The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-14
THE DISPUTED ELECTION.
INVESTIGdTTNG THE 8CTION or THE
RETURNING BO1RDS.
Louisiana's Board Refusing to Answer Ques-
tious-Gov. Wells Denying the Authority
OF tho Committee to 20 Bebiud his Count.

Louisiana's Board Refusing to Answer Ques-
tious-Gov. Wells Denying the Authority
OF the Committee TO 20 Bebiud his Count.
New ORLEANS Dec. 13.-Bcforc the meet
Ing of the Congressional Committee this morn
Ing, Wells, Anderson. Kenner, and Casenaye Of
tho Returning Board, with Abel and Green,
Secretaries thereof responded in person to the
peremptory demands OF the House of Repro
sentatives. They entered tho committee room
together, ana ON their arrival the committee
called to order MIR. HurlDut desired to
read a protest from himself against the COM
mittee's compelling the board to appear and
account for their official acts. Tho Chairman
ordered the protest to be ned and read in exc
cutlve session. Madison Wells, being called up
and sworn, demanded the right to reserve bis
answer, where, In his opinion, question was
unauthorized.
Wells swore that he did not know what we're
the politics Of tbs four members Of the Return
ing Board, but thought that they were all Re-
pubcans. Five was tho legal number Of the
board but as the four were equally divided on
filling the vacancy, they failed to appoint ffth
member. Application was frequently made by
Democrats to have the vacancy nled but only
one name was suggested. The question II an
pointing nftb member was not voted upon by
tue board. as 1t was tacitly understood that two
members were for and Two ngaiust nlling the
vacancy.
In answer to the question, "Did the returns
opened bv the board nnd Inspected by the
Palmer committee show majority Tor the Ill
den electors II from 5.OO to 1000 yOtes2" wit
ness denied tho authority OF the committee to
10 into that matter. Mr. liurlburt objected 10
the question. His objection was Uyerrulod. aud
the question was repeated. Wells refused TO
answer. ana referred the committee To tho re-
turns when they could get them. He objected
To every Important question asked nim and ask
cd leave to 80 home, incidentally Informing the
Chairman that be was wasting ms time. He said
tnut the reasons Tor the decisions VI he hoard
made IN secret stssi are not recorded. and Will
not be reported until the Legislature meets.
After this the members Of the Returning
Board were permitted to retire for to-day, and
were oructed to appear tomorrow morning.
lhc question of forcing them to testify Will be
taken under advisement Tonight.
The committee next devoted its attention to
the Republican supervisor OF l. st Baton Rouge,
L. ~ Clover. lie had charged murder. intiml-
datiOn aud fraud against that parish, but was
name Of q single iuformant. His testimony,
however, GovelOped his own yillainy In tamper-
tng with the returns, excluding tue vote OF seven
Democratic polls, anu E.eping the consOldated
in this CITY tor twelve days. during which time
he packed in all manner OF ai1davts. Iue COM
mittee Adjourned until L. NJ.
4. M.-ln executive session 20 niglt I'VE
SUB committees wer0 appointed, three to
leave tomorrow for the parishes whose
votes were thrown out on various charges, ana
two whose mcmbefs are. first, Bia -kDurn,
Phelps. ana llutlDur.; second, Morrison, jerks,
and townsend, to remain here aud examine
Wells Anderson y Co. ana the supervise =. Tho
committee IL firmly convinced Of tue scOundrel-
otci.ls. They were d,uIhted with the opening
vi tue case to-day ana reel confident that they
can expose cntntb and completely dtsU0se OF
tie Louisiana ~. as the political fraud, of
stu.ld DluudeEs. IEo committee has just Ad-
JOuIued.