The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-07-16


parts of the Commonwealth. 1t has
said to the legislators "Whatever
rules you establish in this matter shall
affect the rights of all your urconstituents
alike. Although on other subjects YOU
may adopt the policy of local legisla-
iton on this most important one of elee-
tions your laws shallibe equal"
The violation of this fundamental
article of the Declaration OF Rights in
the act of April II, 1869, now under
consideration, is patent and undis-
guised. The first seventeen sections
are general, and appear to provide for
all parts of the Commonwealth. But
the eighteenth section declares that
"None of the foregoing provisions of
this act shall apply to the city of Phil
adelphia, excepting sections twelve
and thirteen" !" Sections twelve and
thirteen relate only to naturalization
in court. The remaining sections, ex-
cept the nineteenth, twentieth and
thirty y-eighth, which are immaterial as
to this question, apply exclusively to
the city of Philadelphia. They estab-
lish an entirely different system. No
one can deny that if this act goes into
operation we will have one code of
election laws for the city of Philadel-
phia, and an entirely different one for
all the other parts of the State.
| do not pretend to say that there
may not be some varieties of local leg
islation on this subject-looking to the
convenience of the citizens Of different
sections such as are merely modal
For example, in some places addition
al officers may be necessary, and the
time and mode of counting the votes
and making returns may be different !;
so Of the manner in which the tickets
shall be voted: whether in separate bal
lots or OtherWise-thet times of opening
and closing the polls, and other minor
details OF the same character. A diff
ferent system is, indeed, absolutely re-
quired in the case of persons voting
while in actual military service at a
distance from their usual place of cleo
ton, but this difference is especially
authorized by the amendment of the
Constitution of 1864. | do deny, how
ever, that such differences as | shall
now proceed to enumerate are of this
modal character. | think the mere
statement of them will be enough to
show that they are material and funda-
mental-seriously affecting the rights
of the electors-affording facilities in
the one system which are not afforded
in the other.
l. By what | shall term the general
system-meaning that provided for
the State generally, the officers of the
election are chosen as heretofore, by
the electors of each election district
In Philadelphia they are to be appoint
ed by board composed of the alder
men of the city-persons chosen by the
several wards for the performance of
entirely different duties.
2. BY the general system the asses
sors are bound to assess all persons
claiming that privilege at any time up
to the tenth day before the election.
In Philadelphia no assessment can be
made after the twentieth day of Sep
tember in every year.
3. BY the general system the asses
sors are bound to assess all who claim
a right to vote. In Philadelphia they
are to assess only those who are quail
fed voters at the time of the assess
ment, and must annex their affidavit
to the lists that every person whose
name is contained therein is aqualified
eIector, having a fixed residence in the
division to the best of their knowledge,
information and belief.
4. BY the general system a person
whose name is not on the assessors
list may prove his qualification on the
day of elections at the polls. In Phil
adelphia ne is required to make such
proof, at least ten days before the elec-
tion, and to different tribunal-the
division CanVaSsers.
). BY the general system the claim
ant of vote may prove his residence
by any one qualified voter ofthe dis
trict. In Philadelphia he is required
to make such proof, in addition to his
own oath or affirmation, by the affida-
Wit of two qualified voters of the divis-
ion, whose names are contained in the
assessorS' division transcripts, under
the head of private hOuseholders.
g. BY the general system, in Older
to prove payment Of taxes, the tax re-
ceipt need not be produced, if the af1i-
ant shall state in his affidavit that it
has been lost or destroyed, or that he
if his name is not on the original asses
sorS' list, the tax receipt must be pro-
duced, and, in addition proof made
by satisfactory evidence that the tax
has been paid to the proper person au-
thOriZed TO receive it.
Z. BY the general system the asses
sOrs are to place upon their list and as
sess all persons claiming right to
vote, without any regard to their con-
dition or station in society. Ia Phila
delpbia they are forbidden to assess orig
inally any person boarding at any ho
tel, tavern, sailors clearinghouse or
any person who has not q fixed resi-
dence in the district.
s. By the general system, The right
of any person claiming to vote, may
be challenged at the polls, by the quail
flied voter. In Philadelphia no voter,
whose name is registered, can be chaI-
lenged at the polls on any question of
residence.
8. BY the general system persons of
foreign birth, who have declared their
intention to become citizens under the
act of Congress, and who design to be
naturaliZed defore the next election,
may be assessed. IN Philadelphia no
one actually naturalized on or before the
twentieth of September can be assess
ed.
| may be allowed to remark here, in
passing, the author Of the general sys-
tenn seems, accidentally, to have over
looked the fact that two classes of per-
sons Of foreign birth might become cit
liens before the election by naturaliza-
ton without having declared their in
tention, to wit: minors who arrived
in the country under eighteen years,
and soldiers honorahly discharged
from service in the army of the United
States.
10. BY the general system, the assess
ment on the person can only be per-
sonal tax under the act of Assembly of
April ID, 1884, section 4, {pamph, l.. 522),
which heretofore in this city and / be-
lieve, elsewhere throughout the State,
has been put at twenty-five cents. In
Philadelphia there Is special election
tax of fifty cents imposed on each voter