The New York Herald Newspaper, February 15, 1877, Page 3

| “ORR FNECUTIVE HEAD, The Louisians Case Still Before the Commission. THE DEMOCRATIC OFFER TO PROVE A Long Debate on the Admis- sibility of Evidence. ‘ SPEECH OF EX-SENATOR TRUMBULL, Has Congress Power to Prevent an Election by Fraud? ‘MR. STOUGHTON IN REPLY “ Republicans Placing Themselves on the Letter of the Law. , BOTH PARTIES DEPRESSED. “FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. 4 Wasuixaton, Feb, 14, 1877, «Am the Electoral Commission to-day Mr. Carpenter » @ompleted his argument, showing the character of the ‘Returning Board and pointing out the interest the * ‘ wtiole nation has in fraud affecting tho electoral voto . of a State. $ Mr. Trambull followed ins forcible statement of the wrongs charged and offered to be proved against Gover- por Kellogg and the Returning Board; that Kellogg was | Rot duly appointed an elector under the State law; ‘bat the Returning Board had no legal evidence befere ‘Wof violence when it canvassed the vote, which is “Mtorally true, and othor matters, , A discussion here ensued as to the argument for and ‘agaihst the admissibility of evidence as distinguished ‘from the argument upon the main question, All the ‘members of the commission took part in the disci \elon, and'the commission at length ordered that two , bours on each side be allowed for argument in regard ,to.the admissibility of evidence, and that this order (foes Bot interfere with the previous order assigning four and a half hours to cach side for the general argu- —_———————————— visions about protests being attached to the returns ‘vas merely directory, and that these acts could be done at other times—thia to justify the preparation of afidavits and protests in New Orleans. Mr. Hoar inquired if the protest could be/considered if the affidavit did not accompany the certificato within the legal time? Mr. Shellabarger answered that certain things, as violence and impossibility, excused the failure or omission to do 89, and preceeded to say that, under the maxim of law which holds that every officer is right anti he is shown to be otherwise, the Returning Board was right, which seemed to be begging the whole question, as he was arguing against admiting testimony offered to prove that it had done wrong, He added that if wrong was done tho defeated party had ite remedy in the courts, and ended with charges of murder and intimidation, Mr. Evarts complained of the bad air, stated that he had been in the Chamber all aay and asked to begin his argument in the morning. After some discussion the commission adjourned until fifteen minutes past ten o’clock to-morrow. ATTITUDK CF THE REPUBLICANS, It will be seen that the republicans siand squarely on the Florida decision, insisting that that shail apply to Louisiana, and assert that the letter of tho law is with them. They detond the character of the Return- ing Board, its right to sit with only four members, and these all of one party, and all its acts, and they resist all looking into evidence as to the lawtuiness of the Koturmimg Board, its legal power to act at all or its legal power to act in the ‘manner it did. BOTH PARTIES DEPRESSED, Both parties are depresued to-night, Noone pretends to guess how the case will be decided, Mr, Evarts closes for the republicans to-morrow and Judge Campbell for Mr. Trambull—We propose to present them before | you; that is one of our propositions. Commissioner Strong—But thus far it is not before us, . Mr. Trambull—Perhaps I will be better understood and the commission will better understand the state of the case if I anticipate a little what we propose in t! |. In connection with the certified copies of said Ist we offer a proof that: the Returning Board which reteuded to canvass the said election under the act of jovember, 1872, did mot receive from poll, place or parish in said State, nor have before them any statement by Supervisor of Registration or Com- missioner of Election apy form as required by said act 6. Third— We further offer to show that in many in- stances the Supervisors of Registration of the several parishes wilfully and fraudulently omitted trom their consolidated statement returned by them to the State Returning Board the result of all mention of the Votes given at certain polls or voting places within their respective parisher turns and papers of th visors by the Commissioners of Election a required “by lat said Sup f Registration did, as by law requit solidated statement, tho lists, papers and ceived by them according to law from the Commission- ers of Election at the several polls aud voting places omitted as aforesaid trom said consolidated statemont of said supervisors; und that said reeppe « Board wilfully and fraudulently neglected and retused to make any canvass of the majoritien so omitted or estimate them in any way in thelr pretendea deter- mination that the said Kellogg was duly elected an elector ut the election aloresaid, Fourth—We offer to show that by the returns of said Returning Board, and that by the result of the voting, it appeared that Kellogg received 4,459 lezs votes for elecior than the other ticket, Fifte—We turther offer to show that tho Returning Board estimated and cuunted as votes in favor of Kel- loge 234 votes which were not shown to nave been given at any poll or voting place iu the Stato, either by the consolidated statement or by the lists, tally sheets or returns. Sizth—Wo olfer to prove that the votes cast, as shown by tho Commissioners’ returns, have never been compil2d nor canvassed, and that the Returning Board never even pretended to compile or canvass tho returns made, but only pretended to canvass the re- turns made by the Supervisors of Registration. Seventh—Wo propose to prove thut the votes given have never beep opened by the Governor of suid State in the presence of the Secretary of the State, the Attor- noy General and the District Judge of the district in which the seat of government was estabiished, nor in the presence of any of them, as by law directed, KKLLOGG’S WILFUL FRAUD. We turther offer to prove that Kellogg, when he made, executed and delivered the said certincate, well knew that said certiticate was untruo in tactin that that behalf, and that he then well know that he had the democrats, This relates, of course, only to the question of admitting evidence, When the commis- sion has decided that then tho argument on the main question, the Louisiana case, will be resumed, PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION. Wasmivatox, Feb. 14, 1877. The Electoral: Commiasion’ assembled promptly at ten o’clock this morning and resumed the proceedings so abruptly broken off at Mr. Carpenter’s earnest solicitation last night. Mr, Carpenter then proceeded with bis argumont on the law of Louisiana aoa the powers of the Returning Board under it, claiming, in the first place, that the law creating such Board was unconstitutional insomuch as. it disfranchised the many for the crimes of the few— such crimes even not being cstablisued on proper Judiotal investigation; and, im the second place, admit- ting the constitutionality of the law, it bad been grossly ana wilfully violated by the Board in their pro- led canvass of the votes im the recent election. OFFER OF THE DEMOCRATS, At the conclusion of Mr, Carponter’s speech Mr. ‘Trambull arose and offered fo prove before the com- mission that William P. Koliogg, who certified as the Governor of the State of Louisiana under the appoint. men ’ MR. TRUMBULL’S SPEECH, So the argument on the admissibility of evidence began forthwith, Mr, Trumbull leading off in a very :@lose.and able argument tor the democratic side. At ono P, M. he began with @ general discussion of the ‘power of Congress and the commission to prevent an selection of the President of the United States by fraud. - The commission, he said, isa legislative body, which ‘need not be hampered by “any technical tales of evidence; therefore it could decide for ;Wteelf in regard to recetving evidence in this case. Ho ‘asked, Is this commission formed merely to add up sAgures or to examine and consider all questions “pubmitted and decide according to iho law ‘orvating. it? Can “you consider how “many and what persons wero duly appointed electors “without inquiring into the falsity and fraud of these certificates? He recapitulatea the evidence permissible and the evidence previously received by Congress in cases of elections, He emphasized the history of the Kellogg usurpation, the rejection of Pinckback by the Senate; the fact that the Kellogg government has been nothing but a usarpation made with the help of a federal judge and sitting undor the protection of foderal troops. VATE OF DURRELI. He recited the history of Durrell, his midnight order, his resignation to avoid impeachment, his disgrace as “a vagabond on the faco of the earth,” and produced an impression when he said:— His work remains, and this high commission 1s to- day asked to uphold it and give it effect. ‘WHAT CONGRESS HAS DECIDED. He held that the two houses of Congress have de- cided that the certificate of the Governor in due form, as in tho Kellogg-Pinchback case, is not binding upon Congress, Senator Thurman here interposed the suggestion that that caso decided not only that the certificate of the Governor was not conclusive, but also that the cer- tifleate of the Returning Board, upon which his certifi- cate was founded, was not conclusive. Mr, Trumbull read at somo length from Senator Mor- ton’s report on Louisiana in 1873, and gaid:— One thing is settled that, by the concurrent action Of the two houses, the right of Congress and the com- mission appoiuted under it (in the Kellogg case), to go behind retarns and reject a volo was established. We ‘propose to show the commission that there ‘was no legal canvass; that the pretended canvass was fraudulent; that tho very returns were forged; that the President of the Board, by the sanction of bis con- federates, altered and forged returns, specifying parishes. All the committees, he said, who have visited Louisiana and reported to Congress tor years reported that the Returning Boara has absolutely no power 40 do anything but count and compile the votes, and that they havo no jurisdiction in the way of reject- ing votes, unless a foundation is laid. Judge Miller here remarked :—“ Where a jurisdiction ‘a given to compile and canvass the vote that docs | Bot confor the jurisdiction to reject votes.” . Mr. Trumball went on to show forcibly the illeg: Constitution of the Board and ite refusal to fill its mumber or admit a democrat, and discussed the casos of the Inéligible electors, When he concluded Mr. Carpenter had five minates, im which he cited authorities to show thut Governor { Kellogg's certificate in favor of himself was worthless, | é BYERCH OF MR STOUGHTON, Mr. Stoughton foliowed, and suid that in tho Con- necticut election Goveruor Ingersoll certified himself as elector-at-large. He held that tho fact that Kal- | Joga’s demand for troops was granted was conclusive evidence of bis right as Governor; that the Returning Board had fail power to act, and that it could act as well with four as with five members, and beld twat all questions = in are ined «by the Florida case, jo argued that the power to take testimony by Congress is for Icgis- lative purposes only, und not for tne purposes of an electoral count; planted himself on the letter of the law, and closed with charges of Intimidation and biood. Louisiana deter- MR, BURLLABARGER ARGUMENT. Mr. Shellav: followed, also for the republicans, tm ae wtrong logal argument. He held that the Return- fog Bourd bad ao legal mght to sit with four | required to canvass the returus of the Comimission- | pariah trom which he makes op cousolidated returns, ment of the electors, was the same William P. Kellogg who, by said certiticate, was certilied to have been ap- pointed an elector. In other words, Kellogg certifled to his own appointment as such elector, and he offered to prove that Governor Kellogg aud the elector Kellogg were the same, Justice Clifford inquired if bhé proposed to state all his offers of proof at once. He replied in the negutive—that he only offered to prove that fact that he had stated, and unless there was some objection to it they would call two witnesses Jor that purpose. ake Evarts objected, on the ground of its :nadmissi- ulity. Mr. Trumbull claimod his right to be heard on the question. Commissioner Strong stated that if counsel would offer in writing all that he ereguees to prove it would simplify very much bean the commission, who etme u moc mets was bs abo or whether any pai magn to retire tor egern. 0 Y Mr. Tramvulit inquired if the argument upon the introduction of tesumony would be: limited vo filtcen minutes, There were various branches of it, aud he could hardly read all the offers of testimony in iilteen minutes. Commissioner Strong replied that the commission would ve quite willing to hear all that was proposed to be vifered as u whole. Mr. Trumbull assented to Commissioner Strong's view of the case aud certited bis readiness to offer the whoie testimony at once, with tho understanding that it could be offered as a whole or in part. Mr. Evaris then said:—The only proposition of evi- dence that bos beeu made to the commission isto Prove that Mr. Kellogg, who appears in the cert opened by the President of the Senate to be Governor, aud who appeurs also to be elector, ig the same person. Now, while we regard the admission of any evidence relating to the certificates that wero opened by the President of the Senate as inadmissible we should bot, in argument upon those certificates, contend that they were not the same person. By Uhiet Justice Clifford—1 understand you now to accept the suggestion of Judge Strong, to make ail t the ¢ame time. By Mr. Trambotl—At the game timo and in part, ‘Nhe Presiding Justico then directed Mr. Trumbull to proceed. Mr. Tramball proceeded to state his second offer, the first beimg in reference to Mr. Evarts’ admission. Wo offer to prove, said Mr. Trumbull, that Kellogg was not duly appointed one of the ciectors in the State in 1876 and that the certificate is untrue in tact, To show this we ofler to prove by certilied coptes of the lst made out, signed and sworn to by the commissioners of the election of any poll and voting place 12 the said State and delivered by said commissioners to the Ul the Distriet Court where 1 except in the parish uf they «re delivered to the Secretury of the State; tbat the said Keliozg received 6,300 lvés votes than were ut | gach election cast tor cach aud every of the McKnery electors. ‘hat form of testimony invelves the merits, to some extent, of our case. THE MACHINERY OP ELECTION, Your Honors will remember that, by the laws of Louisiana, the clectious are beld by persons denum- inated “Commissioners of Election. ’” They correspoud to judges of election in most States, There are lifty- | seven parishes in the State of Louisiana, und in euch | parish there area number of palls or voting places, usually Irom six to thirty. ‘Tere is for each parish in the State an officer know as a supervisor of registra. von, This supervisor of registration is appointed by the Governor of the State, anv be appoints all the commis. sioners of election throughout the State, but, as it has as many places of voting as be pleases, and these voting pl.ces ure presided over by these com- missioners «whom he appoints, the supervisor of registration appoints the commissioners im the | county; the Governor appoints the supervisors, one for each purish, and cach of these superviscrs ap- points all the Commissioners of Election, and the Commissioners of Election designated as many places of holding eivctions as they please and Ox the points where efections ure to be held. We complained very universally, of Unis srrangement, You may ovserve that it places the entire machinery of election in the not received all the legal votes cast within 5,000 of as many of such yotes as had at such ' election been given ior either of the eloctors on tho otber ticket, and that he well knew that all the clec- tors on the otber ticket had received more than 5,000 of the Jegal votes for electors more than had been cast for himself. We lurther olfer to prove that in Septem- ber, 1876, Kellogg aud others im the city of New Or- Jeans, including the members ta the Returning Board, entered into an uvlawiul and eruninal combination and conspiracy to cause it to be ceriiied and returned to the Secretary of State by the Returning Bourd upon their pretended canvass that’ Kellogg and others had received a majority of all votes cast at that election tor electors, whether such should bo the tact or not, and that on tho 17th of November, alter it was known that Kellogg and the others bad been defeated, the Keturn- ing Bourd agsembied in New Orleans and pretended to compile and canvaas the statement of votes given by the Cominissioners of Election from the several polis and‘mnake return to the Secretary of State, according to the act uf the Legislature. THR VACANCY IN TI BOARD. That Wells and the other members of tho Board—all members of one party, the republican party—were the only members of said ‘board; tuat there was a vacancy m the board, which it was their duty to fii) then and there by the election ct some person belonging to the opposite political party,; but instead of doing so they neglected and relused to fll such vacancy tor the Teason, as assigned by them, that they did not wish & democrat to Witness the proceedings of the Board, Although they were requested in writing vo fill that | vacupey they retused todo #0, and never did tlt tho sume, but went on and pretended to make u caicula- tion, aud while pretending to be 1p session as a return “ing ‘board they employed persons of notoriously bad character to act as their assistants, such as Davi: man undér indictment in the criminal court of Lou anu; Catlin, Blanchard anu Jeweti, who were then under indictment for perjury, and McCormick who was charged with murder, | ‘I've Board confided to their clerks and employés the duty of compiling und || canvassing ul) roturns orderea to be returned and com- piled, and although requested by the counsel acting jor the democratic party, who charged that all the clerks were republicans and that the democrats had no check on them, to allow their party, a. game three respectable persons who should be present in tho room during the ee with a view to satisty all parties that there had been no tamperiug oF untar practice in connection therewith, the Board refused to permit such persons to be present and to witness such count, ‘THE SKCRRT, SERSION. On the 18th of November, however, they adopted a resolution, inviting and requesting tive gentiemcn from 'edch of the two parties to “be prosent at the meeting of the Board while epgaged Ip the discharge of ABeE gains of, Dvessing, LUPalterward, on the 20th of r, They. “another r tion "thas upon the request of any member thev should go into secret session to consider avy arguments or proposi- tions submitted to them, and that the evidence of any contested poll should be laid aside until the evidence wag in from all’ the contested polls, and after it was all in thoy should decide upon it in secret session, No argument should be received during such secret. session, except by spe- cil consent Such proceedings were protested against by McEnery and others, but the Board proceeded to act in secret session, with closed doors, in the absence of any member of the Bar belonging to the democratic party or any person not beiunginy to | the repablican party. The Board while eugaged in such compilation and canvass wero applicd to to p the United States Supervisor of Election to be present witness the compilation; but they refused such permission, and on the 20th of November, 1876, adupied arule that bo ex parte affidavits or stutements should bo received in evidence, except us a basis to show that Jraud, intimidation or other ilegal practices had at some poll required investigation, but tat the returns and affidavits authorized by law made by officers of election should. be received in evidence as prima facie; but the Board subsequentiy, kaving become con- vinced that they could not upon ez parte testimony so manipulate the canvass as to deciare that Keilogg and others were elected electors, modified that rule and decided that the Board would receive ex parte evidence, under Which 14st decision over 200 printed pages of ex parte testimony was received by the Board in favor of Kellogg and otbers, and afterward, when McEuery and others offered ex parte evidence to con- tradict this, the Returuing Board reversed its last de- cision and relused to receive them. Also that tho | Board, in violation of the law of the Stato, ou the 20th of November, 1872, refused to. compile a statement of votes made by the Commissioners of Klection in regard to the election of electors, but they did canvass and compile only the cousolidated statements and returns made to them by the Supervisors of Registration iu the several parishes, aud ulso the Boara did kuow- ingly, wilfuily and iraudulently canvass votes given for electors in more than twenty parishes of the State, as were shown by (he consolidated statement and re- turns made to them by the supervisors of tho par. ishes, The Board ulgo in the canvass counted and esti- ited hundreus of votes which bad veen returned | and certified to them eitner by the Commissioners of | Election or the Supervisors of Registration in the ing that they had no right or author- imate the ¢ for that purpose; that they knowingly and trandulentiy made certificate tv the Secretary of State thut Kellogg and others had ro- ceived ‘majorities of all the legal votes oust | At the election, well knowing that Mcknery* and | others had received = majorities of all the votes cast for electors and wero duly elected. [In mak- ing such returns to the Secretry of State they were not deceived or mistaken in the premises, but know- ingly and fraudulently mado what they weil kuew when they made it was a tuise and fraudulent siuie- ment, certificate and return VERNON PARISIL Ile also charged thatthe Returning Board altered, changed or forged the consolidated statements or re- turus of the supervising registering olticer of the pavish of Vernon in the following manner:—1 he consondated hands of the Governor, and it is in evidence bere that these sapervisors were all of one party. The Commis. sioners of Election are required vy tke law to be of dillerent parties, but they were generally ali of one party. They were all selected by the Supervisor of Registration. ‘The law further provides that this Canvassing Board for the State, with all return iicers, which under the jaw 1s to consist of five persons tu be elected by the Senate and of the dillerent poittical parties, is nets of Election, They take an oath that they will compile and canvass the statements of votes tude by the Commissioners of Election; that is their oath, aud that is the statute, In the second section, if you wil refer to it, you will find that they | are required to canvass and compile the | statement of the votes of the Commis. sioners of Election Now these of lection are required by Jaw tg make out dupicato returns immediately upon the close of the polls. One Of these dupiicates they send to the clerk of the parish or of the county. They also send the ballot box to the | clerk of the county, ‘The law Is very specific ax to the duties of these Commissioners of Eteqion, These | duplicates go to thy Supervisor of Registration of the | Commissioners | and be sends them to this Board of Returning Ufiicers lor the State. RETURNS OF TIE COMMISSIONERS, Now, our oifer iu thi8 instance is to prove by corti- | fled copies of the State, made up, signed and sworn to by the Commissioners of Erection at each poll or vot- | ihg place in the Suate, and delivered inte the clerks’ | Offices ihroughout the State, except in the city of N Orieans, and in that parisu (hey aro delivered to the Secretary of State, so that there ts io the State of Louisiana a perfect return trom every young place in the State, made by the Commissioners uf Kiection to this Board of Revarning Otlicers, It 16 the Glerks’ office that the Board of Retarning ¢ beiore them, From that, we say, 1¢ will appear that the majority givon to what j# denommated av the Tilden cleciors varied trom 6,000 to 9,000, speaking 1m round numbers. 4 We offer now to show that to this trivunal by cer- tifled copies of these papers that you may see whut the fact is. Then the question urises, Wout i this tribunal todo? That has been gone over vy all the counsel who have spoken, Buel trust you wil pardon me it 1 very brictly state my View of what this tribunal is and what its duues are, Commission Strong—Before that, allow me to ask you «question, The action that is saul to beim bers, and deiended the character of Wella ead the other members, He asserted that who pro- EPR enn Ne nw NnavUN NNT BUTSIM OOO NAN ENND SMA NO We An OE A aN we LTA Oe NTN nen N ea nee Te See aT CE IL NTE Tee eT RL) Tee ee ee Tae On: 1 NTS ame INET TRNAS OTT TT en AU AMEnE MISO Aon Seve SSN TEONEER OT NC TS Canvassing Board, the act of that Board, nud the results at which they arrive are not belore us, 1 bink? statement m pd returned to the Board shows that ol the legal votes given in that parish in November McKvery and others received 647 and that Kellogg received none, and the board made the reiurn to show that McEnery and others received 409 and Keliogg 173, Ihe board pretended to justify the alteration and forgery of this consolidated statement by pr curimy and pretending to net upon three forged affid vits, well knowing that such aifidavits were lalse und forged, and thut no such persons Were in existence as purported to make the aftidavits, We also claim that without any authority of law the Bourd excluded and refused tu count or canvass votes given tor McEnery electors, wno received 10,280 Votes, the bourd Knowing tbat such votes hud been duly ‘and icgaliy cast at the election by legal voters, and thit, if they had counted them, — as was tueir duty to do, they would bave been compelled to certily tu tbe Sceretary of State that Keliogg bad not been duly elected, but that rv aud others | had been elected Presidential elec In turtheranc of their plan Kellogg as de facto Governor made a taise | eertiticate that Limsell and others had beew appointed | electors, This was a corrupt comvination and con- xpiracy, agreed to by the Bourd and by Kellogg and | known to be such by them when he made bis fulse cor- | Uficate, je 4 TO THR KLECTORS. ed to state the grounds of ob- | publican electors as follows :— | Mr. Trumbuil pr jection to five of t They propose to show that Oscar Jetfrion was a | Supervisor of Registration in the parish of Pointe Coupée; that A. Levisse was a Commiseioner of the Cireait Court of the United dtates tor the District of Louisiana, wn office of protit aud trust under the United States; that 0. HH, Brewster, avother Hayes elector, was, at the time ol election, holding the oilfice of Surveyor General of the Lana Othee for the District of Louisiana; that Marks, notuer Hayes elector, was District Atiorney tor the | ourth Judicial District of the State at the tine he cust bis vose, and that J. HM, Birch, another elector, was 4 member of the Board of Control of the State Peuttentiary and bed other local offices. We also offer to prove that the statements and affida- Vits purporting tobe mude and forwarded to the Ko- turaing Board, in pursuance ot the Kluction taw of 1872, alleging that riots, munidation and vidience ex- isted at Certain polls, wore tulgely labricuted and iorged by disreputuble persous under the direction and with the kuowiedge of tue Retu: and were not made in the manner aw y law, and for that reason 10,000 votes lawfully cast we piled by the Bourd as required by | He also claimed that the canvass and compilation actually made by tho Board, showing what parixhes | prise at the objection that the certilicate of Governor | ply to Congress for the purpose NEW YORK HERALD; THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1877.—TRIPLF SHEET. and pollg wero sctually compiled and canvassea and | which ones were excluded iroin the canvass, both for presidential electors and for other officers, would be shown by the recurns of the Commissioners of Elec- tion and Supervisors of Rexistrat on, which were duly before the Returning Board. He‘also offered to prove that a turning Board offered to receive ibe, Uon of which the Board would certify the elects the Tilden electors. He stated that the Board traudu- lently canvassed and compiled aud promulgated votes | for electors witch were not made aud did not appear in any tally sheet or consolidated statement before the Board; wat is to say, in the cases of Burch, Joseph, Sheldon, Levisse, Brewster, and Jeffrion, THE QUESTION OF ARGUABNT. Commissioner Abbott inquired how much time | counsel desired to argue these objections, wnen.an ex- tended colloquy took place between the members of the commission and several motions were offered, all of which Were negatived. Finally a motion ot Justice Strong’s that the counsel be allowed two hours to argue the question of the admissibility of the offer of evidence upon each side was thea curried unapi- mously. Another colloquy tollowed between counsel and the com mission on the question of time to be occupied tn | the debate, at the close of which Mr. Trumbull began his argument in favor of the admission of evidence as contained in the democratic offer. Hoe claimed that the powers of the commission were such as appe tained to the two houses and as to what these were considered to be in 1873, he satd:— THE SENATE REPORT iN 1873. And what was said by a committee of the Senato in a unanimous report made by them on that subject in | ‘Yhe third section of the act of Congress of 17 declares what shall bo the oficial! evidence of the eiec- tion of electors, and provides that the executive authority of cach State shall cuuse three lists of the ames of electors of such State to be made and certi- fied und to be aeiivered to the tors on hetore the first Wednesday in December, and the electors shall aunex one of such lists to each of their votes, The certiicate of tho Secretury of State is not | required, und the certiticate of «the Gov- ernor as provided for i that section seems to be the only evidence as contemplated by the law of the right to cast the vote of the State. “If Congress chooses to go behind the Governor's certilcave and inquire who have been chosen electors, it 1s not viola- ting any principal of the constitution of the State, put simply going behind the evidence us prescribed Ly the of Congress. And thus going behind the certil- cate of the Governor we tind the official returns and the returns of the electors (rom the parishes of Lousi- ana havo never been countea by — anybody having tho authority to couat them, What was the result of that report? The Senate and the House of Representatives voted not to count the elec- toral vote of tbe State of Louisiaua. Congress looked into it, and its committee weported that the votes haa never been canvassed by anybody having authority to canvass them, and the result was that the voto of the State of Louisiana was rejected. Justice Bradiey—Who made the canvass at that time? Mr, Trambull—it was aired to be made by the Returning Board, which consisted of the Governor, the Secretary of State, the Auditor and two other persous, and there was acontroversy as to which was the true Canvassing Board, Justice Bradiey—It was held that the proper voara had not inade the canvass ? Mr. Trumbull—I1t was not decided inthe report of tho Committee on Privileges and Elections. Senator Morton--Have you tbe whole report there? Mr. Trumbuil-—I bave. One of the points stated is, that the persons who, In tact, made the examination and count bad ny legal authority to do so. Senator Edmunds—Do | understand you to say that the Judgment ofthe Senate tour years ago was on the question of fact as to what the real voto of the people of Louisiana was? Mr. Trumbull «[t is dificult to tell on what consid. eration Senators vote. ‘Tue certificate of the Governor | of Louisiana in that case was in proper form, and for some reason beth houses concurred in rejecting tho vote of Louisiena; so that, if this amounts to any- thing, it isa decision that the duly authorized certit- cute of the Governor is not conclusive on the two houses of Congreas, Senator Edmunds—The resowtion adopted there wus that, all the objections presented having been considered, no electoral vote purporting tobe that of Louigana should be counted. That was adopted bya | votw of 33 to 16, Among the objections was one by Mr, Carpenter, of Wisconsin, on tue groudd that thero | ‘was bo proper returo of the Votes cust by electors im the State of Louisiana, and because there was there no State. government republican. im torm, and becauso no canvass or count of the votes nad been made prior to the meeting of the electors. Auother opjection of a.similar import was tnado by Senator Trumbull, of Lilo Tho presiding Justice (interposing)—You aro eatitled to the floor, Mr. Trumbull, Senator Edmunds (tu the presiding Justi asperity of tone}—Do you mean to say that e member of the Commiséton cannot make an inquiry? Tho presiding Justice (authoritatively) say that Mr. Trumball igenutied to the floor. Mr. Justice Bradley (to Mr. ‘trambull)—I under. stand that tue decision of the Senate i that case went to the form and not tothe point whether the certil- cate of the Governor wus not conclusive. Mele Trumbull fead G eens, Wartnoth’s: certificate thas case that this one thing was certaint sorted by Congres intro, aod that was the Governor's wertificato (thesaime as that known as**No, 1? im the case) might be overraled by the concu the two huuges, The report of the c that the vote, hud not eeu properly canvassed, Now, we propose to show that the vote of Louisiana ‘has never been canvassed, that the pretenued canvass is @ fraud, that the papers are forged, that the returos are altered ani talsitied, aud 1 would like to know whether a count unger such cir- © umstauces Is auy better than a count made by per- | sous who had not any right to count, Courts nay sometimes, although very reluctantly, change their opinions, Lut where in the history of legislative juris. | prudence or of courts, except by « Durell, hus a for- | mer decision been reversed in order to permit wrong and iniquity and falsehood aud forgery? Lt the ac- tion of Congress is good for anything, in that case it must be binding op this commission, that was the meaning When this commission was created, It will Ve a delusion, and isa share in the estimation of the whole peopla, if the question is to be decided on a technical ground that the commission hus not bing to do but toudd up the returns. it will not only over- turn the decision by Congress four years ago, but tt will overturn every vetted principle of parliamenwury law from the beginning of time, so far as we have avy record of it, At the close of Mr, Trambull’s argument he fled, on behalf of Messrs. Hoadley and Green and hitseif, a brief on the subject of the electoral votes ot Levisse and Brewster, Me, Carpenter reterred the commission to authori- ies on the point of Governor Kellogg vaving no authority to certify to his own clection as Presidential elector. ij ARGUMENT OF MK, STOUGHTON, Mr, Stoughton foliowed with an argu publican side of the question, He ox Kellogg was inoperative. It would be remembered that when the vote of Connecuicnt was counted her Governor, Mr, Ingersoll, waz a Presidensial vloctor at large, and that his certificate had been received without objection, — Such ~~ ubjections, were hardly suitable to the dignity of tue occasion. bad also been objected to-day (and the objec d with wood deal of zeal) thar Gov 4 Was not the Governor of Louisiana and that ‘na Was governed by a military despotism. Ho supposed that that meant thut a mili oven, on applicauon of Goveruor Kellogg to the Prest- dent, ordered 10 Louisiana tor the puropose of suy~ ng insurrection. The learned counsel (Mr. Carpenter) was fight (he supposed) in xay- ing that without such aid the government of whieh Mr. Kellogg was the lead would bave been overturned. Hut counsel should pave te- flected that the very tact that Governor Kellogg had made such au appleation and that 1 had been granted was decisive evidence tat he was then Governor of Louisiana, What was the otfer hore an the other side? | It wax that the comunssion should by asearch and scrutiny of many (if not all) the polls in Loutsana ascertain what’ bad been the veto of Louisiana at the last election It was proposed that the commission should overrule and disregard and go be- tunu the action of the tinal Returning Board ot that | State and howl it for naught, He sad he would sauisty | the commission beyond all question that the Re- turning Board as constituted bad the power delegated to it UY the statutes ot Loutsiana to determine the number of votes cast for électors, and power to ve tly it nally so jar as the authority of th Siaie was concerned, and ho would also satisty | commission that the objection (hat a vacancy in the Kiectoral College couid not be tilled by the | college its ho foundation Whatever. It seemed to tim that the decision of tue commission in the Florida case determined the entire question bere raised as to the mghtof the commission to gu behind the action of the Returning Board, and he could not perceive that | demogratic party as being that in forty parishes, any question, much less the mar quesiion, was now open to argument, He quoted against Mr. Trambuil’s | argument to-day from a report 1 ator ‘tram buil, to the effect that neither the the House nor both houses jomntly have power under the con- i unvass the retarns of au election, ahd ely to the Stgies, He also quoted on the same p tier recshtly published from ex-Judge Chureh, of New York, whom he characterized as a great Lawyer, an upright judge, and even a pare pol- iuciun, ig Weut on to argue that the State corrects tho frauds 91 its own officers, and does not a and that Cong would best perform ts duty by barging it within its wuthority, leaving these occasional Irands that are | someuines: juined id sometimes oflered to be proved to be take: re of vy the tribanals havin Jdrisdiction over them. Congress might have tt power, but it did wot have tho right, to disregard the | highest legal authority of a Stat ‘The offer made on the other side would lead to pro- ceeaings endless in detatl, harassing in their very nature, increasing tenfold the public exere- ment, which was already seen gatnering about the ‘tribunal, Here . were offers ut evidence, inflamed to the Just degree by their mode of statement, involving inquiries Of the most extraordi- | nary and painful character, icading vo auswers, leadin, to lestimony in reply—tesuimony tm justification of the Returning Board that would be endless and duiticalt of procurement, anu all for what’? To enable this tri- baval to violate the supremacy of the state, He bud heurd more thau one threat couched under shields of Iunguage and so Irained that they might not quite reach in plain terms thetr mark, but be undersiwod them, and they were unwortuy of the circumstancs under which the tribunal was formed and quite u worthy of those who sought ‘THK LAWS OF LOUISIANA, He proceeded to discuss the iaws of Lousiana as to the power to ill vacancies in the Electoral College, and iu reply to @ question by Mr, Hunton, whether the | - act of 1872 did not repea! the act of 18¢8 in that regard, he said that it did uot touen it at all ond Luatit wasan ubsurdity to bold that an express purpose of the con- stitution which had been carried out by lederal legisla- tion, supplemeuted by State legislation, tould be de- feated by giving 4 Violent construction to a clause which had abundance of other matter to feed upon without being applied to the case of Presidential elec- tions, ° Mr, Hoar suggested to Mr. Stoughton that it was hard!y worth white for him to spend ume in the en- douvor to satisfy the commission on that potnt. Mr, Stoughton acted on the suggestion aad passed to other points Coming in the course of nis argu: ment to the objection made to the Returoiug Board of Louisiana for not having filled the vacancy In the Board, be said that the law on the subject was merely directory and that a failure to obey the jaw aid not interfere i any manner with the capacity or jurisdiction of the Board. If iwo of the five members had been democrats and had afterward changed their politics would the Hoard, he asked, coae to eyist on that account? He stated the problem whieh had presented itself to be solved in Louisiana by the bout which there was no dispute, there was « republic: jority of 6,097 votes, and nb the remaining seventeen parishes there were 20,325 colored vote registered und 16,253 white votes, How was that prob- lem to be solved? The records of these parisnes showed that the problem had been sought to be solved | by bloody hands. Iu conclusion, be said:—Tatk to me about outrages, frauds and the disfranchisement of voters! The: re two sides to the question, and if you sit here to go buck and canvass the votes you sit here to administer the laws of Louisiana, and you mast administer them | | by learning who have been distranchised and what was the lawiul voto of that State in harmony with her laws, and not in harmony with the will of a party, Mr. Shellavarger followed ou the republican side, } reviewing the laws of Louisiana and claiming that under them the Returning Board had the power to canvass the vote, He argued that tho section in the law providing for the filling of vacancies was merely directory, and @noncompliance with it, while it was to. be condemned, aid uot go to the Jurisdiction of the Board, Ho turther argued that the action of the Board was not judicial but administrative, and cited a | precedent in support of this view, He closed by ref- erence to the murders and outrages which bad been perpetrated in Louisiana, ‘The commission then adjourned until to-morrow, SENATOR SHERMAN’S VIEWS, Senator Sherman, who is at present sojourning fora few days in New York, was good enough to express quite freely his views upon the Presidential auestion last. night to the writer. Tho Senator has no doubt that Louisiana must bo counted for the republicans, ‘The question is only being tried now on merely technical grounds before tho commission. It there was time enough to admit of the whole mat- tor being opened up and tried upon tho radical merits of it, the case of the republicans would bo even better than at present. It would be tho best thing that could happen for the republicans to have the whole issue, opened up on its broad merits, ‘There could be no doubt in any man’s mind—no one of respectability in Louisiana denied—that there had been tho most barefaced intimidation tn several parts of the State. This was clearly proved to the entire satisinc- tion of the committee of. which Senator Sherman was a member; and Mr. Hewitt’s committee was also obliged to acknowledge this unfortunate fact, The 1,700 pages of evidence— 1,000 of which were taken by the democrat: not but convince even the most sceptical p tho Returuing Board) was justitled,, and, perfectly so, in throwing out the number of votes watch tnoy did. There can be no doubt but the commission in Congress will decide that the Returning Board was so justified, THE DEMOCRATS WILL NOT CAUSE DELAY, It does not appear that the democrats will resort to 80 questionable an expedient us that of putting obstacles inthe way of s speedy count by trying to waste time unnecessarily, Such a course would pot servo them in any sense. Tho Senator said that from its inception be was opposed to the idea of culling into existence such ® commission as that which is now counting the Presidential vote, but, now that 14 bas become a. law, ho would cheertully support it, The democrats are all committed by their past policy to ablde by the decision of the commission which they themaelves clamored so loudly tor, and, now that they have got it, they must stand by what- ever ruling it may cstavlish with regard to the count, ‘The | palpable intimidation employed in Loussiana, especialiy in five particular parishes, where, atover seventy polling districts, voters were’ practi- cally kept trom using the franchiso in accordance with thoir own conviction, appears to be part of a long and wat matured plan to give the State voto in favor of ifden. South Carolina 1s by the democrats themselves ad- mitted to have returned the Hayes electors. It docs not matter how the voto be counted, Hayes must come in winner; if all the ballots which were cast be counted the republicans will come out with a wajority of 700, Wade Frampton has been elected to tho Governorship. OREGON ALSO FOR THE REPUBLICANS. The Oregon case 1s a question of a teconical tuter- pretation of the law. If Governor Grover has the ower to go behind tho fade of the neopte's vote, then 18 action May be dangerous, but, us he cannot do this, neither can he deprive the State of Oregon from cast: ing her electoral vote in lavor of that candidate whos electors received the greatest number of ballo The democrats cannot defend iv Oregon a principle which they repudiate in Louisiana, ‘There seems to be little doubt that the whole ques- tion will be amicably and peacefully settled before the 4th day of next month. In any case, even if it unfortunately should not, the Senate will, in ac. cordance with the clearly laid down provisions of the constitution, choose a President who will for the time being act a# President uutil the whole question can go back to the people for their decision, rm of General Grant expires on the 3d of March, and be will not hold over bis offico for a single hour after that time, OUR RUINOUS DEFENCES. Secretary Cameron, head of the War Department, accompanied by a strong party of distinguished gen- erals, scientific officers, their wives and friends, went down the Bay yesterday to make an inspection ot the harbor defences. Among those who participated in this pleasant excursion were General Sherman, Goneral Hancock and staff, General John Newton, Gen- eral J. 1. Fry, Colonel Audenried, of General Sher- man’s staff, Assistant Quartermaster General Saw- toile, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Grant and others, | A few invited guasts and a number ot ladies wero also thore. Among the latter was Mrs. Fredorick Grant. Senator Sherman was also of the party, The party boarded the vovernment steamer Henry Smith, Captain Balsey, at the foot vf Twenty-fourth street, North River, and by balt-past ten o’clock were bowling down stream ata good rate, The points visited were Fort Coluinbus, Bedloc's Isiand, Fort Hamilton, Sandy Hook and Fort Wadsworth, At Fort Columbus Secretary Cameron and the mili- tary magnates who accompanied him saw a circular casemated work, whose walls would shake even to the revetments if a heavy piece of modern siege artillery were discharged within the compass of its perimeter. v were cinbrasures whose cheeks, if used in a cannonade, would open like the jaws of death and expose Lie gunners to certain destruction, Colum- bits of small calibre, capable of throwing nothing more formidable than a spherical shot irom a smooth bured gun, were at this point the only obstacle to un enemy's entering the harbor and shelling Now York, Brooklyn or Jersey as long as, be might wish Bedole’s Island, 18 naturally iutended as « good flanking support plumous, t4 neither armed nor fortitied in @ Way Lbut would prevent the smallest war sloop now in use from clearing 1s parapets of both men and guus with a few well directed rounds. At Fort Hamilton, the tracings ola tine work wero viewed; but it 1s wholly ont of repair, and not prepared in ‘any degree to resist the shock of artillery such as is used in our day, The carth works which cover its seaward fauk are the only redeeming feature it possesses; hero, indeed, if the barbetie batteries were properly armed with heavy rifled guns, New York would tiave it service- able work; bat, like the other forts, it is provided sless smooth bore piec e twenty inch owed that our artil are cayable of can carry a of at ie ouly needs the bait 1,200 Application of a good system of rifling to make them a ton feet a velocity adit per second, truly formidable weapon. Fort Wadsworth is the most formidable fortress in the harbor, Lt ha& all the advantages of a good position and remarkably fino lines, in common with everything else in the depart. ment ct harbor deiences, 16 \s falling to ruin for want of & proper garcison and appropriavons to Gnish the ork ag it Was first imtended. ‘The insigniticant num. ber of troopa that are quartered in this and the ovuor fortresses ure entirely two stnall to be of any practical uso in preserving the places from going slowly but surely to ruins There are only two remedies tor this evil, eithor to largely increase the strongth ot ihe regular army of let the National Gaard take charge of the harbor forts. At Sandy Hook fort, another strong place on which | sarge sums Of public money have been spent just to lot it sink foto the earth, the party witnessed turee exper. ntal shots trom an cightineh rifle gun at a target ed a mite off, The practice was exceedingly good, the velocity, as shown by the electro-pallistic ‘bine, was over 1,400 feet per second. A Hotcht Iving carfvou was also tried with satisfactory results, tho Secretary of War aud the General commanaing tho army, saluting at diflereat pots with the customary number of guns, The party retarned to the city at half-past seven o'clock, To-day the party will visit Willett’s Point, Fort Schuyler, and it there ve leisure, tho Navy Yard, where they will dine With the Commodore in command, See- retary Camerou and frionds will return to Washington to-morrow, WHY THE Y WANT $25,000, Mr. G New York lawyer, and another New Yorker named Hogan, have begun suit for $26,000 damages in Nowark, It seems they were mixed up in ture of furntture at the Orange Mountain House, were onlawtully arrested, and now demayd the amount stated a8 (he damages done to them by f imprison: monk The troops tarned ont under arms to receive | TAL Morrisssy Opposed to Patchwork Reform. THE STATE CAPI Mr. A BOLD STROKE FOR RETRENCHMENT, The Postmaster of Albany for Superintendem of Life Insuranee. —-———— Atuaxy, Feb. 14, 1877. John Morrissey offered a resolution this mornin, the Senate which points the way to what ought tobe en easy and satisiactory method of dealing with the reforms necessary in the city government of New York. He proposes substantially that the Committees on Cities of thetwo houses take into joint consideration the framing of one measure which shall embrace al) the just and necessary remedies vow called for in the name of reform and retrenchment aud scattered through nearly @ bundred bills from diferent hands, Morrissey does nof believe tn patchwork reform. He goes the whole hogor none. Hoe ts as much opposed to legislation that alms to thin the ranks’ and aiminish the incomes of repubiican oflice-holders as to what affects in ibe same way the members of bis own party, He has no. ticod truly. enough that almost every. bill rela tive to reforming the city government had its political bias, af it bo from the hands of a democrat it will be tender on the democratic and correspondingly severe on the feclings of republican office-Lolders, Morrissey thinks the committees men- Moned can frame withia ten days a bill that will strike an impartialanean and be satstactory to the great majority of the citizens as wellas to tho members ob both parties in the Logislature, There are several strong reasons in favor of the reso lution, The joint committees cannot avoid reporting a bill that will effect more or less of retrenchment, and the two houses cannot avoid passing such a bill under present circumstances. Tho time favors reform, and those who stand in the way will find themselvet presently hoisted ‘higher than a kite’? Itia vain hope for any beneilt to the city from the ditferent bill so far introduced, [f -a really good ono pass the Senate it will, ten chances to one, be killed in the House, and vice versa. This ts partly because na member is magnanimous enough to permit avother mewber, if he can help st, from getting the credit of doing auything to make bim popular with the tax- payers. The pian proposed cannot excite this feeling of jealousy, as both houses collectively, through their committees and vot any single individual, will be credited with tho authorsiip of such bill of ‘relict as may be introduced. VOTES, NUNCOMBE AND PATRIOTISM. A wild scramble between American independence and the German vote took place in the Assembly over an adverse report from the Committee on Public Print- ing of Martin Nachtman’s resolution to print 3,000 copies of the Governor's message in German. Nacht. man, a8 Senior captain of the German interests in the House, took the floor first, and was tollowea by Chria Flevke and Joseph Stein, all of whom burned with Teutonic fervor, especially Flecke, who, with teat ip his eyes, mentioned the atrocious injustice of th being 3,500 public officos in New: York, only 100 of which were tilled by Germans, and now, as if this injus- tice was not enough, they were about ‘to deprive tho great German people, who conquered Frabco and Several other countries, of the honor and pleasure of reading the Governor’s messago in their native tongue, Mr. Peck, of Oswego, made un’ “American” speech and said thore should be no such thing a8 Germun oF Italian or Spanish privilegos. They ought all to be one nationality, proud tosay each one to himself, *Civis Americanus sum,’ and read the Governor's message tn Enghsh, General Husted, following up. on the American. siae, said Do man was Worthy of being an American citizer or sbould vo entitled to the right to vote who, altel spending five yoars iu the country, was unablo to read English and the Governor's messuge. Keclesine, Grady, Spinola und.one or two other Irisimen ‘spoke in tavaw of Nachtmau's resolution, but it was finally consigued to the tomb of the Capulets, GERMANY ROUTED, Germany met another knock down subsequently ta An adverse report which the House sustained of Murti Nachtman’s vill enlarging the hberty of Sunday parades and processions, and giving greater scope 10 beer and brass and German music. Mr. Hasted said he represented the largest associated traternity (tho Masons) in the State, and. they were entirely opposed to it Mr. Fish, of Putnam, was also opposed to it because, as he said, if every socioty in New York was ett to tune Gp on Sundays the city weald be worse ma, Germany wag overborne, notwithstand- Wid Lolp of Irciand, aud the bill was buried out aight. . ORDERS TO SCAVENGERS. Night scavengers, according tow bill of Mr. Healey, shall be compelled to remove night soil in the city of New York between tho hours of nine P. M. and ive A.M. during the mouths of October, November, Le- cember, January, February und March, aud between the hours of teu P. M. anu four A. M. during tue re- mainder of the year, MAKING IT KASY POK PROPERTY OLDE Mr. Ecclesine introduced four bills this morning, one of which provides that the city shall pay one-hult of the assessments tor the expense of improving Seventh avenue and St. Nichols aveuue north of the northerly ine of Central Park ana the other half shall remain» en as heretofore on the lands assessed for the same purposes, Ip all cases where payments Sessineuts huve already been made one. payments shail be repaid by. the city to the persona who have paid the same with (what x cool propo: tion!) seven percent interest. keciesine also hand in a bill which provides that where a man dies intes! the Surrogate shall be allowed to summon witnesses and take testimony. TAKING TIME TO CONSIDER. Senator Harris had « resolution adopted that the time in which tho Finance Committee i# required to report upon the designs and plans on which the erecs tion of the new Capitui building shall be prosecuted be extended until the lst of March. ™ NEW YORK'S LATEST ANNEXATION, Last year the State of Vermout ceded for United States purposes to the State of New York that poruion of the town of Fair Haven lying west of Poultney River, and Mr. Baker t#day introduced a bf. accept: ing of the cession in behalf of the State. A HARD WORKING COMMITTEE, ‘The Strahan Judiciary Committee reported again to-day a host of bills adversely. If the other comimit- twes did anywise near as weil legislation would be helped and improved, BILLS THAT MUST TAKH A RRST. From the Committee on Cities, Senator Woodin made @ report of the Dill relating to the Police courts of New York, fixiag the salaries of the justices at $6,000 cach and doing away with various easy offices connected with the courts; also the bill providing for aud redue- jug the salaries of the judges of the Courts of Record; also tho bill, wiping oat two-thirds of the present number of useless court attendants. These bilis will not Le hurried forward now, owing to the in- troduction of Morrissey’s resolution, which atms at turning ail such bilis into one hopper-and grinding out & single und deiinite product, Iwo other bills of Senator Woodin’s—ong rolating to the office of Clerk of the city and county of New York und Oue in relation to the Register of Deeds—wore progressed in committees of the whole, and will also be detained With the samo view as that regarding the | others, THK'MEKD OF GORY GALLANTRY, Senator Wagstall stepped to the front to-day with » Dill asking the State to pay forthe uniform and equip. ment of the gallant “Ninth regiment, which did the State such service in its time as everybody knows, SUPERINTENDENT OF RTATE PIISON, Tho Ways and Means Committee re ed, without Amendment, tho bill preser: aod Oxing tho salary of the Superintendent of State Prisons. and Mr. Hays asked and obtained consent that st be made @ special Order for to. morrow morning. ARRIVALS PROM NEW TORK, Quite a pumber of New York office-holders and poli ticians are in town—Delano C. Calvin, Commiasioner James Daly, Alderman Hoss, Avram Disbecker, Bar- | ney Bighn, J. J. O'Brien, Rush C. Hawkins, Charley Swan aod others—ail come to sve if the machine works to their liking. WOMEN ON THR SCHOOL BOARDS, The bill to make women eligible as elective oMcers of school boards was the special order tus evening Im | the Senate, Tho author of the bill, Mr Emerson, led | off im an amuzing speech that Uekled the ears of the | ladies and made the old stager stare. It was noshing more than a legislative entertainment CITY CONTRACTS. The Committee on Cities of the Assembly, at a moet. | ing this afternoon, agreed to report to-morrow Mi Fish's bill on the subject of contracts concerning t | eny government of New York alongwith the amend- pis sent here with the Joint approval of the Mayor, | Comptrotier and Corporation Counsel The bill i subs | stuntially Uie same as thot introduced in the Senate | lust year by Mr, Woodin, and is velieved to bo an tm- | portint bill in the way it affects the ti | manage- | Mentor the muateipal government. The aemination ot John F, Smyth, Postmaster of Albavy, tor Superin« tendeat of insurance, which Was ‘sent to the Senate to-day, creates a'good deal of comment, Some, the | who pretend to. know, say that | dictated to Governor Robins: nomination was and that Vostmaster Smyth has not be Heans here of late, because he Conkling, and now it remains to be sven What those | republican Senators will do who lately atempted to | dictate to Mr. Conkling, shout the Blectoral Com- mission decide against Hayes, CANAL APPRAISER. Hezekiah Sturges, of Otsego, was nommated for Canal A iver, Both nominations were referred to the appropriate commit A VERDICY FOR INJURIES, Mrs, Maria Carr yesterday received a verdict tor $100 in a suit Which she brought in the Brooklyn City Court inst Silas Smith, for $1,000 damages for injue Trios received by falling through a coathole in tront of the Brooklyn Hovel, corper of Union sees aud Hamil: ton avenue, some time aya, |