New-York tribune., 1876-12-22
DEMOCRATIC INVESTIGATION.
QUESTIONING THE RETURNING BoARD-THE BOARD
TO BE REPORTED FOR CONTEMPT.

TO BE REPORTED FOR CONTEMPT.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. PLAT the morning
session of the Investigating Committee from the House
Representatives to-day, the testimony OF exov "es,
President OF the Returning Board, was given lie sao
he did not know the aggregate vote thrown OUT Dut
would ascertain and report; votes were thrown out ana
without considering which party would be affected by IT,
He said that the board received boxes from Concorda
which did not come through the supervisors and they
fused TO consider Grant Parish because the returns d not
come through the supervisors. Mr. jerks asked, II INC
supery sor was knave enough not TO forward the re-
turns and you had returns made by the commissioners
OF election did you canvass such VotesP Gov "eils
replied mo- Sir. We canvassed no votes not received
through super vsors" The attention OF Gov Wells was
here called TO the fact that the boxes from Concorda
did not come through the supervisors and Mr. Welis
replied cxcitedly. "No. Sir; how could theyf III
answer to further questions the witness testified as io
lows:
No one except members OF the board present at
the pryate sessous the minutes were made aIter tne
private session from memorable kept by memOers Oh the
board the law requires that the commissioners OF eiec
ton shall be appointed from both parties Dut 9On hno"
that All tie polls in the state represented by Demo-
cratic commissioners and do not know tnaG tnee Was
any Democratic supervisor OF registration IN tnG sae
am decided PARTISAN but would not allow p0Dtles 10
influence to do anything UNJUST we dld noe @ Inrow
cratic majorities; dout know that any Republican poll
in the state rejccted did not state TO MT fIeret
In S74 that the Republicans had the machinery OF
the Government and lad claim against the Govern-
ment that my action on the Returning Board must W W
governed accordingly although claims OF the members OF
tRs iR aggTegate aG'iy to about 100000; not in.
1uenceI thereby in my action; the clause IN
Tilden's letter saving he would veto such claim
as mine did not influence my course am surveyor Oh
the Port and President OF the State Board OF Returning
Officers but do not think holding both positions is N
contTayentOn President Grants order that no feur
compensation as OF the Returning Board but re-
ceive per diem and MILEAGE the board nhed vacancy IN IN
1874 caused by the resignation OF Gen Longsteet oat
did not fill vacancy in 1876 caused by the RESIGNATION
OF Mr. Arroyo in 1873, because the board could not
agree; Dr. Hugh Kennedy the gentleman propossu ior
the vucaut position the board Is gentleman OF hgn
standing irreproachabe character and friend Oh MINE
but the board could not agree on Ds appoVmcHJ IA"
other name was presented
The minute book. showing the proceedings OF the
board and the receipt book, showing the date OF recep
ton OF and now they were received whether
by mail or otherwise sent for The law says the re-
turns must be sealed and forwarded by Supervisors OF
Registration by mail Mr. jerks OF the committee read
from stubs the other portion the leaves being torn off,
the dates OF the reception by the Returning Board OF the
returns from the parishes In seven or eight instances
the entries showed the returns had been received part
by mail and part by hand Two or three were marked as
received by express and the greater portion were not
marked as being received either by mall express, or
hand.
Al the evening session. Charles s. Abel Assistant Sec
retary OF the Returning Board native OF Rhode Island
testified
received the returns when they TO hand and re-
ceined Tor them to supervisors; IN no case were
amended received the papers presented Dy the
Democratic committee received by me; 10 the case
OF the Baton Rouge box, IL received from the clerk
OF the court also the from COncOrdla; dln not
know how these returns affected the Original
returns; they were asked for by the Democrats
could not state whether returns were reeeiyo from all
tbe pols in the State | am q member OF the Flour
Hoard appointed by Gov Antoine last August am paid
hy the fees OF tue Oice which run from VI to SlOO per
month: m 1874 was Inspector in tho CusOm-louse Mt
S or "a per day. then Assistant Secretary ot the
Returning Board.
The witness stated he had real estate but refused 70
state where 1t was located stating it was out OF the
State aud also refused emphatic manner to answer
n number OF questions relative to his business and in
come.
Frank Johnson (coOred) Of Catahoula Parish said he
voted the Democratic ticket and canvassed the parish
He was minister OF the Baptist Church. but had been
turued out OF that church because he was Democrat
He knew Of secret organization called the Council OF
Freedmen 1t was ahbound and its members had arms
and cartridges. He said he president Of colored
Democratic club OF about 80 members. No intimidation
WAS used to induce the colored TO join the Demo
Gratis but the Republicans intmidated the Democratic
sneakers telling them that II the Democrats succeeded
the negroes would again be reduced to slavery.
The House committee in executive session today IN
sruoed Mr. Morrison chairman to report the members
OF the Returning Board to the House for contempt In re-
tIsng to produce the records called for.