sentences:  After a very close general election race against Republican Marsena E. Cutts, Iowa's State Board of Canvassers concluded that Cutts had won 106 more votes.This enabled Cutts to be sworn in 1881 and to initially serve as a congressman, as Cook pursued a contest of the election with the Republican-controlled U.S. House in the 47th United States Congress.A commissioner took evidence regarding the contest in Oskaloosa, Iowa in the Spring of 1882, but the House Committee on Elections had not announced a decision by the date that the seat was again up for election in November 1882 (when Cutts undisputedly won a plurality of votes).