Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-09
THAT TEZEWELL QUERY.
Acknowledgement Anderson Defines
Duties of Commisxioners of Election

Acknowledgement Anderson Defines
aDutica of commissioners of Election
B The election In the Ninth congressional
sN6istrict has begun to excite all sorts OF
iRtalk and all sorts of questions are being
SIRED at the attorneygeneraI Here Is
Eietter received early this morning and the
Escply OF the attorney general thereto
farewell Va. Nov. 6. 1902
Ea1on. William A Anderson, Attorney
4 General, Richmond, Va:
Ia Dear Sir.-l was a member of the cleo
zion commissioners. and We met to-day
80 canvass the returns.
N When we struck Liberty Hill precinct
1--WE found that the judges of election there
Mad not used The registration books. but
iiiahad used copy, certified by the clerk
ssof court, of a list furnished him by the
HEegistration board which included abou,
EEhr1een names refused registra ton. Sew
Neral of these Were permitted to vote, and
Azhe vote polled was exactly the number
fFegstered, and several we knew that were
8reeistered did not vote In other words,
afoo many voted and the board knowing
Efhis, passed the precinct by till Saturday
IEnext and summoned all the members of
1.-THE registration board OF that district be
Ehfore us to see exactly what number they
Hfegistered, &c
N The returns show too many voting
IEEPlease advise me by wire early Saturday
Esmorning if we can throw out this pre-
Hscinct. under these conditions. or will We
hdhare to certify TO thing we know to be
aincorrecf?
The board will meet Saturday at P. NJ
Yours very truly,
G. w DoAK.
StG. ", noah. Esq. Member of Board of
III Commissioners of Election. Tazewell
81 County Virginia:
ss Dear Str.-Sour favor of the 9Th instant
sgdid not reach RICHMOND until 10 O'clock
blast night. according 10 the stamp upon
ssthe envelope. and l did not receive ii un-
safil after O'Clock this morning. and
Esew minutes afterwards was handed YOU,
bseiegram of this date
! nave just answered your enquiry. by
n gre as satisfactorily as could. as fol-
Flows:
Duties Of your board merely to a..
certain result from face OF legal returns
Esis mas no judicial authority or power tn
S5shfspfcss the vote Of precinct by throw
AEins IL Out. II returns are In legal for.n
.sef car be put In legal form by correc.,n,
irregularities as plainly required BIZ sec.
Jon "a Of Code. See decision Virgins.
Essoapfeh1e Court, nincty-first Virginia. mage
Confirming that telegram. beg leave
. IN
go behind the returns. Your a,,ies 49,. y,
Esfpnctions are limited to canvassinr The
s5returns and nscer,aintng (Which Is a
naerc matter OF additions how many votes
BRere cast at each pracinc, for each can
Idlnate. according TO those returns. and
Scertifying this result. as REQUIRED nv ,aw
you have no power to go behind the
RFeturns. You can See very vel, tba, ~
"Reminiscences of election had any s,,ch
|AuIhorfty. IL would be in their power IN
[nln.ost every case of a contested election
Ito determine the result according to their
Sfiews.
OF course, the returns which they can
seonsider must be In lega: form. but The
Tfw Election l34 OF the Code) provides
amply for this and plainly makes il the
duty OF your board to have the returns
Iput IN legal form by the correction Of
any irregularities.
your board has no power whatever to