Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1877-02-22
The Eight Electoral Votes Of
the State Ordered to be
Counted for Hayes
and Wheeler.
Full Report Of the Points Passed
Upon by the Board.
Virtually Definite Determination
of the Presidency in favor Of
the Republicans.

WASHINGTON, February 16.-The Special
Commission have decided that no evidence
can be received in the Louisiana case except
the electoral certificates The vote was s to
7. The Commission have sent for counsel
and upon their arrival will open their vote.
The Electoral Commission, in secret session
this morning, by vote of 8to 7, adopted the
resolutions submitted by Morton, declarin G
the s Hayes and Wheeler electoral votes of
Louisiana should be counted. A report, en-
bodying this decision, will be presented to
Congress tomorrow morning.
Large crowd in front of the Supreme
Court. At D. m. the number was gradually
increasing until more than five hundred were
waiting impatiently the opening of the court
room, which occurred an hour later than was
announced. During the afternoon rumors
prevailed about the Capitol as to the decision
of the Commission and the vote. These re-
ports were so contradictory as not to gain
credence. There was much excitement, and
a more inquisitive crowd has not been seen
at the Capitol. When the doors were opened
frantic rush was made for the interior of
the court room, which was soon uncomfort-
ably filled.
The following are the resolutions acted up
on by the Commission in secret session, and
afterwards reported to counsel:
Hoar submitted the following:
Ordered, That evidence be not received.
Abbott offered::as substitute:
Resolred, That evidence be received to
show that so much OF the act Of Louisiana
establishing Returning Board for that State
is unconstitutional, and the acts of said Re-
turning Board are voiu.
This was rejected
Yeas-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field,
Hunton, Payne and Thurman-7.
Nays-Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuysen,
Garfield, Hoar, Miller Morton and Strong-8.
Abbott offered the following:
Resoloed, That evidence be received to
show that the Returning Board, at the time
of the canvassing and compiling of the vote
at the last election in that State, was not le-
gally constituted under the law establishing
it, in this, that it was composed of four per-
sons of one political party instead of five per-
sons of different political parties.
Rejected by same vote.
Abbott then offered another substitute:
Resozced, That the Commission will receive
testimony on the subject of frauds alleged in
specifications of counsel for objectors to GER
ti6cates 1 and 2.
Rejected by same vote.
Abbott then Offered as fourth substitute:
Resoloed, That testimony tending to show
he so-called Returning Board of Louisiana
had no jurisdiction to canvass the votes for
electors for President and Vice President is
admissible.
Rejected by same vote.
Abbott offered fifth substitute, which was
rejected by same vote: 1t is
Resoloed, That evidence is admissible that
he statement and af6davits purporting to
nave been made and forwarded to said Re-
turning Board in pursuance of the provisions
If section 20 of the election law of 1872, al
eging riot, tumult, intimidation and violence
It or near certain polls, and in certain par
shes, were false and fabricated, and forged
~ certain disreputable persons under the di-