Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-09-30
Court Terms in Trinity.
Registry Law in New York.--An Opportu-
nifty for Reform.

As the subject of enacting a registry Law Tor
California will come prominently before the next
Legislature, the following article from the New
York Times, describing the plap just adopted in
the Empire State, will be read with interest;
While the subject of municipal retrenchment
is agitating the public mind, and a tax levy of
$4,000 coo offers so admirable n text to the
preachers of reform, it is worth while to glance
at the provisions Of the new Registry Law, and
see what excellent opportunity will be pre-
sented at the coming election for practical action.
The Legislature as if to test the capacity Of the
city for self-government has cleared away the
muddy impurities of the old election laws, and
guarantees to the fullest extent that the ensuing
election shall echo the voice Of the people, if
they choose to speak.
The first section Of the new law takes the ap-
pointment of registers and inspectors Of election
from the Board of Supervisors, and vests the
appointing power in the Police Commissioners.
requiring the Board to select, during The months
of August and September Of each year, four
competent men for each election district to act
in such capacity. 1t provides that the registers
so appointed shall act election day as inspec-
tors of election, and the appointment Of canvass
ers is also given to the Commissioners. the num-
her being reduced to two. II declares that no
person shall be chosen register and inspector
or eanyasscr unless he be qualified voter within
the Assembly district in which his election dis
trict is situated, and liable to jury duty in the
courts of record, nor, unless he read write
and speak the English language understandings.
The designation OF polling places OF registry be-
comes one of the duties of the Commis isSioners,
and no place shall be selected in which, or any
part of which, intoxicating liquors are sold or
have been sold for sixty days previous to being
used. or which is not suitably lighted with
80 / T.
in courts of record makes il obligatory that u
register should be citizen Of the United States,
and the owner and holder Of property to the
vaiue of $3.50 The appointment of disquali-
fed register or canyGsser, or the acting IS such
without the proper qualifications, IS made mis-
dcmeanor, punishable by fine and Imprisonment.
and neglect Of duty on the part of appoiutees is
also punished by fine.
The second section provides that in the city Of
New York the poll lists Of the previous election
shall rot be used in making up the register, but
that each Yoter shall appear in person, and give
his name to the Board OF Registry. and in case
he is not native-born citizen, he must produce
his papers in evidence. 0ther sections provide
that the registers shall not employ a clerk, and
that after the completion OF the list and the four
copies required by law, no addition shall be
made to it. The most important provision Of the
law, however, is that 70 person whose name IS
shall be entitled to vote under any circumstance.
This portion Of the Act is mandatory, and any
vote received in contraventon cf il SHAH he void,
and must be rejected from the count in any judi
cial legislative scrutiny into the result of the
election. This sweeps away ut once all that
beautiful system of manufacturing majority by
swearing in votes on the day Of election The
other duties of inspector and register are similar
to those under the old law. and the provisions
of the Act are extended to the charter elections
Here then is an opportunity toact in our own
behalf. The Legislature has thrown around the
elections in this city every safeguard that inge-
nuity could devise, in a tnll, comprehensive. and
stringent law placing The appointment of ali
minor officers of election in the hands of men
who possess the confidence Of the public and
providing severe penalties for any niraction OF
its provisions. We cannot new excuse oar own
negligence and apathy BY raising The convenient
cry Of ballot-boX stuliiug and fraud. II this law
is properly carried ont, the coming election viii
be the cearest expression Of the viii Of the Peo
pie. Ii our citizens, then, from sheer lazlness
seliishness, viii to perpetuate this saturnalia
of knayery and theft, which wastes our substance
upon pimps and harlots. taxes oGr middle classes
into exile, and keeps our poor fostering in the
filth Of crowded tenement houses, who shall
murmur il the right of self government, which
we refuse to exercise. is cnrtaled or taken