The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-11-22

The boar,i met at 1890. All the mem.
bers present. The minutes were read
aud adopted. The rules were read
RULES OF THE BOARD.
/. The returning officers will meet at
II clock in each day Sundays eNcep;ed)
at the place designated for holding their
sessions, unless a different hour or place
be designated at adjournment.
,. Upon meeting the presiding officer
OF the board shall order the roll OF menu
bers called, and if a quorum be present
he shall direct the secretary to read the
minutes Of the preceding meeting or
meetings. unless the reading thereof be
dispensed with.
}. The secretary shall daily keen an ac-
curate account of the proceedings Of the
returning officers.
/. Tie returning officers shall first take
up. canvass and compile the returns from
the parishes where no objection Is made
to the canvass or compilation of votes
cast at any polling place in such parish
or parishes. OH account of fraud or intim-
idatiou. or other Illegal practice. eNa,nin-
ing in this only 10 ascertain whether the
legal formalities have been complied With
in holding the election and making n
turns TO the returnin. officers.
5. That after disposing of the parishes
as provided in the preceding rule. that
then the returning officers take up the
parishes In which objection is made TO
the vote OF any or all polls In such parish;
that they first canvass complete the votes
at the polls in such parishes 10 which no
objection i made, and then they shall
take mp the contested polls in such par
ish, provided that it it become necessary
to delay the investigation OF any such
polls on account OF the absence Of Wit
nesses or other evidence the same may
be continued until day to Ice fixed by
the returning officers that the returning
officers shall decide at the time they are
ready to proceed what parishes they will
take up first.
q. That all motions made by candi-
dates or their attorneys, or by other per-
sons authorized 10 appear before the re-
turning officer. shall be in writing and
signed. All arguments presented 10 the
leturning officers shall be in writing. No
oral argument to be allowed.
:. The returning officers, if they think
il advisable, may 60 into secret session
10 consider any motion or argument or
proposition which may Ia presented to
them. any member shall have the right
to call for a secret session for the above
purposes.
5. When any candidate or his attorney
or other person authorized TO do 80, shall
present witness before the re.
turning officers. he shall present intcrro-
gatores 10 be propounaed To such wit.
ness which he shall have previously sub
| mitted 10 his opponent to be cross ed. q,
least twenty-four hours, unless such time
named on the cross interrogatories pu
/ before the expiration OF that time. Ir
the examination of witnesses the return
ing officers may interrogate Hitnes .et
beyond the interrogatories when they
think it necessary. bnt candidates an,
! .'-.- ..s'vtn"5 -iia!! not examine Wit
nesses before the returning officers ,eXcep
as above provided.
Q. No &c parte aiiidayits or statement;
shall be received except ~ a basis t,
show that such fraud, intimidation o
other illegal practice Of some poll re
| quires interrogation, but the returns ant
aflidayits authorized by law, made By of
iicers Of election, or in vcriiication o
statements as required by law shall b,
received ia evidence p,'i5.o lc'c
10. That evidence Ion each contested
poll in any parish when concluded shall
| be laid aside until all cyilene,
is In from all the contested
poll: in the several parishes, where there
MAY be contestants, aud after the evil
dencc IS all in, the returning officers vii
| decide the several contests in secret
! session parties or their attorneys to be
allowed 10 submit brief. or written argu
| ments, up 10 the time fixed for return
ing officers going into secret session. az
ter which no additional arguments to be
received unless by special consent.
JUDGE sPoFFARD's NOTION.
Judge Spoford OF counsel for the Dem
ocratic secretary OF state and other candi
dates asked the adoption oil motion tc
the following effect:
That all the proceeding, OF the board
be held IN open session, with leave to in,
terested candidates 10 be present By
themselves or counsel. and that a reason,
able number OF press reporters tor each
political party be permitted TO attend al
all times"
Judge Spofiord urged the adoption o.
the motion in short speech Of which tn,
following are extracts, Addressing the
| president OF the board ne said You
Mr. president, remarked the
other day that your Junction.
were partly ministerial and
/ partly Judicial. The ministerial dutie,
are few and simple. They consist in the
addition and tabula,ion ~ votes. Their,
Is no call for privacy in applying III.
ruies OF your dut!es-the judicial duties
-publicitV Ia inn.ro,;r.l,, 1,..u-,l,