The New Orleans Bulletin

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM MAJOR BURKE TO KELLOGG.

"What Will He Do With It?"

New Orleans, La., Oct. 24, 1874.

Gov. W. P. Kellogg:

Dear Sir—In accordance with the resolution adopted by the State Central Committee of the Democratic and Conservative party, October 23, 1874 (copy of which I inclose herewith), I have the honor to suggest the adoption of the following regulations concerning the revision of registration, with the view of striking from the registration books the names of parties discovered to be fraudulently registered; also a proposition for the location of polling places and arrangements for the manner of voting, with the view of preventing illegal voting and repeating.

1. The representatives of the Democratic and Conservative party will prepare statements showing the names, numbers of registration certificates, residence, and evidence against parties charged by them as being fraudulently registered, with the names of witnesses to establish the alleged fraud. The representatives of the Republican party to prepare like statements of all parties charged by them as being fraudulently registered; and the statements thus prepared to be submitted to canvassers (to be selected in equal numbers by the representatives of the Democratic and Conservative party and the Republican party); said canvassers to proceed to investigate the facts charged, and upon verification, on the oath of said canvassers, of the information set forth, the Supervisors, or Assistant Supervisors of Registration shall cause the names fraudulently registered to be stricken from the registration book.

In the parish of Orleans the representatives of the Democratic and Conservative party have caused to be made a plan of each and every block within the limits of the parish, with the number of the block, number of the square, and street numbers designated thereon. Upon these plans are indicated each residence, school, church, or other edifice and vacant lot. The work of revision, therefore, for the parish of Orleans, can be systematically and promptly commenced. By means of this plan the number of the house may be seen from which the fraudulent parties have registered.

This proposition seems necessary, as it will evidently be impossible for the Supervisors or Assistant Supervisors to personally investigate the vast number of frauds charged in each ward.

Should objection be raised on account of there being no legal provision for payment of said canvassers, we respectfully suggest that the expenses thereof be equally divided between the respective parties. Should the Republican party, however, decline to assume a portion of these expenses, I am authorized to say, that the Democratic and Conservative party will, to secure a fair revision, pay the entire expense attending the execution of these arrangements.

2. In order to prevent "repeating" we respectfully suggest that the voting lists be divided into alphabetical sections, and that the polling places be so arranged as to conform to such alphabetical divisions; i. e., so that all voters whose surnames commence with the letters A B C, inclusive, shall vote at one poll in each ward; or that the voting lists be divided into numerical sections, in accordance with the numbers of the registration certificates, and that the polling places be so arranged as to conform to such division, i. e., certificates numbered from 1 to 200 inclusive shall be voted at one polling place.

Should objections be found to the two propositions suggested above, we respectfully suggest that each ward be divided territorially and the boundaries fixed to each section within which the resident voters shall vote at one polling place—i. e., the voters residing on the squares between the river and river side of Tchoupitoulas street, northern side of Julia and southern side of Canal street to vote at one polling place.

Upon adoption of either one of these propositions, (neither one of which conflicts with the law,) the polling lists can easily be made to conform, as they have not yet been printed.

3. In accordance with the recommendations of the Advisory Board, and in harmony with the assurances received from you and other prominent members of the Republican party, guaranteeing a fair representation of our party in the selection of commissioners and clerks of election, we respectfully ask that the representatives of the Democratic and Conservative party be permitted to select one-half the commissioners and clerks of election; that is to say that poll No. 1, two Republican commissioners and one of our party; poll No. 2, one Republican and two of our party, (as there are three commissioners) and one clerk at each poll.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

your obedient servant,

E. A. BURKE

Chairman Com. on Registration and Election.