The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-09
PRICE-FIVE CENTS.
Mr.. Matthews, on behalf of the minority of
the Committee on Judiciary, submitted the
following report, to wit: "A

Mr.. Matthews, on behalf of the minority Of
the Committee on Judiciary, submitted the
following report, to wit: q
10 the Honorable Speaker and Members of the
House of Representatives:
The undersigned, members Of the Commit
tee on Judiciary, report favorabyon Senate
substitute for House bill NJ 4S. believing its
provisions contain safeguards to better protect
the voters of the State in the expression of
their wishes with the ballot, and to protect
life and property, than the election law now
in force
The most important sections in the bill are
thirty thirty-seven and forty. In relation to
the first (thirty), we believe it is necessary,
in justice to all political parties, that every
voter shall vote at any polling place in his
parisn, and in Orleans and jefferson in the
ward in which he resides.
Section thirty-seven provides for a Return
ing Board composed of five persors-three
elected by the Senate and two by the House,
with alternates elected in the same manner.
We see no objections toAthis. tits better that
five disinterested, sworn officers, not candid
ates for Office, should compile and make re-
turns of the votes, than clerks of courts,
as directed by the House election bill. II
a free and fair election is held. no person need
would seem that an opposition to this section
would indicate that the opponents DO not
desire fair election, but repetition Of the
scenes enacted during the elections in the
past. We have precedents of other States in
the Union where returning boards of SINH
lar character are in operation, and prove q
safeguard for the protection of the will of the
people at the ballotbox, and past history
proves that the Returning Board was justifa-
bic and proper, when used in the spirit OF
decency.
Section forty contains safeguards for the
protection of voters. While we would favor
some changes in its details, the material OBJ.
ject is good, and should command the sup
port of every man who desires fair, honest
and peaceable election The history of past
elections in Louisiana leaves evidence that
safeguards of stringent character ore neces-
sary to protect the lives Of the Republican
voters from evil-rninded men, who affiliate
with the Democratic party on political ques-
tons. JAMES s. MATTHEWS,
A. +. LEvIsEE
The undersigned, a member of the Judi
ciary Committee, does not believe that
either the House or Senate bill relative
to elections is rs good as it might be made if
party feeling could be discarded in the con-
sideration of The important questions involved
IN this matter. lie IS not Opposed to the
existence by law OF returning board, pro-
vided the creation of such board be accord
irg to principles of justice and the desires
of the people Of >the State, and does
not depend on the selection of party man
ayers or men already invested with too
much political power and patronage. The
Returning Board, as now popularity called
is no new idea; it existed before the war. By
reference to the act relative to elections, ap.
proved by Gov. Hebert on the 18th of March,
1856 (page Alb, section 32) when John M.
Sandidge was Speaker Of the House of Re-
representatives. and r. G. Wickliffs was Presi-
dent OF the Senate, it will be seen that return
ing board, consisting of the Governor, Secre.
tary of State and judge of district court,
was created to canvass and declare the result
of all elections for members of Congress. The
undersigned is not opposed to q returning
board, but he thinks it would be we'll to re-
ject both bills, so that conference committee
may bs appointed of mem ers of both houses
and composed of members of all political
parties, and hopes such committee may
agree on a bill to secure to the people the
guarantee of free and fair election.
MICHAEL HAHN
THE HAWKINS MATTER,
it is probable, will not be reached for some
days to come. Il will be put off as long as
posi- Ole, for there are some wavering Sena-
tors who want to consider the matter for a
while and study the situation. At present
there is no predicting the result.