Year: 1876

WASHINGTON, December 29.-The senate
committee on privileges and elections COM
menced taking testimony in regard to the
Oregon case this morning. Hon. Stephen
Chadwick, secretary of state of Oregon, in
reply to the question put by Senator Morton,
chairman of the committee testified that the
first intimation he had Of Watts being post
master was after the election last November;
witness eentassed the vote of the State on
the day and IN the manner prescribed by law,
and nothing was said that day about Watts
being Ineligible for the Office of Presidential
elector; witness did not prepare the lists Of
the sssAc1oFs vetea fS5r With the vote of eacLl,
attached end Under the seal of the state; The
governor prepared the lists after looking up
the law on that subject, as he and witness in
conversation agreed to comply with the acts
OF congress and statutes of Oregon as nearly
as possible in this matter. In reply to Sena-
tor Mitchell, witness said there were no arms
OF armed men In the capitol on the day the
electoral college met TO my knowledge In
reply to Senator Herman he said that Cronin
received the highest number of votes for
elector on the Democratic ticket, which was
Il, l61; Watts received I5.20s votes: the
official canvass was made by me on the fourth
OF December, end the electoral college met
on the sixth instant; the law of Oregon re-
quIres me 70 canvass the vote IN the presence
OF the governor and other State officers; on
the day following TIE canvass, the point as to
whether the governor had the right to ,ap-
point CroIln in place Of Watts as elector
was raised, as Watts was said to be
ineligible; there was hearing on this SUBJ
lect before the governor, and protest was
read from Odel against Crohin's appoint
ment; On the fifth instant q hfr. Hodgkins
came to me, and gave him certified lists of
the electors voted for with the vote of each
attached; on the day that the electoral col
iege met went at twelve O'Clock to the room
OF their meeting, and handed the certificates
to Cronin, vino came to the door when |
knocked; | think that all the Republican and
Democratic electors were in the room at the
time.


W. H. 0dell, of Eugene City, Oregon, was
next called, and testified that on the day of
the meeting Of the electoral college, he went
with Cartwright and Watts to the secretary
of state to procure certificates of election;
was referred to the governor, who stated that
at twelve o'clock certificates would be given
the electors In the room Of their meeting; at
the time specified Chadwick, secretary of
state, handed an envelope through the door
to Cronin, who stood nearest it at the time;
Cronin took q paper from the envelope and
read that part of it which certified that Cart
wright, Odell and Cronin were eligible. and
had been elected Presidential electors; Cart
wright went toward Cronin, when Crunin re-
turned the paper to the envelope and put it
in his coat pocket, and upon being requested
by witness and Cartwright to read the paper
through, he refused; he also declined to give
up the certificates of any of the electors; the
college was organized, witness being chosen
chairman, and Cartwright secretary; as
chairman of the college, witness asked Cronin
to produce the certificates of the electors tor
the guidance of the college; he declined to
dose; Watts then rendered his resignation
as an elector, and it was accepted; Cronin
then said "You refuse to recognize me;'
witness replied: ':sNo, sir; but we want
the certificates; you must not think
we will not act with you, and
you must never go from here and say that we
would not act with you. Cronin left the
part of the room where the college was sit
ting, and the college then proceeded to cast
the vote, Watts icing elected to FL the va
cancy in the electoral college by his own resig-
nation; witness heard of no purpose to arrest
any one on the day the electoral college met,
saw no armed men, but have since heard
that there were twenty in room near where
the college met.


At this point the committee adjourned un-
al tomorrow, when the examination Of 0dell
viii be continued Chadwick was also noti-
fed TO be present, as the committee may wish
10 recall him for further examination. The
committee. at the request of Senator Herman,
ordered a subpoena to be issued for Z. A.
Cronin. 1t was served ON him this evening
in this CITY