The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-25
VOLUME mo. PIP.
THE RETURNING BOARD.
PUT TO THE TEST.

PUT TO THE TEST.
There was manifest feeling of relief on the
part Of the several members of the board yester-
day morning, consequent on the PRONUNCIATION of
the returns of the parish OF Orleans There
seemed to be a. sort of inner self-congratulations
by each member, which was so great that it even
stole out, and silently extended TO every other
member, and the board, as a whole. was the hap
piest board ina ginable, and went to work on the
other parishes as if their task was an entirely
new one, just commenced.
The returns of the city officers as officially
promulgated correspond with the statement pub
fished 10 the BULLETIN OF Sunday, with ihe ex-
ception of three four votes, one way or the
other in several instances.
The clerks were the only persons in attendance
on the board who cid not seem contented.
The returns from the First and Second Con-
gressonal Districts bothered and occupied them.
1t is expected that their compilation would be
completed Yesterday, and thar they would be
officially promulgated III the morning, but the
returns from Piaquemines spoiled all calcula-
lions.
There can be no doubt of the fact that the
Supervisors of Plaquemines parish, with scarcely
an exception, would be benefited by q course Of
schooling and general instruction appertainng
to order and neatness, for the returns are the
dirtiest and worst complicated consistently
mixed up) that have ever been passed on by any
Returning Board.
At II o'clock all the members were present and
the Board was called to order.
Mr.. Arroyo called the attention Of the board to
the fact that the returns from
DE SOTO PARISH
had not yet been received, although it was well
known that they had been in the city for some
time. There was considerable talk about efforts
being made to sell them, and it was time the
board came into possession OF them. He offered
as the last resort of the board to get them, the
proposition contained i'll the following resolution:
Resolced, That the president of the Board be
requested to institute legal proceedings before
the Superior District Court OF the parish OF Or
leans ia order to obtain from the Assistant Super
visor OF Registration, in and for the parish OF
DeSoto, the election returns, tally sheets, and
such other documents necessary, IN order to COM
plete the returns Of said parish, with the view OF
their canvass and compilation.
Wells did not think that the Board was author
lied to act in the manner set forth, and besides,
if it was, 1t was probable such proceedings would
not effect the desired end II the matter got into
the courts it would stay there Tor a year.
A majority Of the Board conceded with the
sentiments Of Mr.. Wells, and the resolution was
tabled subject to call.
At the suggestion of Ray and tho Republican
committee, rule that no protest in any Ward
would be received until thai Ward was under
consideration, was established, and the action in
thus establishing it, adhered to, Notwithstanding
the objection, of MIR. Whitaker.
The suggestion of Mr.. Whitaker that the re.
turns for the remaining parishes be taken up by
Congressional Districts, having been disposed
OF by Wells, who expressed the opinion that the
Board should adhere to its plan to proceed al
alphabetically, the returns from Ascension were
spread out and were canvassed, and the board
took recess until P. NJ.
At
THE EVENING SESSION,
which opened at the appointed hour, issues were
raised which will call up and put to test the
boosted fairness of intentions on the part OF the
controlling four members OF the board.
It has been smooth sailing SO far, but the
board has got into troubled waters, to ride which
safely, partisan spirit will have to be quelled.
When in. the canvass Of the parish OF Assump-
ton, poll 10 was reached, it was found that the
sworn statement of the Commissioners OF Elec.
tion, the compiled stat ement OF the Supervisor OF
Registration and the certificate OF the clerk OF
court, gave Republican, Drury, candidate for the
House, iorty-two votes, and an unsigned tally
sheet gave him forty seven votes.
Anderson insisted on the tally sheet being
taken as evidence, and Drury credited with
the recorded AZ votes but the Democratic Com
mittee objected and entered the following
PROTEST.
The undersigned, counsel on behalf of the
Democratic Conservative Party, protest against
the allowing Of forty seven votes to Geo. Drury,
Republican candidate for House of Representa-
tves at Poll 10, parish Of Assumption
l. Because the tally sheet which gives him
alteration and an addition of tive votes in dis-
ferent hand from that in which the tallies are
kept, being on its face fraudulent.
2. Because the sworn statement of the Com
missioners OF Eelection shows him only entitled
to forty-two votes.
8. Because the compiled statement of the AS
sistant Supervisor Of Registration shows only
forty-two votes.
i. Because the rule adopted by the board in
previous cases, of referring to the copy filed in
the Secretary of States Office, or District Court
is violated, as that copy shows Drury only emit
tied to forty-two.
gether with the protest Of Drury, made on the
grounds OF intimidation, general III their nature,
as was shown by the testimony OF Drury him
self.
decision will probably be rendered to-day.
The parish Of Avoyelies was taken up and can.
vassed until poll II WAS reached, when instead OF
the returns there came a statement that the box
had been stolen, and accompanying was a num-
Der Of documents showing how and when it was
purloined, to all of which c. W. Lowell, OF the
Republican committe, called the attention OF the
board and the press, particularly the attention OF
The latter Among the papers was list OF
voters, bearing at the end the names OF h. w.
Decuir, VIM. b. Moore and A. n. Fitzpatrick all,
to all Appearances, written by one and the same
hand.
The attention of the board was called to the
matter, and Anderson sad that if it was the
case Fitzpatrick had written them. Fitzpatrick was
the Democratic supervisor. The document was
presented as evidence that a much larger num-
Der Of negroes than whites had registered. The
brilliancy OF AndersOns remark is at once per-
ceptible.
There was a sworn statement by William B.
Hoxie, made before James Keller, Justice of the
Peace, on November 16. in which it was stated
that the box was stolen by parties unknown be-
fore the tickets had been counted that he be-
lieyed that the parties who took them did it in
the interest Of the White League, with the view
Of defeating the Republican ticket, which, be-
reasons for this belief are as follows:
The colored voters have good deal more
than this majority in the Evergreen Precinct,
and very few colored men voted the Peoples
ticket, and as Commissioner of Election, he
noticed that good deal more than three white
tickets (that is the Republican ticket) went into
the ballot-box to one yellow ticket, that is the
white peoples ticket