Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-06-04


DAILY EXCURSION Of the steamer Arrow to
Mount Vernon.
SIXTIES ART GALLERY, 2i5 street.
MARKRTTER's ART GALLERY, iS8 eth street.
BAKLOws ART GALLERY, 81 Pa. avenue
The Commissioners Of Election.
Tier ssetiH5 Last NNAt-TAS Duty Of as Com.
Missisasrs Under tAs Lac.
In accordance with a call in the daily papers,
meeting OF the Commissioners Of Election was
held last evening at Union League Hall, which
was attended by a majority OF those recently
appointed to receive and count the ballots on
election day. Mr.. %. W. Marsh called the
meeting to order Gen. Peter F. Bacon was
called 70 the chair. and Jos. +. n. Wilkinson
was chosen secretary.
Mr.. j. III. Crane said be had invited one or
two gentlemen of the legal profession 20 attend,
in order that they might advise the commission
-eIs a. to the law governing them The meeting
had been called in order that the commissioners
might agree upon some plan to conduct the
election and facilitate the business at the polls
IN had been called without regard TO partisan
feeling, although the CAroRtcIs OF Yesterday
morning had advised all OF Mr.. BOwen's friends
to stay away, as the meeting was to be held in
the interest of Mr. Emery. This was not true,
a IL was desired that all the commissioners
should be present, in order that a free and full
conference might be had. He wanted TO dis
charge his duty to the satisfaction of the people.
Mr.. O. W. Marsh SAID he had mach difficulty
last year with his colleagues on account of GER
tifcates being presented.
Mr.. Robert b. Hamilton thought this GER
tihcate business should be carefully watched.
Men who were not registered would go to the
City Hall on Monday and procure from VIM. A.
Cook documents on which they would attempt
to vote.
Mr.. .. ID. Barrett being called upon, said the
office of commissioner OF election was one Of
great responsibility. They were personally
liable II they should refuse 20 receive a lawful
vote, and the penalty was very heavy. He had
examined the law in relation TO our elections
thoroughly, and had consulted with several
mo- w.awsN1a
The commissioners of election should dismiss
from their minds all feeling for or against any
candidate, and never stop to inquire what might
be the result towards this candidate or against
the other candidate. If A. Ii. appeared and
desired TO vote, and his name did not
appear on the list, although he may
received unless he produced a certificate
from the Judges of Election. Copies OF all names
were made from the original registry and fur
nlshed the various precincts, certified to by the
Judges OF Election as being entitled to vote. IL
ore name should be omitted in making the cOpy
aud the person whose name was so omitted
should receive certificate that his name ap-
peared on the original list such certificate should
be signed by majority of the Judges the same
as the lists containing all the names for pre-
cinct. One name should be certified to the same
a 100. In his opinion the Commissioners had n
right to refuse votes on certificates unless such
eertihcates were signed by majority OF the
Judges OF Election He suggested that a COM
mittee be appointed from those gentlemen who
had the most experience as Commissioners of
LlcctlOn 10 prepare rnleS fOr the government
the Commissioners ON election day. The Com
missioneTs had right 10 establish the identify
Of any party Offering 10 vote, and could swear
such person if they desired. a certificate signed
by one Judge OF Election, amounted to nothing
and could not give the person a right to vote.
One of the Commissioners asked how il was
when the Board furnished the Commissioners a
list, which they certified was correct, that they
could then certify that il was erroneous.
MIR. Barrett said the entry of names upon the
hsts Of the Board closed on Tuesday night, and
hka hsa ant lasl- hut
the body making the list had the power 10 cor
rect any error that had been made, the correc-
ticn being made by the same authority that
made the list. 1t was valid. This right was
recognized III courts, in legislative bodies, and
IN business generally.
Mr.. j. W. Thompson stated that last wear one
or more certificates came TO him TO the effect
that IL was believed that the name should
have been on the list of registered voters. He
bad rejected them a. not what the law rec uired.
Mr.. Barrett said such documents certainly
were not valid; and the secretary read the law
upon the subject.
The following resolution was then offered and
unanimously adopted
Rss0Irsd, That in our opinion Il Is the dutv of
The Commissioners OF Election TO receive the
vote OF any person whose name does not ap-
pear on the lists, upon the Presentation of a
certificate, signed by three judges of the cleo
hon. mat the name of such person appears on
Tie original registration, from which the copies
iui hisned we commissioners were made.
MI y W Marsh inquired if a vote should be
reeeived n the name appeared correct on the
10; but the residence different from the Mace
= 49, TIE -EoliGa,,.,
Ths Chair thought the vote shoald be received
4 the Commissioners shou..t be satisfied that the
applicant resided ia the ward and his lame vas
,eTrect the list, although his residence might
bet be correctly stated.
Considerable discussion was had in regard to
he disposition 10 be made OF the ballot-boxes
after the votes had been counted.
General Bacon said IL was the duty OF the
TO keep them in charge until
hey were delivered at the City Hall the follow
ing day.
Some questions were raised a. 10 the ability
Df the minority commissioner TO keep with the
box if the majority decided to take IT home
Mr.. Crane saidthe city Register had expressed
willingness TO remain in his Office all night to
receive them If it was decided by the commits
sioners to bring them in. To this 1t was object
ed that evil disposed friends OF the defeated
destroy the ballots.
Several gentlemen who had seen service a.
commissioners gave in their experience, and,
without any definite action being taken, 1t APP
peared TO be the understanding that the COM
missioners should, in addition to the certificates
for the Register and the Councils, exchange
certificates with one another, then seal the
boxes carefully, each one writing his name on
the seal, and make provision for its safe custody
until the next morning.
Mr.. John W. Thompson hoped ample time
would be taken 10 count the votes on the night
OF election, 20 that each commissioner should
swear 20 il.
MIR. Barrett was asked what would be the re-
suit If the votes in the box did not tally with the
certificates OF the commissioners, and said that
IL there was a trfiing difference the error would
be supposed 20 have been made by the commits
siOneTs. the oficial count being considered a.
the correct one; but III there was a large difier-
enee il would be a question TO be determined by
evidence.
Mr.. VIM. Pettibone asked if the name Of a
voter appeared on the printed list but did not
appear on the written list, would such person
he entitled 20 vote?
General Bacon said he would not and cited
the case of Tom Bowie, who had been shown
10 have illegally registered, and his Ma me had
been stricken from the list. IL was evident he
rad no right TO vote. The commissioners must
in all cases be governed by the written list fur
nished the board. The printed lists were put
up for the purpose OF making corrections, and
n name appearing on that list might be stricken
on ubsequently Tor cause.
Mr.. Crane said he had known instances where
the commissioners had Jailed TO preserve these
certificates. They should all be preserved, and,
with the list and ballots put back into the box
again, and all sealed up together.
After some further discussion, in regard to
swearing the clerks, &c, the meeting adjourned.
A MEETING Of the Emery voters OF the upper
end Of the Second Ward U.eyel WAS held last
night, and Dir. Thomas Stone was elected per-
manent president. and ID. ". Martin secretarv