO COUNTY CLERKS.
GREAT CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN IN PRE-
PAIRING ELECTION RETURNS.

MYSTERIOUS CONFERENCES AT ALBANY WHICH
MAY MEAN A PLOT TO CAPTURE THE
STATE SENATE EY THE DEMOCRATS.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBrSEJ
Albany. Nov 30.-Some Republicans in Albany are
a little disturbed in mind by the which they
hear daily noatirg down apparently from the state
Capitol, that the Democratic party will after ALL
control the State Senate
1t is true tina: upon the face OF the election re-
turns eighteen "straght-out' Republicans have
been elected and that Independent Democrat,
Daniel Bradley. had Republican Endorsement and
is expected to act upon many political matters with
the Republican party. This would give the Republic
cans nineteen votes in the Senate, or majority OF
SIX Nevertheless. remembering the experience of
1891. when. with eighteen Senaors-eect, the Re-
publican party discovered when the Legislature
met that II had certificates OF election for only
fifteen Senator's these Republicans are watching
the proceedings OF the Democratic politicians OF the
State with much vigilance
There was "A conference at the Kenmore Hotel.
for instance. Tuesday night OF all the democratic
State officers. except Attorney-General Rosendae.
Lieutenan I Governor Sheehan Secretary Of state
Rice. State Treasurer Danforth, Controller Camp
bell and State Engineer Schenck were present Why
should any conference have been held? What was II
about? No State business required such a meet
ing OF these officials. Every one knows that those
present at the conference. with the exception OF
Mr. Sheehan are members OF the State Board OF
Canvassers. which will meet shortly TO canvass the
vote for Senators. State officers and members Of the
Constitutional Convention Frank Rice and Elliot
Danfortb were members OF the Democratic state
Board Of Canvassers that counted out three Re-
publican Senators-elect In 1891
Ii should be stated also that this conference" was
preceded by a meeting in the private room OF the
Executive Chamber OF Governor Flower Senator
David Il. Hi, Senator Edward Murphy, !r. Lieu
tenant Governor Sheehan and Charles II. De Freest.
the Clerk of the Assembly. one OF the men who
visited the Executive Chamber at this time was
Michael J. CoTey, OF the two Democratic
Senators elect from Brooklyn. Did he bring any
political news OF importance from Brooklyn In re-
gard to the State Senate and the attitude or tho
Brooklyn Senators upon the question OF the organ
izaton OF that body?
MR.. RICE SUDDENLY BECOMES CRITICAL
Secretary OF State Rice also. according 10 County
Clerk Maxfeld and NJ. w. Van Auker counsel or
the Board OF Supervisors of Oneida County
has suddenly become critical Is to the form
OF the election returns I'm two-thirds OF
the counties OF the State said Mr.. Van
Aiken here yesterday. "the County Clerks and the
Boards OF Supervisors are having trouble with Sec
rotary of State Rice in regard the form Of their
election returns. We believed that the return OF
the vote for State officers and Senator's should be
separated from that for Asscmblymen, but the
Secretary OF State insists upon all being on on"
return. We had to reconvene the Board or super
yisors OF Oneida County In order to do 50, ana
we had some doubt as to our power to do So But
we did It. and had them act upon consolidated
return. Then County Clerk MARKELL and myself
started for Albany with the confolidated return
and also two separate returns. for We had east
such a big Republican vote In Oneida County that
We were determined not to lose II 10y any disre-
gard Of the commands OF the Eli elton law.
County Clerk Maxn@lI Informed The Tribune
correspondent that he made ont the returns 81
Oneida County precisely as he did last year. ana
the returns Of last year were accepted without Pues-
ton Moreover Secretary Of state Rice had not
been able to point out amendment Of the
Election law in 1893 changing the form Of making
the election returns. He had received the following
letter from the Secretary Of State:
ALLOW me to call Your attention TO certain pro
certified statements OF canvass to l." sent by the
several county clerks of this state 10 certain
law. Section l3i of 'hapter GO. Laws of lN2 pre-
vides for the making Of certain statements of can
statement 20 all tn votes cast for all
the candidates or each Stat. Office etc section
officer includes every officer whom all the
electors OF The state are entitled to vot. members
are included In the term members Of the I.csisla-
turc.' 1t would seem that the certified statement
referred 10 above should include stat. ment ~ TO
all the votes cast for each member of Assembly
well as FOR senator and other state officers. We
return herewith the statement Of canvass sent by
you To this office. with ,he suggestion that 1t De
completed In conformity to the requirements of the
statute. ~, ...... s...- Al. T..
Guiding Senator'S and members of Assembly. should
BE- under cover
County Clerk MaxHcld said that he had at once
written to Secretary of state Rice. pointing out TO
him that If he would read Section lg If Chapter CO.
Laws OF 1892. he would discover that there
authority for the form In which the Oneida County
returns had been sent to Albany.
Mr.. Maxfeld said that II was in accordance with
this requirement for separate statements that the
return for Asscmbyman made out.
J;u, Mr. MaxCeld did not osc1De without another
letter from the Office Of the Secretary of State.
IT Is given for the information Of other county
clerks who trying to understand the Secre-
tary of states directions
MORE INFORMATION FOR COUNTY CLERKS.
referring to the statement Of the Board Of County
Canvassers OF your county. We beg 10 say that
there Is provision OF law for the transmission
10 this Office OF a separate copy Of statement OF
votes cast for the office OF member of Assembly.
The statute provides that Boards Of County Cam
yassers shall make n separate statement as to the
office and the county clerk shall transmit n certi-
fled copy OF tn" the Secretary of state.
The office Of member OF Assembly being included
among those defined state officers 10y Section
Of cbanfnr Gg Laws of 1852 the votes cast for
that Office should be included In the separate copy
OF statement of votes for candidates for State
oalccs In order to have n COMPLETE return from
your county before the state Board OF Canvassers.
a., pV ,h Candidates for each state office including
AL 1he Of AsscmbIy should be transmitted to
the Secretary OF state soon possible. III no
not authorized to make the corrections necessary
10 comply with the statute we would suggest that
The matter be brought To the attention Of the
hoard of County Canvassers OF your county for
their immediate consideration This office. trust,
viii not be called upon make any further
nlanation as TO the law and methods TO be fol-
lowed by you and the county canvassers In this
"' ia viii thus be observed that the Republican
county clerks and the various Republican Boards