Evening journal., 1907-07-13
COUNCIL LAID
CONTEST ASIDE
Democrats Not Ready to Pro-
Ceed in the SaSSe-ROSS
Matter
WERE AFTER 1877 WITNESSES

date for treasurer at the recent city
election who was defeated by Howard
d. Ross the Republican nominee, lost
his contest for the Office before City
Council last night.
The contest was dismissed after
much argument. The Council cham
Der was crowded with the friends of
both men and much interest was taken
in the proceedings.
Mr.. Sasse was represented by
Thomas f. Bayard Josiah, Marvel and
William +. Kurtz. and II. H. Ward and
William II. Head appeared for Mr..
Ross
No witnesses were heard and the
hearing was in reality an argument be-
tween the lawyers, in which some Of
the councilmen also took part at times.
Councilman McGovern of the Eleventh
ward did most all the talking for the
! Democratic members.
During the argument Of the contest,
Mr.. Bayard, Of Mr.. Sasse's counsel,
said that he did not believe for a mo-
ment that Mr.. Ross was in any way
implicated In or had any knowledge
Of fravd In the Second ward.
Mr.. Ross. after the contest stated his
regret that the contest did not proceed
so that he could have an opportunity
to disprove the charges made in their
entirety. as he had reputable witnesses
in his behalf.
Struck Out Charges.
Before an effort was made to call
Witnesses Mr. Ward in behalf of Mr.
Ross entered a general denial Of the
charges in Mr.. Sasses application. He
further offered the motion to strike
from the petition clauses, d., E. and C
The first charged that there were up
wards of 100 names of voters on the
registration books who were not quail
fed to vote. The second set forth that
the returned ballots were improperly
Illegally and fl Iaudulently marked. The
question involved in section G. referred
TO the fact that the ballots for anC
against the initiative questions wer,
removed from the box but were not re-
turned or counted.
Mr.. Ward contended that there wer,
tribunals which settled the question
OF a mans right to vote when his nam'
appeared on the registration books II,
had passed on the right of a man {,
vote and put his name on the books
no power on earth could remove
except the court, the tribunal to which
appeals from registrations may bl
taken He also said the initiative
question had nothing to do with thl
contest.
S After Mr.. Wards remarks. Council
4 man White moved to strike from thl
r petition the three sections in question
p which was done by a strict party vote
Mr. Sasse's attorneys objected L
striking out the sections and the Demo
cratic members of the body all vote,
no
Many Witnesses Missing.
Mr. Bayard called out a list of wit
nesses numbering 1917. most Of whom
were colored voters and only hfteei
! responded. Among the witnesses 70
whom subpoenas were issued was
= Clerk Of Peace Winfield S. Quigley an'
: Il was learned that the subpoena wa
not served, bailim of Council having
failed to locate that Official
e Mr. Bayard asked for the book of reg
b istered voters in the Fourth distric
OF the Second ward and he was toll
by Secretary Lambert j. FoulS of IN
Department of Elections that this bool
k had been turned over 10 the Clerk o
Peace. but he informed Mr. Bayar
that he mad a certified copy of the Us
Of voters. This list. however. in tn
i, eyes Of Mr.. Sasse's attorneys. was no
sufficient.
Wanted More Witnesses.
Mr.. Bayard said that In view of thes
circumstances it would be impossibl
J. -.
Z asked for the issuance of alias sub
. poonas for the 1S2 missing witnesse,
% and the postponement of the hearin
. for one week. BY a serict party vot,
this request was refused, after a lon
discussion.
Mr. Bayard then went on TO sa
y what his side was prepared to prov
II had the witnesses been present II
e said he was prepared to show wholesal
n fraud on election day in the district Il
question but could absolutely do moth
ing If Council did not summon the wit
nesses asked for by MIR. Sasse.
The Republican members of Counc
r contended that Mr. Sasse's attorney
n had had plenty of time in which {
prepare their case and that they cam
, forward i'm the last moment with
! long list of witnesses which Il woul
have been impossible to summon i
the time allotted
When il was learned that this wa
as far as the Democrats could TAX
the contest, Mr.. White moved 10 dis
miss the petition. Mr.. McGovern trie
d TO amend the motion by referring IN
e matter to the attorneys general for hi
e attention and investigation tn
d amendment was lost, the Republica
e members all voting against it. tn
j original motion was then carried b
r the vote to 5. by which the contes
was dismissed