New-York tribune., 1876-12-16
PARTY RAMPANT IN THE HOUSE.


ELECTION-A LAUGH AT MR. cox.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE rKIBUNEl
WAsuISGroN. Dec 15.-Every heated discussion
ike that which took place in the House to-day upon
the bill making appropriations for the expense for
the investigating committees sent South does more
harm than good. Calm, statesmanlike consldera-
ZION of the nice questions of law and policy involved
in the present controversy is needed to bring about
a satisfactory solution of them. Every time that
wrangle takes place in the House the Senate over
auy of the questions now at issue the fire of party
spirit is kindled anew, and the men whose duty it is
to cultivate judicial spirit become more and more
untitled for the duties they will be called upon to
perform.
just how far the proceedings of the Louisiana Re
turning Board were public, and just how much the
people of the country know about its proceedings,
are matters which ought to lead to no discussion.
Il was therefore equally unfair for Mr. Cox to assert
that the Returning Board held its meetings In
secret and for Mr.. Hale to deny it. The board did
open all the returns from every parish in the State
in the presence of the visiting committees from the
North and when il considered such testimony as
accompanied the returns from contested pa
rshes, counsel for the candidates on
both sides were allowed to be present.
All afdavits and interrogatories introduced by each
side were also submitted to the other for crossex-
animation. But when the important duty OF weigh
ing and acting upon the evidence submitted was
reached, the Louisiana Returning Board closed It's
doors upon everybody and kept its proceedings
strictly secret. No one knows to-day what took
place at the meetings Of the Returning Board held
between the last Saturday and Tuesday afternoons
Of its session. No one knows what evidence they
considered as worthy of consideration and what
they rejected. No one knows except unottclally
which parishes were counted as returned DIV the
election officers and the returns from which were
rejected in part OF in whole.
Mr.. Cox was also unfair in his structures on the
board touching their refusal to produce papers De-
fore the committee now in Louisiana. Those pa
pers official State documents, which must De
presented to the Legislature at its meeting next
month. If they should be lost or mutilated there
would be no evidence by which to determine the re-
suit OF the late election. 1t is therefore emlnenty
proper that the board shall guard these papers with
the greatest care. But the board has already
allowed the committee to copy them ALL and ample
opportunity viii doubt be given for the commit
Zee tc satisfy itself that those copies are IN every
Respect accurate
Mr.. Hale, on the other hand, gave very unsatis-
factory explanation of the failure of the Returning
Board to make good it's number by the appointment
Of affth member He said that the place had been
offered to number Of Democrats, all OF whom re-
fused to accept It, This is positively denied Dy the
Louisiana Democratic politicians. 1t was no
'oiious faO that prominent Republicans OF Louisiana
'ed members of the Northern visiting committee
Rpeatedly excused this failure TO appoint hitn
member of the board. They did 80 on the ground
wat the Democrats asserted that certain members
" the board might be corrupted.
SOme spicy crOss-fring occurred between Mr. COX
q the one side and Mr. Townsend of New-York ana
NJ Kelley on the other Mr. Cox remarked at one
Hage Of the debate that he was ashamed OF the
e'her side on account Of certain assertions which
nad been made. Martin l. Townsend, who was
Sanding In the middle aisle, and wbo II his coun-
knanee was any index of his feelings, was growing
aore and more angry as Mr. Cox proceeded inter
snpted him with the exclamation, The shame Is
autuaL' Mr.. Cox retorted, "Ths side of the House
Shameless which caused general laughter at his
sspense. His subsequent explanation and quota
non from Webster's Dictionary was not successful
ngettiag him out Of his difficulty.
Ihe bill was finally passed, reducing the sppro-
pnshOn for the Senate committees from $4,000 TO