The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-10-20
THINGS IN GENERAL,
THE RETURNING BOARD.

THE RETURNING BOARD.
There is considerable gossip on the streets
about the conditional resignation of four men,
bers of the Returning Board, and many in
quiries and surmises, as to what it means, are
current, for the general opinion is that it is
another trick Of the Kellogg crowd, as was the
resignation of DR.. Bonzano, which is looked
upon as move to Illustrate the plans and the
ideas of the Citizens Committee when the
" compromise" was made. It is not believed
that another man to fill the position can be
agreed on.
The matter is considerably mixed, but there
is one thing that seems plain, and that is the
conditions attached to the resignation in
question do not grow so much out of feeling
of virtuous Indignation as Tom Anderson
would have people believe, but out of the
provisions of the election law.
Section second says, "That five persons,
to be elected by the Senate, from all political
parties, shall be the returning officers for all
elections in the State, majority of whom
hall constitute a quorum, and have power to
any vacancy by death, resignation or other
wise, by either Of the board, then the vacancy
shall be filed by the residue of the Board of
Returning Officers etc.
The fact is if all the gentlemen do not
resign, the remaining one will have the
power to fill the vacancies and that would be
too "soft thing; the money that could be
made ont of the position would be consider
able, if a man was inclined to speculate, and
neither gentleman wants to expose any of the
other gentlemen to the temptation.
In the event Of the entire board resigning,
the question will arise, has Kellogg the power
to appoint new one? Does the law, giving
him general appointing power, cover the
case? The election law is explicit in its
terms, ''that five persons, to be elected by the
Senate from all political parties, shall be the
returning officers for all elections" The pres
ent board was elected by the Senate under the
act. and, consequently, for all elections, and be-
ing elected by the Senate, can Kellogg act on
their designations? Is it not for the Senate
to do so, and Immediately elect a new board?
The law says five persons to be elected by the
Senate, etc., shall be the returning officers,
aid nowhere does it give the Governor
de j,re or de factor the right to appoint them.
Again, suppose the entire board resigns,
and Kellogg has the right to appoint new
one, and does appoint five men to fill the va
cancies, subject to the approval of the Sen
ate Has not Kellogg, at any time before
their confirmation by the Senate, the right to
remove them? In this connection it must be
remembered that the Senate does not meet until
alter the election, and it will be seen immedi-
ately what power it puts into kellogg's hands.
In accordance with the terms of the compro-
Mise, he will no doubt, if he appoints new
board, put two representative men of the
people on it, and there can be no doubt Of
the fact that, if they get troublesome, he
will remove them.
Taking it all in all it looks as if the general
opinion was correct.
REGISTRATION MATTERS.
From the parish Of St. Martin the following
dispatch has been received:
NEW IBERIA, Oct. 10Th, 1874.
Hon. Albert VOORHEES,, Chairman Executive Com
mlttee:
In violation Of promises and public advertise
ments, Lahore, Superintendent Of Registration,
refuses to register the Bayous precinct, and left
to- dav for Breaux Bridge with cavalry and In
fantry. ALEX. DECLoUEr.
This man has since the day of his appoint
ment thrown every obstacle in the way Of
white men registering, and has on one pretext
and another Kindred and prevented the Z. s.