New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-15
REGISTRY OF VOTERS.

TAerei sa bill now before the Senate, at Al.
baDy providing for registry of voters in New
York City. The object is one which commends
itself to every man who s in favor of the purity of
the ballotbox, and the orderly and honorable con-
duct of elections; aud we hope that the bill will
pass without serious opposition. The same bill has
been taken up in the House, where there are pre-
fixed four new sections which abolish the election
of Inspectors of Elections by the people, and give
the appointment thereof to the Justices Of the
Supreme Court, the sppointees to hold Office
three years, one going out each year. This prehxls
in DO way connected, either in substance or effect,
with the proposed Registry Law, and should not
have been tackled to it. There may be very
reasonable doubts as to the proprety of putting
the power Of appointing four hundred Inspectors
of lection into the hands Of four or FIVE Judges,
and this doubt may be the means of killing the
Registry bill, should the two subjects not be sepa-
rated.
How epy man " O means TO favor honesty in
elections, can object to a careful iItry of yot
ers, We cannot divine. This bill provides for
Register in each Election District, 70 be conVen-
iently arranged for reference, showing the full
lame and residence of each voter. The Inspect
ors meet month before any election, to per
feet the list. all the proceedings to have widest
possible publicity. To give ample opportunity
for all, the Inspectors are to hold sessions of four
hours each Gay, for two weeks beside two even.
ing sessions. Doubtful applicants must be sworn,
as when challenged at the polls. Those absent or
sick, who are entitled to vote, may be registered
upon the personal voucbing of the Inspectors, or
other sufficient proof The registry is to be com
pleted on the third Saturday In October, when
the list shall be Immediately printed and posted
all over the District, given to well known citi
zens, and so distributed as to insure the seyerest
scrutiny. On the Saturday before the election,
Git should be a week earlier, the Inspectors meet
to settle objections, add unregistered names, and
perfect the list, as far a, possible. certified
copy Of this list takes the place of the present
poll book, and at once defntiyely settles the right
of any person named thereon, to vote, of which il
is to be legal proof. Such are the essential pro-
visions of the proposed act.
The title itself is suggestive. tits " An Act
"to Prevent Illegal Voting in the City of New
"YOrk." That it would pretty eiectually stop
the greater portion of the swindling done at the
polls, is certain. II makes the entire voting pop
ulstion Of the City a Vigilance Committee to de-
tect fraud, gives all parties equal checks upon each
other, and allows ample time for the needfGl
purgation of the books. Under proper fulfill
ment of its intention, the polling of an Illegal
vote would become the next thing to an impoasi-
bity.
This 10 the main reason why We advocate it.
But there others, less important certainly, but
still worthy of consideration. A registry Of
voters would do much toward breaking down the
Primary Election fraud, by letting the people
know who get up those corrupt cabals, and un-
der whose influence they are nursed into such
controlling power. 1t would greatly facilitate
the work Cd the day of election, when. instead of
asking half dozen times the voters name and
residence. single glance at the printed list would
tell the whole matter. Under the proper opera
ton of this law votes could be taken three times
IS fast as they now are, and that, too, without
wrongly spelling more than four-ffths of the
names on the record, or the now almost neces.
cary omission of nearly all the residences.
A bill thus shutting off all illegal voters, while
it improves the advantages Of those who are enti.
tied to the franchise facilitating the work of cleo
tiOns, and breaking up rufiani.m, crowding,
noise trouble, and the numberless disagreeabe
attendants upon the present system, ought not TO
linger in either House. We hope the Assembly
Will see the proprety Of cutting of the incongru-
gu. matter aboutsppointng Inspectors, and give Us
the Registry law, as strong and yet as simple in
form Is possible; and that form seems to be the
Senate bill, introduced by Mr.. Brooks, of this
City, to whom the thanks of the public are Justly
due therefor.