The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-04-26
The STATE Legislature


Did a good deal of important legisla-
tion on Thursday. In the House
thirty. eight new bills were intro
duced, aud the bill fixing sherifs'
mileage in taking convlcts to States
Prison passed. To the Senate the
General Appropriation bill was con
sidered, and several important amend
ments passed. The Election bill was
then taken up, read a third time, and
passed-yeas 26; nays 10. This bill
provides that hereafter all State and
County elections shall be biennial,
and postpones all elections until OetO-
Der, 1870. The bill is a most inn
portant one, and win result in saving
a large sum of money to the people.
The frequency with which elections
are held in our State has already
occasionsd much dissatisfaction. and
the proposed change will be accepted
by the people with satisfaction.
A discussion of some warmth was
had over House Bill No. $50. which
repeals certain sections OF the Regis
try Law. We copy from the State
Sentiners report Of the proceedings:
On motion OF Mr.. Robinson of
Madison, the bill LH. r. 1901 to re-
peal certain sections Of the Registry
| law, was read the third time by yeas
| 26 uaVs IL.
Mr.. Hanna moved to strike out all
that part of the bill which requires
the numbering of the ballot By the
inspector. He read from the Consti-
tuition to show that this clause was
in direct conflict with that instru.
ment.
Me- Robinson, Of Madison, knew OF
no better way to prevent fraud 10
elections, and did not believe the Con
| stitution would countenance fraud.
Mr. Bradley did not know that he
could add anything. more to the re-
marks Of Mr.. Hanna, which he in
dorsed, he hoped the amendment
would he adopted
Mr.. Bethany was of opinion. that i
the amendment was adopted there
would be no protection against fraud
in elections.
Mr.. Howk considered the provision:
of this bill in direct conflict with the
Constitution of the State, and that i
would be void under the decision Of
any fair minded Judge.
Mr.. Church had heard so many
constitutional objections that he some
times thinks be would like to live il
a country where there is no Constitu
ton, but he denied that this bill wal
in violation Of the Constitution.
Mr.. Smith favored the amendmen d
and opposed the bill.
Mr.. Hooper opposed the amend
meut and favored the passage of the
bill. He believed it would .tend tC
protect the ballet. box, and that i
did not conflict with the Constitution
Mr.. Carson considered this bill a
going beyond reason. / s was a bill
to expose the ballot box, and in tina
respect clearly unconstitutional. L
is doing a great evil to remedy an evi
that is only anticipated.
Mr. Scott knew of no constitutions
provision requiring the ballot to b.
secret.
Mr.. Hanna referred to the law il
| operation Tor many years past, WhlcE
Furnishes the marking OF tickets so a
to fiud out what persons cast them
If this bill were passed, any inspector
would be liable to punishment fol
numbering ballots, and could not bt
screened under an unconstitutlona
act of this body
The amendment was rejected, BY
yeas 10, nays p.
The bill was referred to the Judi
ciary Committee.
Mr.. Rice offered an amendment
which was referred with the bill
requiring the ballot box. after tn
votes are counted, to be locked anC
sealed, and deposited in the Auditor
office.
On motion of Mr.. Robinson 0
Madison, the bill { FL r. 1871 amend
ing section five of the township bust
ness act, prescribing the election 0
Township Trustees - biennially =
was read the second time and refer
red to the Committee on Elections.
All these bills are Of great import
ance, as they are designed to effect
radical change in our system of elect
ing township and county officers. A
the proposed changes are necessary