The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-21

cause he then expected 10 return nome,
has consented TO be added to that COM
mittee, and will remain here until the
pending investigation is concluded.
With view to regularity and expe.
dition in the discharge OF tie duties OF
the returning officers Of election, the fol
lowing rules were adopted for their
guidance:
lst The returning officers will meet at
II clock N. each day, Sundays excepted,
at the place designated for holding their
sessions, unless different hour or place
be designated at adjournment.
End. Upon meeting the presiding
officer of the board shall order
the roll of members called, and if
q quorum be present he shall direct the
secretary to read the minutes OF the pre-
ceeding meeting or meetings, unless the
reading thereof be dispensed with. The
secretary shall daily keep an accurate
account of the proceedings of the return.
ing officers.
4th. The returning officers will first
take up, canvass and compile the returns
from the parishes where no OBJ
pIlstion of the votes cast at any polling
place in such parish or parishes
oa account OF fraud, or intimidation or
other illegal pract ces; examining, and
in this only to ascertain whether legal
formsiities have been complied with In
holding the election and making returns
to the returning board.
nf "a hns
provided in the preceding rule, that then
the returning officers take up the par
ishes in which objection is made to The
vote 70 any or all polls in such parish;
that they first canvass and compile the
votes at the polls in such parishes to
which 10 objection is made, and then
they shall take up the contested polls in
such parishes, provided that if 1t becomes
necessary TO delay the Investigation OF
any such polls on account of the absence
OF witnesses or other evidence, the same
may be continued Till day to be fixed
by the returning officers; that the re-
turing officers shall decide At the time
they are to proceed what parishes they
will take up first.
9th. That all motions made by candi-
dates or their attorneys, or by other
persons authorized to appear before the
returning officers, shall be in writing
and signed All arguments presented to
the returning officers shall be in. writing;
no oral argument will be allowed.
7. The returning officers, if they think
it advisable, may go into secret session
to consider any motion, argument or
proposition which may be presented to
them. Any member snail have the right
10 call for a secret session Tor the above
purpose.
Sth. When any candidate or his attor-
ney, or other person authorized to do so,
shall present II witness before the returL-
ing board, he shall present the lnteroga-
tions to be propounded to such witheSs,
which he shall have previously submitted
to his opponent to be crossed at least
twenty-iour hours, unless such time be
named or the cross IntcrrogatiOns put
before the expiration OF tnaL time. In
the examination OF the witness the re-
turning officers may interrogste the wit
ness beyond the elnterrogotorles when they
think 1t necessary, buL candidates and
attorneys shall not examine the witness
before the returning board, except as
above provided.
9Th No er pdrte atiidsvits or statements
shall be received except us a basis to
show that such fraud. intimidation or
other illegal practice at some poll
requires interrogatorles, but retnrns aud
atiidavits author'zei by law and made
bv officers of eioC ION or on verIhCatiou
OF statements, if required by law, snail be
received in evidence prinsa facie.
10Th That the evidence tor each con-
tested pol in any parish when concluded
shall be laid aside TIL all the evidence Is
in, when the returning officers will decide
the several contests IN secret session, the
parties or their attorneys be allowed 70
submit briefs or written arguments up TO
the time fixed for the returning officers
going into secret session, after which no
additional argument is 10 be received,
unless by special contest.