The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-11-21
November p, 1904

November p, 1904
This ls a petition filed by u. L. ID.
Granger. a candidate for representative
in the congress OF the United states for
the First congressional district. request
ing Q) recount OF all ballots for the
office for which he is a candidate which
have heretofore been counted in accord
ance with what the petition alleges 70 he
erroneous principles;" co that I'm such
recount all ballots save those on which
the voter has ma rleed more names than
there are persons TO be voted for. for
this office. or as 10 which 10 Is impossible
TO determine the voters choice. be count
ed. whether they bear marks placed
thereon for the purpose of Identifying the
ballot or not. and CD that In the further
count OF votes cast for said office the
ballots he counted I'm accordance with the
same principles.
A PENAL OFFENCE.
The specific thing which the petitioner
asks the board to do Is 20 include In it's
count ballots which bear marks placed
thereon for the purpose OF Identifying
them. Our statutes make II a penal
offence to place such marks upon ballot
and we cannot believe that the legislature
intended that candidate should be elect
ed by ballots which would subject the
persons casting them 10 criminal prosecu-
tion and punishment. For this reason
alone we should feel obliged TO deny the
petition But as the petitioner has, In the
preamble 10 his petition. objected 10 GER
tain rules upon which we have acted in
conducting the count. we shall also con
slider these objections.
In conducting this count the board is
conforming strictly 10 the laws of the
state as II understands them. and To the
construction put upon them by the com
mittees appointed by the general assem-
bly, In 1898 To count the ballots cast
for representatives in the $50 congress
The law in relation TO the marking OF
ballots has not been changed since that
time and the rules adopted then were
approved and have been followed at each
subsequent election.
A UNANIMOUS REPORT.
Among the members of that committee
were the following Democrats. viz. Rich
erd y. Comstock OF Providence. Edward
C. Roman OF woonsocket George w.
Greene OF woonsocket and william c.
Baker OF Providence. The report OF the
COMMITTEES was unanimous and among
the rules which II adopted was the fol-
lowing:
Rule s. All ballots having cross at
the right OF the printed name OF one
candidate only for the office OF repre-
sentative. whether In the square or on
the margin. and having no other mark
thereon. and all ballots having the name
OF one candidate for the office Of repre-
Eentatfve written or pasted Tn The place
provided therefor. and having q cross
placed at the right OF the same. whether
in the square or i'm the margin and
having no other mark thereon shall be
deemed valid ballots. and no others"
. AS a result of its count under this rule
the committee reported on Feb. 7th. 1898
that there was no election ~ repre-
sentative In congress In either the first
or the second congressional district at
the election held on the Sth day Of No
vember A. u. 1892. and a new election
was therefore ordered 10 be held on the
9th day OF April A. -. 1898
The committee which counted the bal
lots cast at this second election consisted
OF three Democrats and two Republicans
The Democrats were Richard h. Com
stock of Providence, Edward -. Roman
OF woonsocket and George ". Greene OF
Woonsocket The report Of the commit
zee was again unanimous. and II sets out
thar thig committee also adopted the rule
sbove quoted
As result of the count again made
under this rule the committee reported
that oscar Iapham OF Providence was
duly elected 20 represent the hrst con
gressional district of the state I'm the SD
congress. and that Charleb W Page of
scituats was elected 10 represent the sec
ond congressional district
ASSEMBLY ADOPTS REPORT.
The general assembly IN grand commit
tee adopted the report thereby setting the
seal of It's approval upon this rule and
ordered certificates issued 20 Messrs Page
and Laphsm.
The rule thus established BY unanimous
consent of the leading representatives of
both parties has been followed in tho
count Of the votes az each subsequent
state and congressional election. without
objection: 80 far as We are aware. from
any candidate or representative OF any
party.
The first mentioned committee IN its re
port SAYS Of -hallnts- -atannpad- ad-a4.-lf.--4,--
by the registering mechanism ~ the bal
lot box. of ballots ~ assisted voters cert.
fed on the back Instead ~ on the front
scsrtined by initials instead 81 names. ~
ballots on which election officers had