 When the official tally was announced , Taylor had won by a vote of 193 @,@ 714 to 191 @,@ 331 . Though the Board of Elections was thought to be controlled by Goebel allies , it voted 2 – 1 to certify the announced vote tally . The Board 's majority opinion claimed that they did not have any judicial power and were thus unable to hear proof or swear witnesses . Taylor was inaugurated on December 12 , 1899 . Goebel announced his decision to contest the Board 's decision to the General Assembly . The Assembly appointed a committee to investigate the allegations contained in the challenges . The members of the committee were drawn at random , though the drawing was likely rigged – only one Republican joined ten Democrats on the committee . ( Chance dictated that the committee should have contained four or five Republicans . ) Among the rules the General Assembly adopted for the contest committee were : that the committee report at the pleasure of the General Assembly , that debate be limited once the findings were presented , and that the report be voted on in a joint session of the Assembly . The rules further provided that the speaker of the House preside over the joint session instead of the lieutenant governor , as was customary . The Republican minority fought the provisions , but the Democratic majority passed them despite the opposition . 
