Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-22
Both Congressional Investigating Conn.,
mIttees Still at WOrk-ImpOrtant
Points Discussed by the Sen
ate Committee
]. Madison Wells and Charles =. Abel,
of the Returning Board, Before the
House COmmittee-The Story
OsFrank Johnson, COlOred.
Robbed of His Ecclesiastical Authority
and Kicked Ont of His Church for
Being a DemOerat-The Latest
Indications.

The senate Committees Proceedings
NEW ORLEANS, December 2i.-The senate
committee net promptly. An
effort was made by Senator 8lDonald to
have the members of the returning board sub
penaed. action on which was finally postponed
by the committee until tomorrow. The ques-
ton Of taking the deposition Of Eliza Pink
ston was discussed for some time, and finally
postponed until tomorrow. The counsel for
the Republican side stated that they had some
for. two more witnesses to testify IN regard
to 0uach1ta pafish The Democratic counsel
stated that it would be impossible to have
their witnesses here before next TG1sday, as
they had been misled in regard to which par
lsh would be taken up, and had subpenaed
their witnesses from East Baton Rouge first.
Republican counsel stated the whole number
of witnesses from all the parishes would reach
FIVE hundred. Senator Salisbury thought it
best to have an understanding at present in
reference to fixing limit to the inquiry, as
FIVE hundred witnesses on either side would
consume all the time till the first Of March.
Chairman Howe thought the mass of the eYl-
dence might be abridged by the counsel,
eItEer slde agreeing, as far as possible, to ac-
cept the testimony before the returning board
without either side being expected to develop
further testimony from those witnesses. A
lengthy discussion ensued In regard to the
the best means of reaching the object aimed
at, viz: whether or not there was a full, free
and fair election in the contested parishes.
1t was the general opinion thai this could
best be secured by examining and cOInplet-
ing the parishes separately, and that the re-
spective counsel might sift the testimony of
their witnesses and leave out all except the
most important, thus avoiding much labor
and waste of time. As it appears from the
tabulated statements furnished by the return
ing board that polls have been rejected IN
twenty-five parishes, the labor necessary to
determine the fairness of the election n these
alone would be very great. 1t was finally
agreed to proceed with Ouachita parish.
The HOtfse Committee.
New ORLEANS, December 21.--J. Madison
Wells, president Of the Louisiana returning
board, testified as to the manner OF canvassing
the returns. His examination consumed the
day session. At the evening session Charles
S. Abell, secretary of the returning board,
and Frank johnson. colOred. a Democratic
voter of Calaboula parish, was examined. the
latter testifying that he was a minister of the
Baptist church, but was turned out and de-
prived of his license to preach because he
supported and canvassed the county for the
Democratic nominees.
Messrs. M'Mahon, Ross and Crappo left
this evening for Ouachita parish. The sub
committee, consisting Of Messrs. Blackburn,
Phelps and Hurlbut, for the parishes adja-
cent to New Orleans, viii meet tomorrow
and commence the investigation of matters
pertaining to the section allotted to Them
The general committee, Messrs. Morrison,
Banks and Townsend, will remain here and
continue the investigation of matters Of
general nature relating to the late election in
sections not included in the districts allotted
to the subcommittee Mr. Morrison said
tonight that the committee would be here
two weeks longer