The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-09
The Bone Of Contention.

We publish below the sections of tn
Senate election bill which provide fo
the appointment and prescribe the dute
OF returning officers. 1t will be seer
there are material changes from the Law
now In force
| Sec. 81 Be it further enacted, etc.
That five persons, citizens of the State O
Louisiana and of the United States. Il
be named and selected as hereina}te1
provided, shall be returning officers fol
all elections in this State, a majority O
whom shall constitute q quorum, anC
have power to make the returns Of the
votes and result OF all elections in this
State.
The Governor, by and with the advice
and consent Of the Senate, shall desip
nate and appoint three Of said returning
officers, whose appointment shall be
confirmed by the Senate before entering
upon their duties.
It shall be. the duty Of the Senate,
before the end Of the present session oil
the General Assembly, to further by
vote designate three other fit persons
qualified to act as returning officers,
who shall be known as alternative
returning officers, and In the event of
the sickness, death or resignation, dis
ability or absence from the State Of any
OF the three returning officers SO
appointed and confirmed by the Senate
as aforesaid, 1t shall be the duty Of the
Governor to name and designate one of
the three alternatives SO designated by
the Senate to fill such vacancy so occa-
stoned by the sickness, death, resigna-
ton or absence OF any one of the said
three appointed and confirmed returning
officers aforesaid.
Tho Hnr,oo - 4o Al. =.
present session of the General Assem-
bly,. shall, by a vote OF the House, name
and designate two persons, citizens Of
the State and OF the United States. being
qualified electors. to be returning Off
GERS, and shall notify the Governor Of
such designation and selection, and the
Governor when SO notified OF such selec-
tion shall at once appoint and commits
sion the two persons so designated by
the House OF Representatives to be re-
turning officers, which said two persons,
together with the said three persons ap-
pointed by the Governor by and with
the advice of the Senate, shall be and
constitute the returning officers OF the
State for oil elections.
It shall be and hereby is made the
duty of the House of Representatives,
at and during the present session of the
Assembly, to also by vote name
and designate two other fit and suitable
persons qualified to act as returning
and report to the Governor the
fact OF such selection, together with the
names and address oY said persons so
selected. Said persons 50 designated
md selected shall be known as alterna-
tive returning officers, and in the event
OF the sickness, disability, death, resig-
nation or absence from the State Of the
said two returning officers originally de-
5ignated by the House Of Representa-
lives, or either Of them, the Governor
shall fill such vacancy or vacancies by
so designated as alternatives, according
TO the number Of vacancies.
"A majority OF such returning officers
shall constitute a quorum for the trans
sction Of any business.
The said returning officers, before
upon their duties. shall seve-
ally take and subscribe the following
oath, and file the same in the office OF
,he Secretary OF State
81, -, do solemnly swear (or af-
irm) that will faithfully and dilligent-
y, according to the best Of my under
Standing and ability, perform the duty
u q returning officer, as prescribed by
aw. That will carefully and honestly
and compile the statements
md returns OF the votes, and make "a
rue and correct return Of all elections
n the manner required by law; so help
ne God"
Said returning officers, so appointed. |
hall continue In office during good be- |
lavior, and until their successors are
luly qualified; provided, that in the
vent that any one OF the returning OFF,
ers shall be candidate for Office at |
my election, he shall not be eligible to
ct as a returning officer to canvass the
tatements OF votes of the parish or dis
riot i'm which he shall have been voted
or.
SEC. 3S. BE it further enacted, etc.,
hat within ten days after each election
aid returning officers shall meet in the
ity OF New Orleans, and after organiz-
ng by the election of president and
ice president, shall proceed to canvass
nd compile the statement of votes cast
t such elections, and made by the
roper officers Of election, as provided
4 this act, in the manner as provided
4 this act. and make returns OF the re-
ult of such canvass to the Secretary of
tsrte, and shall continue in session un-
Il such returns have been fully made,
ompleted and returned to the said Sec
etary OF State.
SEC. 80. Be 1t further enacted, etc,
hat when said returning officers shall
ave so convened and organized, the
residing officer shall, in the presence
I the other returning officers, or ma
,rity thereof, including the said presid-
~ officer, who shall be entitled to vote
n all occasions, proceed to open the en-
elopes containing the statements OF the
otes cast at said election and other
required by law to be made
nd forwarded by the several commits
oners OF election, supervisors Of regis I
alton, or other officers by law required :
make and certify the results of cleo I
ons at the several polling places, pre- |
nets, parishes and wards in the State,
nd all documents Of proof touching the
lirness and legality Of the election at
ny locality, poll, precinct, ward or par
h, and after such returning officers
lall have carefully made and compiled
le statements Of votes of fsuch election in
le manner required by law, said return .
lg officers, or majority thereof, shall
AXE written or printed statement Of {
le result of such canvass, which shall
, made in duplicate, and signed by the I
stunning officers, or majority thereof, 8
le of which duplicate returns Shall by {
lem be filed in the office OF the Secre- t
nv of State, and the other they shall s
use to be delivered to the printers or !
1blishers OF the official journal OF the t
ate. to be in such official journal pub ,
she'd and promulgated. t
Such returns Of said returning officers 4
iaIl show the names Of alllpersons and '
fices voted for: the number OF votes c