a commission appointed by an act of Congress, January 28, 1877, to investigate the returns of electoral votes from Florida, Louisiana, Oregon and South Carolina and to determine the presidential elections of 1876. The commission numbered fifteen members, consisting of three Republican senators, two Democratic senators, three Democratic representatives, two Republican representatives and five associate justices of the Supreme Court. It was soon apparent that the commission was evenly divided between the two parties, with the exception of the fifth justice, Bradley, who had taken the place of Justice Davis of Illinois. However, he cast his vote with the Republican members and decided against the Democratic claim that the commission should go behind the returns and investigate charges of fraudulent voting and manipulation of returns. This point being determined, the commission in every case sustained the validity of the Hayes electors, thus deciding the election in favor of Mr. Hayes and against Mr. Tilden. See UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, subhead History; HAYES, RUTHERFORD BURCHARD; TILDEN, SAMUEL JONES.