The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-28
RIDA.
Meeting Of the Returning Board.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Nov. N.-The canvass
ing board met at noon to-day. Secretary of
State McLin in the chair A protest was filed
by the Republican electors against Attorney
General Cookies sitting as a member of the
board, on the ground that he had virtually
decided and given a decision prior to the
assembling of the board, in that he had tee-
graphed that "the Democrats had certainly the
state and the Republicans could not cheat
them out of it," Cooke stated that he had
sent the despatch in reply to friend in Ralti-
more, who had asked his opinion, aud who
furnished it to the newspapers. He respect
fully submitted that the despatch and the
opinion therein contained did not disqualify
him from sitting as member of the board
The protest was entered and the board pIo-
ceeded with their regular business.
Mr.. Cowgirl moved that Gov. Stearns and
Gen, Branpon, commanding the troops at this
point, be admitted to the sessions of this board
Mr.. Cooke amended by adding the name of
G. +. Drew. The amendment was accepted
The board then went into private session and
adopted rules for its government The board
then agreed to admit six gentlemen from
abroad and six local politicians from each side
Adjourned till tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
The following are the rules adopted to-day
and referred to-:
The canvassing board will commence its du-
ties on the 2Sth day of November inst at 10
o'clock and will meet daily thereafter at the
same hour unless different hour be fixed, eX-
cept on Sundays and holidays, and will remain
so long in session each day as the necessities of
the case require. To facilitate the canvass
within the brief period which remains for that
procedure, the following rules are adopted and
are hereby promulgated:
1.-The office of the Secretary of State, where
by law the board is directed to meet, being
small. limited number Of persons only, not
each political party, will be admitted to witness
the proceedings. except when the board may
think it necessary or desirable to close the door
for deliberation.
2.-The Secretary of State shall open the re-
turns from each county, whereupon the board
mine from the face thereof subject to final re-
view, whether the legal formalites and
requirements with respect thereto have been
complied with, and on affirmative determina-
ton of such preliminary matters the board
shall announce the vote of the county.
3.-On the announcement of the vote of any
county, any person may give notice that said
return and election or vote of said county, or
any precinct thereof, will be contested, and the
clerk shall forthwith note the objection.
4.-The contestants subsequently to the an
nouncement as aforesaid of the result as it ap,
pears on the face of the returns must file with
the board brief statements in writing, giving
specifically the objections proposed to be made,
with the particulars of the time, place and Cir
cumstances, together with a statement of the
relief demanded,
Sin view of the fact that the board has
lower to compel the attendance or examina-
ton of witnesses, it will receive in the evidence
proper affidavits and also such official certih-
Gates as are mate evidence by law and may be
otherwise admissible. If either party desire to
produce UiUd Uoce testimony, they must submit
to the board brief statement in writing of
the names and residence of witnesses, and
facts expected to be proved by them, and the
board In their discretion will allow them to
attend, and will themselves examine them, the
extent to which this is done necessarily de-
pending upon the time at the disposal of the
board.
6.-The affidavits and documentary proofs on
each side snail be filed with the board in the
office of the Secretary of State. and shall be
accessible to the other side under such regula-
tions as the Secretary of State shall think
proper for the safe keeping thereof.
7.-Al motions and arguments shall be in
writing and signed. No oral arguments will
be allowed.
S.-The conference OF majority of the board
being necessary to determine action, such
concurrence, with respect to any proposition or
matter, may be formally ascertained by vote
upon motion duly made and seconded, or
informally be assented by at least two men,
bers.
9-The board reserves to itself the right to
make and Announce such modification to these
rules as the case may require Parties in pre-
ferring charges, and in presenting their proofs
and arguments, should bear in mind that the
canvass must be completed and the result
reached in time for the electors to discharge
their duty under the laws.