deemed controverted by the adverse party without reply, and thereupon said proceeding shall be at issue and stand ready for trial upon five days' notice of trial.
"Trial; precedence; without jury. 3. All such proceedings shall have precedence over any civil cause of a different nature pending in such court, and the court shall always be deemed open for the trial thereof, in or out of term, and the same shall be tried and determined the same as are civil actions, but the court shall without a jury determine all issues of fact as well as issues of law.
"Consolidation of proceedings. 4. If more than one proceeding is pending or the election of more than one person is investigated and contested, the court may, in its discretion, order the proceedings consolidated and heard together and may equitably apportion costs and disbursements.
"Depositions. 5. The parties to such proceedings may invoke the provisions of sections 4068 and 4096 of the statutes, but two days' notice of the taking of the deposition of any witness shall be sufficient notice thereof.
"Change of venue. 6. In all such proceedings either party shall have the right of change of venue, as provided by law in civil actions, but application for such change must be made within five days after service of summons and complaint, and the order for such change shall be made within three days after the making of such application and the papers transmitted forthwith, and any neglect of the moving party to procure such transmission within such time shall be a waiver of his right to such change of venue.
"Judgment: costs. 7. If judgment is in favor of the plaintiff the relator may recover his taxable costs and disbursements against the person whose right to the office is contested, but no judgment for costs shall be awarded against the relator, unless it shall appear that such proceeding has been instituted otherwise than in