New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-21
THE RETURNING BOARD
THE WORK COMMENCED
Preliminaries, Protests and Plan oil
Procedure.
Electoral Vote Of Ascension, AS
sumption and Avoyelles.

0YCer at llll p2SL tW6lvc U CLOCK.
The minutes of the previous meeting
we're read and there being no objection
they were adopted.
On the part Of the deputations from the
North in the city there were present, by
invitation of the Returning Board the fol
owing representatives of tho Republicans:
Senator John Shermau, of Ohio; E. W.
Stoughton, Esq, of New York; General
]. A. Garfield, Of Ohio; G. Parker, Esq, OF
New Jersey; General Tuttle, of Iowa, and
tne reporter.
On the part Of the Democrats there were
wesent General John NJ. Palmer and Hon
Lyman Trumbul, OF II inois; Ex-Governor
William Bigler, Of Pennsylvania; George
E. Smith, Esq, of Wisconsin; Hon. P. II
Watson, of Ohio, and two reporters.
President Wtlls stated that in an e1ecu
tive session Of the board they had estab
hshed certain rules by which they were to
! be governed, and to which the attorneys OF
4 the different parties would be required to
strictly adhere.
Assistant Secretary William II. Green
read the rules. which we're as follows:
With a view to regularity and expedition
IN the discharge of the duties of retnrnin
osicers of elections, the following rules are
idopted for guidance:
|. The returning officers will meet at IL
A. III. each day lSundays exceptedl, at the
place designated for holding their sessions,
unlees different hour or place be deslg.
ssted at the adjournment.
9. Upon meeting the presiding officer OF
he board shall order the roll of members
uled, ano if a quorum De present he shall
drect the secretary to read the minutes OF
The preceding meeting or meetings, unless
| he reading thereof be dispensed with.
.. the secretary shall keep daily an ac-
Mrate accOuns of the proceedings Of tine
nturuiug officers.
4. The returning officers will first take
u, canvass aud compile returns from the
sMishes where no objection is made to
he canvass or compilation OF the votes
nst at any polling place ia such parish or
nrishes, on account OF fraud or lntlmlda'
len, or other Illegal practice; examining
rth:s only to ascertain whether the legal
rmalities have baen complied with IN
hiding the election and making the returns
atne returning officers.
5. That after disposing of the parishes as
rovided in the preceding rule, that then
he returning officers take up the parishes
(which objection is made to the vote OF
nv or all the polls in such parish: that they
hall first canvass and compile the votes at
lie polls in such parishes to which no OBJ
ation is made, and then they shall take up
he contested polls in such parish; provided,
nat if il become necessary to delay the ill.,
Nstigation of any such polls on account OF
the absence of witnesses or other evidence,
the same may be continued until a day to
n be fixed by the returning officers; that the
hall do ti,y1n
l. they are ready to proceed what parishes
/ thsy will take up first.
6. That all motions made by candidates,
or their attorneys. or by other persons au-
thorized to appear before the returning ctfi-
GERS, shall be in writing and signed. All
Arguments presented to the returning oti-
GERS shall be in writing: no oral arguments
to be allowed.
:. The returning officers, if they think it
advisable, may 60 into secret session to
consider any motion, argument or propo-
AnT member shall have the right to call TOR
ecret session for the above purpose.
g. When any candidate or his attorney.
pr other person authorized to do go, shall
bresert witness before the returning Off
here, he shall present interrogatOries to be
propOunded to such witness, which he shall
have previously submitted to his opponent,
10 be crossed at least twenty four hours,
hnless such time be named or the crOss-in.
errogatories put before the expiration of
hat time. In the examination OF wit
esses the returning officers may inter
ogate witness beyond the interrOgatories
kben they think it necessary, but neither
The candidates nor their attorneys shall
Examine the witnesses before the returning
phcers except as above provided.
9. No er parte atfidavits or statements
- ivo a. a
basis to show that such fraud, intimidation
Ior other illegal practice had at some poll,
Neauires Investigation; but the returns and
Z aidavits authorized by law, made By otii-
6oers of election or in verihcatlon OF state
nents as required by law, shall be received
lin evidence as prima tacte.
10. That the evidence for each contested
lpoil in any parish. when concluded, shal
ibs laid aside until all the evidence is IN
trom ali the contested polls in the several
PARISHES where there may be contests, and
latter tho evidence is all in the returning
Hoficers will decide the several contests in
8secret session, the parties, or their attor-
|sys, to be allowed to submit briefs or writ
len arguments up to the time fixed Tor the
sturniug officers going into secret session,
alter which no additional argument TO be
eceved unless by special consent.
Judge Spofford offered the following
amendment of rules, with the remarks ap.
pended:
On motion of Henry ii. SpoftOrd, OF coun-
bel for William A. Strong and others, can
hidates on tho Democratic Conservative
kcket, it is ordered that all the proceedings
bf this board hencefOrward be had IN open
ession. with leave to interested candidates
b be present, by themselves or counsel,
md that q reasonable number OF press re-
borters for each political party be per.
hitted to attend at all times.
,yudge Spotford then offered the following:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen-The
ran6enr of your responsibilities can not
M oyerrated. The eyes OF more than forty
hilIions are turned to you. Many OF them
kink that the destiny OF the republic for
vn indefinite future trembles IN the palance
6u hold. Tha crieis is SO grave as to make
nroclamation from the President that
should there be any grounds OF suspicion
4 fraudulent counting on eltner sue ~
,ould be reported and denounced AZ once
ntire publicity is the only antidote to the
aison IF "ausnicion." lean see no apology
IN secresy in any part of your future pro
,edings. The statute from which you
sriye your powers makes no Pro
Nnion for private sessions. The haDl.s
md traditions of the American people
&se opposed to such sessions on such SUD-
&ct. With one voice they ask that no part
Ithis thing be done in corner; You.
tr, President, remarked the other day that
Nour functions were partly ministerial and
astly judicial. The ministerial duties are
@w and simple. They consist only in the
Ntdition and tabulation of votes: There If
% call for privacy in applying the rules OF
dthnetic In performing s rrh;citv rhg rfss ;a
aperatiyely demanded. 1t is essential at
NFery stage of the investigation, in order to