The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-03
THE RETURNING BOARD.
Anderson on the War Path.


The question which naturally suggests itsel1
to the observant attendant on the Returning
Board is, why does it not adjourn until !:
O'Clock? Regularly when the members retire
from the room at night they appoint II O'Clock
the following day for re-assembling but it is
always nearer the hour Of noon, than the fixed
one. before certain members, whose presence
Wells seems to consider absolutely necessary,
comes in One of the members might be
Anderson He is man that takes things
easy.
The Secretary of the board is very ob.ig-
ing man, as is demonstrated by the fact that
he never objects to candidates-on the right
side (Republican) invading the rooms where
the clerks are at work on returns and inspect
ing the returns in their search for information.
Last week he put stop to the precautionary
practice-no doubt by him considered useless
-indulged in by the clerks of putting pri-
vate seal on the different packages received by
the board
It interfered with thorough investigation
by the candidates of the aforesaid documents
and statements, on which the board had not
passed. The very obliging gentleman appre-
ciated the natural curiosity Of the aspiring
faithful to see exactly how they stood.
Of course there is no great harm in merely
taking look, but some changes have been
discovered in papers that were made either on
their way to or after they had been received
in this city and the clerks under the Secre-
tary, having q proper regard for their own
regulations and the reputation Of their chief,
objected to any proceedings that might lead
to suspicious and allegations in reference to
the alterations, and they held meeting, the
result of which is that the seal is again in use
and candidates are excluded from the room in
which they labor.
Lowell and Morey, who it seems are the
most curious of the crowd, are by this action
made unhappy.
At 115O Wells called the board to order.
T. Morris Chester put his phiz inside the
door and then entered and introduced num-
Der Of gentlemen Notwithstanding they were
in the company Of Chester), as delegation
from the Rights Templar, Commandery Of
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
They were named as follows:
DR.. VIM. Egle, G.. c., Gen. John A. Low
ell, Resident Clerk H. A. R., John Schoe-
maker, Gen. Weaver, Sen, Sullivan S. Childs,
La Rue Lemer, Chas. A. Bergues and Benja-
min Wakeman, Commanders.
Wells considered it incumbent on him to
make a speech, and he did so, assuring the
gentlemen that the board was very honest
one that it intended to act fairly and squarely,
although the members were well aware that
it would give rise to considerable discomfort
and condemnation, etc, etc, (all g,mmon.)
Mr.. Zacharie, Of the Democratic counsel,
took the opportunity to seek some information
on the Carroll matter, and after some little
talk the board decided to close the case on
Monday, all evidence to be in by Saturday.
The returns from Grant parish We're then
taken up,
Among the papers was found two "priyate
reports" from X. J. Harvey, Supervisor Of
Registration, relating fearful tale. The
first was dated Nov. 18th, and set forth that
during the registration, which opened on the
22d of September, and while it was in pro-
gress, and the books were open in Coltax, a
body Of armed men paid him visit for regis
tration and compelled him to take one Harry
as clerk; that an effort was made Che does
not say it was successfully to compel him to
open the books at places in the parish which
did not come on his list of fixed route; that
1875 negroes did not register treason why not
given, left to the board to say; that 20 white
Republicans voted the Democratic ticket, but
would have voted the Republican ticket if
they had dared.
That at polls 2 and the Republican party
was not represented by anyone, because the
U. S. Supervisors filled their places that
although the ballot-boxes, poll lists and other
documents were ready for delivery and the
United States Supervisors notified OF that fact,
they made ballot-boxes and held the election,
and that one Of the boxes was handed in open.
For all Of which causes he asks that boxes 2
and be thrown out
The second private report, which was dated
November 20, sets forth that while he was at
work in Colfax, making up poll lists, one Of
the books Of registration was stolen from his
iron safe by Democrats, and that after two or
three days it was returned, but that in that
time, the names of those registered in the
Fifth Precinct, had been copied off and that
with this as apoll list the election at poll 5 was
held.
That there were one hundred and sixty |
eight names on the list, Of which As were !
colored men, and that 16S Democratic tickets |
Aere cast. He allegesit is sure evidence Of
fraAad, as no 4S colored men in the parish, let
alone in one precinct, will vote the Democratic
ticket.
The members Of the board, on the reading
Of these documents, held up their hands in
holy horror at the depravity OF the Democrats,
and Anderson looked as if he could have /