The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-29
NPLETEELECTION RE URNS
STATE CANvAssING BOARD
FINDS CAUSE TO HALT.
Probabilities of Delay In Canvassing
Because of Deficient Abstracts
Sent By County Canvassers.

The state board of canvassers COM
menced yesterday noon to ascertain
the result of the votes polled at the re-
cent election for congressman, supreme
judge, and state senators chosen by
voters in districts composed of more
than one county and also the fate of
the five proposed constitutional amend
ments, but scarcely had the prelimi-
naries been passed when a very en-
barrassing snag was encountered. The
county clerk of Rich county had failed
to transmit to Secretary of State Ham
mond a certified abstract of the cleo
ton returns in his county. A telegram
was Immediately sent to the delinquent
clerk, directing him to forward the
missing abstract Immediately. IF a re-
ply has not been received this morning
indicating that the belated returns are
on the way, a messenger will be sent
after them.
But the real embarrassment was pre-
scented when it was discovered that
many of the county canvassing boards
had diSregarded the evident intent of
the law by sending in statements show
ing only the total votes polled and fail
ing to show what constitutes the aggre-
gate by the precincts. Box Elder, Car
bon, Emery, Garfield, Iron and Grand
counties sent abstracts in correct form,
except that the votes cast for and
against the proposed amendments to
the state constitution were shown in
bulk instead of by both precincts and
total. Kane, Willard and Washington
just Jumped the figures and let it go at
that. The certified returns from Beaver
county's canvassing board failed to in
dictate anything about the number of
votes cast for congressman and SUI
preme judge, and Wayne county was
likewise silent as to whether anyone
voted for or against the constitutional
amendments. But the clerk of Morgan
county took the prize for informally.
He merely wrote Roberts is elected
and ''Baskin is elected"
Attorney General Bishop, State Au-
ditor Richards, Treasurer Chapman and
Secretary of State Hammond at once
recognized the necessity of having the
canvass of returns show, in order to
ascertain a correct and definite result
especially where there is a close con-
test for candidates or questions, that
the figures certified to them regularly
checked. No demonstration of accuracy
would be possible unless the uniform
system of making the required abstract
of returns by precincts were adhered
to.> Besides, it would be establishing a.
bad precedent to accept as complete
such hit or miss compilations of official
election returns.
For the purpose of giving the attor-
ney general an opportunity to advise
the board whether, under the law, it
would be allowable to send to the care
less county canyassing boards for am
plified and corrected abstracts of the
elections. results, the state canvassers
took a recess till this morning at 10
o'clock
If the attorney general holds that it
is lawful and eXpedient to take the
course suggested, the board will not
commence the official count for a week,
and in any event it will require about
three days work to get through the
canvassing.