New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-01
THE Duties Of the Commissioners.

at the election tomorrow till the ballots
are counted. the co ommissioners of election
have many arduous duties to perform. but
they have sufficient powers and instruc
tons to enable them to perform them to the
satisfaction Of all honest. persons.
Order and decorum it is their first duty
to MAINTAIN, and they have power to com
NIT Immediately to prison any one disre.
garding them. But even the disorderly
person must be allowed an opportunity to
vote if entitled to 1t that poll, and the com.
mitment. On the warrant of the commits.
sioner. must not be for q longer time than
the closin: Of the polls, when the msgs-
Any officer may be directed to execute such
warrant.
As soon a. the voting commences the
commissioner must commence . list of the
voters, numbering each name from one to
the end. This list, vt the closing of the
polls. at the place where made, and before
any votes are counted, be must sign and
swear to. In the absence OF = magistrate
the oath may be administered by voter.
H. must count the votes at the polling
place, without moving the boxes, in the
presence Of any voter or bystander who
may be present. Tally lists must be kept
a. the votes are counted, the votes then re
turned to the box, which IL 20 be sealed and
carried by the commissioner to the clerk Of
the district court, and in the parish of Or.
leans to the CLERK Of tho Superior Criminal
Court.
When voter is challenged. or when the
commissioner eniertains u doubt ot his
right. it is his duty to administer an oath TO
the voter and all parties having knowledge
of the matter. He 10 also to administer the
oath st the request Of any voter. The
voter may bs made to declare ON oath
whether he has voted ss another voting
place; that he is the person to whom the
registration certificate presented was issued.
aid false answer in sny psrticulsr is per-
jury.
In case Of any riot. sumult, scts Of viO-
lencs, intimidation or disturbance occur
ring, OF bribery OF corrupt influence used.
preventing or attending to prevent . fair,
free and full vote. the commissioner musl
make il duplicate, under oath, . clear aud
produced by such unlswful acts. This
must be corroborsted by the oath
Of three respectable. qualified electors Of
the parish. One copy Of the ststt msnt
must be pasted On the returns, and tho
other delivered to the clerk Of tho court for
the ase Of she district sttorney. a.
It - also the duty Of the commissioners to
see shat all drinking places are closed, and
to call upon any officer or constable to en-.
fofce shis pro, ision. If the officer docs not
obey him he may inprisoH him till ths
closing Of the pollA
Commissioners vll easily pefcsive Shst
the most important part Of their duties N
the prevention Of 1raudulsns voting, end
for this purpose their povers sre ample and
should be fes' lassly used. 1t has bsen made
, matter of Uod complaint that msuy fraud
nlent papers are held by both political par
,ies with the intention Of voting upon the m.
rnis must be prevented - tar ~ possible
BY the commissioners, ne matter &h0 il
njnrod By tho performance of his duty. In
addition to the charge that many 1egistrs-
lion papeIe have been issued to single indi-
'iduair, it il essere ed that . large numb. of
oske3 naturalization and registration ps-
,sss arc il circulation. and commissioners 10
Ibnuld 10 particular IN guarding against
} l,eiR snocesssul use.
70 sid in detecting such forged papers
|he commissioner shonld have before him q
~ silnlo sf the sigma ture of the assistant
'upessisuH Of the ward in which bis polling
,laee is situated, and also fac similes OF the
ig natures Of tho judge and clerk Of the
>xspOn0 DistriCs Court.