The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-11-29


object, differences of opinion, as in all
cases of new inquiries may be expect
ed. One may have one project, and an
other, another. In n time of inquiry,
of movement in the public mind, it is
not well, and it is not TO be expected,
that all minds should run in the same
channel and that out of the inquiries
which individuals enter upon, the same
ultimate proposition should be evolved
by each. How will we then obtain
representation in government of the
entire mass of the people? Let us
come to that question, and in coming to
1t inquire into the several plans or pro-
jects which have been suggested to So
cure this object. They may be classed
under three heads. In the first place,
it has been proposed in various forms
that by law there should be restricted
or limited mode of voting. Again, it
has been proposed that the elcctor, in
all elections of representatives and Of
other officers where more than onearc to
be chosen, may bcstow his votes upon Il
smaller number than the whole; in
other words, he may exercise what is
known az the Cumulative Vote.
Again, there has been proposed in Great
Britain, and claboratcly defended in
Niit NOulitiy, W ilstt 10 Nti!'' tIlt ~ SUM
of Personal Representation, by which
an clector shall be cmancipated from
the ordinary bonds and trammcls of
party organization, and shall be as an
individual and not a. Il member of Il
party represented in Parliament or
other body of similar constitution.
Now, as to the first of these, that Is
the limited or restricted votc--I use
these words because | have none more
expressive or convenient at hand-as to
this first or limited vote: When you
pass to your places of election and pro-
cced to choose for yourselves the ClcC-
ton officers who shall hold elections
during the year in your several clcc-
ton districts, what do you do?
Each clcCtOr votes for one inspector,
and yet two are chosen. Here is lin
itation upon the voter. Instead of vut-
ing for both the law says that he shall
vote for but one. What is the practical
result throughout the State under this
law? Why, that one inspector belongs
to the majority party in each election
district, and the other belongs to an OPP
posing one. In other words, both the
parties into which our political society
is ordinarily divided, are represented
in the election boards. Thus you secure
representation of the entire mass of
electors, and yet you secure it by linn
itatiOn upon the votes of Individual
electors.
What has been the practical result OF
0is arrangement, which Is found in
your State election law of 1889? Has
the result been good or bad? Why,
there is not man who hears me, or an
intelligent, honorable citizen in this
| 4 =, ,hn
"shamen if that law We're repealed. Ii
is II law by which elections are kept
comparatively pure; by which frahd is
prevented, and fairness is secured to the
citizen in polling his vote.
| | believe in this city, when you come
to choose assessors in your scvera
wards, those interesting persons who
have control over your pockets, laugh
ter, who take valuations of your prop
erty, whose action as public officers i
most interesting to you, each electO
votes for one, and yet two are selected
In this case you are secured, | presume
against partiality and injustice in tn
administration Of the tax laws by di
viding these officers between politica
parties.
am told also that in selecting you
school directors each school divisio
or ward has twelve directors, VIII
have charge of your school system--on
third, that is four, elected in each yea
In voting, each elcctOr votes for bl
three, so that it ordinarily happens ths
the fourth man chosen each year wi
be of d itlercnt opinion politically froI
the majority of his fellow directors
will represent in the government of tn
school district one kind Of opinion
while the greater number of his co
leagues Will represent another.
At the last session of your State Legi
laturc II law was passed which took iroi
the commissioners of counties and shel
ifs, the selection of jurors for the sevel
al courts throughout the Common
wealth. Great complaints were mad
in this matter, especially in the interiC
of the State. You had particular III
rangement in this city, which has NJ
!. been disturbed, to wit: the selection {
jurors by the judges Of the severe
courts, in order to insure impartialit
and fairness, and prevent the intrusiO
of political interests or passions in tn
. selection OF your jurors. But in the il
terror the duty of selecting jurors, ,whic
mis.ioners and the sheriils of the se> e.
,
, session of the Legislature, and coniidc
, to two officers in each county, who al
to be called jury commissioners. I'll
President Judge of each County h;
, some function or duty in connectio
with these oilices-it is somcwh,
, doubtful what it is-thc law W.
! badly drawn-but substantially Il
. power of selection heretofore exercise
by the ordinary officers Of countic
, to whom ] have referred, is now
d. be csnfided to these jury commission
, erS.
How are they to be chosen? As
[ the case of inspectors OfclectiOn, Whel
. one candidate alone is voted for hut tN
: are to be chosen. BY this means ii is
| be supposed that there will be fairnc
4, in the selection Of Jurors throughOl
3, the State, and the abuses which haN
t heretofore prevailed will be remov,
n from our systcm--thc abuse that in II
II publican counties Democratic citilcl
!, were excluded to an unreasonable g!
II tent, from the jury-hoX, and that ON Il
?. other hand, in Democratic counties, II
IS publican jurymen were unrcasonnb
s excluded.
n Here again is limitation upon Il
c clcctor. He shall vote for but one
o these oiiic,xs, who are to select the m'
y who may sic upon questions which !
Is late to his life, TO his property, or to |
If reputation, and yet by this limltati
fuller representation of the people NJ
i fairness in trials are secured. | thil
l. that n much wiser arrangement mig
n have been made than that. If | Ii
4. possessed power to mould this law up
j. this subject, would have simp
le changed the mode in which coun
l. commissioners are chosen. wou
= have had them selected upon the pr
e. ciple of the cumulative vote (which
% will presently eYplain,l or upon I
lr principle of the limited vote. We wol
D. have obtained substantially, in that W
" the same result without two additic
n al officers, and without certain ncon'
es niences which attend upon the exist
Y. law. But the object was laudable, n
n, the effect which will be produced
lv that law VIII be salutarS. Pnhlic Op
| l,,I = IA h IA