The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-21
LOUISIANA.
The Returning Board in session-Pre1imi-
nary Arrangem ements.

New ORLEANS, Nov. 20,-The return
ing board met in the senate chamber Of
the state house at noon to-day, and in the
same room, at adjoining tables, were Mes,
srs. Tuttle. Garfield, Sherman, Hale and
Stoughton for the Republicans. and for
the Democrats Messrs. Trumbull. Palmer.
Pigler, G, B. Smith, G.. ". Julian and
Watterson. The returning board has de-
termined to excludesall persons except the
members of the national committee.
Counsel will only be called in where a pro-
test has been filed or accompanies returns.
Counsel cannot examine the returns, but
merely witness the unsealing of the pack
ages. Each national committee has a
photographer. The sessions last from 10
A. NJ. to 4 P, NJ. daily. Members Of the
press are to be excluded during executive
session.
The rules adopted for the government
| Of the board were read,
| After dispOsiDg of uncontested parishes,
those where there are objections will be
considered All the attorneys arguments
must be in writing. No candidate will be
allowed oral argument. No er pdrte
affdavits will be received, Judge Spofford
offered rule making the sessions OF the
board open to the pnblic This was
refused as to the protest of the Democrat
ic commissioners.
Col. Zacharie fled an additional protest
Oh behalf of members of congress.
Gov. Wells stated that the name Of DR.
kennedy had been submitted to fill one Of
the vacancies en- the board. and that he
knew Of only one vacancy. The applica
tion was laid over, subject to call.
Col Zacbarie gave notice of a protest
against the boards proceeding until the
vacancy was fled.
On motion of Mr. Skinner, the boarc
resolved to take up the returns of par
ishes to which there has been no objection
} Col Zacharie made an application fol
the admission of Z. S. supervisors, which
was taken under advisement Col Zacha
rie stated that he had District Attorne.
Beckwith's ; opinion on the subject.
Judge Spofford, Of the counsel for tn,
Democratic candidate for secretary 0
state and for other candidates, asked th
adoption of a motionsto.the following effect
THAT all proceedings of the board be had il
open session, with leave to the interested candi
dates 10 be present by themselves or counsel, an
that a reasonable number of press reporters 10
each political party be permitted to attend at al
times"
Junge Spofford urged the adoption Q
the motion In a short speech, of whicl
the following are extracts:
3 Addressing the president of the board
he said:
''You Mr. President remarked the other day this
your functions were partly ministerial and part
judicial. Your ministerial duties are few and sin
pie; thew consist of the addition and tabulation
votes There is no call for privacy in applyin
the rulesef arithmetic or in performing all the res
of your duties In judicial duties publicity is in
peratively demanded. II is essential st every stag
of the investigation, in order to insure just argr
ment, to adopt this order 80 that every whisper
your chamber may be heard to the utmost extren
| ity Of the union; and thus only, in my humbl
Judgement, will It be possible for you to reassur
: through all generations the righteousness Of you
interlocutory rulings.and final award"
Gov. Wells overruled the action of tn
board. and also overruled the protest G
the Democratic committee on the return
o on Saturday against the constitutionallt
!, of the board aud its legal authority t
/. count the electoral vote.
y The election to fill vacancy in th
!. board was postponed, and a receommer
i dation submitted by the Democratic CON
I mittee was laid over COL Bachaore
e chairman of the Democratic committee
l. on his return. entered a protest agains
: the board proceeding with the canvass bt
; fare the vacancy had been filed, there be
d ing no Democrat on the board. The UI
lifted States supervisors were not alloWe