Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-04-03
Notes from Harrisburg.

A registry law has been reported from the |
Judiciary Committe, into the Senate which is |
similar in most of its provisions, to the New YORK
law II is said Judge Pearson is the author ofthe
bill. The act requires Assessors to keep regis
try of voters with their private residences and
produce the same. at the place of election four,
teen days prev ious to the election, to the judges
and inspectors, who with the assessor shall meet
the twelfth day preceding the second Tuesday
in October, and continue in session from nine to
six o'clock. to receive the names of persons rot
before. registered, and hear and decide upon
claims to vote; and no person shall be allowed to
vote whose name does not appear upon the reg
istry, but any registered name may be challenged
just as if no registry of the name had been made,
and the election board may pass upon such chal-
lenge; the penalty for receiving non registered
votes shall be fine and imprisonment at the dis
cretion of the Court The same meeting of the
Board and registry shall be had twelve days pre-
ceding every Presidential election At every
special and at every city, and borough and town
ship election. the registry rnay be used proof
of the right to vote. unless satisfactory rebutng
testimony shall be produced. On the petition of
five citizens that they believe that frauds are
about to be perpetrated the polls. the courts of
'sAo-h'AOA4
appoint two iudicious, sober and intelligent citi-
zens to act as overseers of any poll or polls who
shall be selected from different political parties,
where the inspectors are OF different parties and
where both inspectors are of one political party,
both of the oyerseers shall be taken from the op-
posite parry: the inspectors to furnish such over
seers with every facility for understanding and
| taking notes of all decided on by the board, and
to challenge votes. The bill also provides heavy
fines for any clerk prothonotary, who shall is
any fraudulent naturalization paper, or issue
such paper or blank to be used by any person at
the polls.
The fresh tragedies enacted in SchuylkilI
county seem to have had the effect of arousing
the Legislature to sense of duty towards that
region. bill viii pass giving increased police
facilities and regulating other matters conducive
to the public peace in that District.
The Senate Military Committee have reported
new Militia bill, which authorizes the receivers
of taxes to collect four dollars from each citizen
capable of bearing arms who does not belong to
a military organization formed under the act, for
the establishment of a military fund.
The question of a Constitutional Convention is
attracting attention, special committee
having been appointed some time since to whom
was referred the subject The Committee will
likely report bill shortly, but as to its provis-
ions nothing is, yet, known. The Republicans
generally favor such convention, but the Dem
ocrats are opposed to it Modern Democracy
seems to be opposed to all reform. The Demo
Gratis opposed the calling of a convention in New
York and they will oppose convention in this
State, unless political advantage viii accrue
to them, which is not likely. But time will re-
veal all things. Let wait and see.
About seventeen hundred bills have been re
ported to the Legislature. Full four-ffths of
these OF purely local character, and many
of them merely personal, and properly sub
jects for the county cour is commissioners. The
Constitution should be amended to confne
this immense mass of petty legislation within the
county where it originated where the parties are
known. and where evidence is accessible Such
amendment would remove from the Legislature a
great source of annoyance and would confnc tn at
body to legislation of general character only
its legitimate sphere. The act recently passed by
the Senate regulating the carrying of baggage by
railroads, allows each passenger hundred
pounds of baggage, not over three hundred d OIL
lars in value, for which the company shall be re-
sponsible if said baggage is placed in the baggage
ear, but the company is not liable fo~ any article
taken by the passenger into the in which he
is riding.