New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-22
TUE HOUSE CONGR EseIONAL INvEs.
Tl0ATlNG COMMITTEE.
Ninth Days Proceedings.

N10t0 D8y'0 ffOCeeOlU8Ss
Inquiry was made if the Returning Board
had furnished any documents, to which Mr..
Phelps replied that he regularly, three
times each day, made formal demand, but
had secured none.
Ex-Governor Wells recalled-To Mr..
MOrrison-I have already testified that We
had held q consultation concerning filling
the vacancy on the board; We made COM
parisons of the tally sheets and the consoli-
dated returns; there was NO increase in the
vote of Concordia parish; when we got the
box we discovered that the names of some
electors had been voted for, but that they
had not been counted on the returns; the
names omitted we're Republican electors;
the proceeding was in the presence of Wit.
nesses; our final decisions were rendered
in secret sessions; have not esti-
mated the number of votes thrown
out; can furnish that information - soon
a. refresh my memory by looking at the
documents; can not now say how tho votes
member that the aggregate would amount
to IL, 900 votes; have not brought the origi-
nal papers - demanded by the committee;
have no control over the original docu-
ments-they are the property of the State;
q portion of the documents are in the Aud.
itor's vault and q portion in tho Returning
Boards roome; We may have received some
returns through private hands; We counted
them; the Grant parish returns were sent
by private hands, but were not sent by the
authorized person; believe the law says
the returns shall be sent by mail; oil re-
turns must come direct from the supervis-
ORE; the sending for the box of Concordis
parish was incidental, and We did not get
it through the hands of the supervisors;
We had nothing to do with Q supervisor
who was dishonest; We do not compile
A. n~Sc 6N Nnt
know that the law demands that course; it
ia not my construction of the law; you
shall have the truth from me; the super
visor of East Baton Rouge told me that he
had thrown out certain polls; we did not
send fol the Baton Rouge boxes; We paid
no attention to the polls thrown out, as to
whether they we're Democratic or Repub-
licau; some polls where Republicans had
majority were thrown out; think the request
of Mr.. Harris to send tor the Concordia
boxes was made in open session; his letter
is on file, and the date will show; believe
| the request was made before the board
ceased to take evidence; if the Democrats
had had no notification of the sending for
| the COncordia boxes, then it was not fair;
the Democrats did not have time after the
request of Harris was made; the membere
of the board kept private memorandums OF
| our private sessions; Mr.. kenner is the
eoCreIAry, SuU a1toE coCSoU 0o00AVN o1o
memOrandums are handed to the secretary;
Mr.. Abell may have signed his name as
secretary, but he is Q clerk. On request
of Mr.. McMahon Mr. Wells sent for his
| private memorandum book and the book
which contained the receipts for returns
from supervisors.l l am strong in my
| political bias, made 20 by bad treatment;
nv partisanship is not strong enough to
make me be unjust; had no pecuniary in
/ ho ka1 tn ma
| to favor one side or the other; my property
has been burned and not paid for; have q
large claim against the government, with
little prospect Of getting it paid; the Repub.
| licans have not served me sGuarely; my
| chances for getting my government claim
| are quite as good under Tilden ~ under
Hayes; my claim did not influence
me or warp my mind for one side OF
the other; Mr.. Tilden's letter ignoring
such claims did not warp my
| Judgment; my relatives also have elaine
against the government, but We are moi
| friendly and have not been for many years
| their claims did not bias my mind; did not
| cav that my claims would cause me to un
| duly support the Republican party; can NOT
| now remember the conversation between
l me and Mr. Freret concerning the matter
| that conversation was held years ago; did
| not tell Mr.. Freret that l was bound tG
favor the Republican party; | am surveyor
| Of this port; the pay is nullity, say about
$500 per month; have my son as my deputy
have no relations in my Office; l do not con
slider the office of Returning officer State
] office, and it has no pay.
TO Mr.. Hurlbut-The commissioners ol
election are appointed by the supervisors
| OF registration; commissioners must make
| their returns to the supervisors and super
visors must make their returns to the
board; in the parish of Concordis thu
trouble was about the electoral vote; ther'
was an omission of the names OF some
electors ON the tally sheet; when We exam
l inad tha hox wa fannd that tha YotAa VAR