The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-04-07
L A w =
United STATES
PASSED AT THE
THIRD SESSION OF THE FoRTY-FIRST
CONGRESS-.
GENERAL NATURE-No. 34.l

in The several States OF this Union and tor other
purposes
BE It enacted bg the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatpes of the United States Of america in Cor,
oress assembled, That section twenty OF he Act "
enf rec the rights OF citizens OF the United a.e r
vote the several States OF this Union, heen
other purposes" approved Maythirty-one, IL.
hundred and seventy, shall be, anu he' |
amended SO as to Iead as oow s,,aced That il any
registration OF voters Tor an election ~ the United
ative delegate in the G 0ns personate and
sis,, any ,temnt to register, in the came OF any
other person, whether iV fr1ss,nIentiv attempt to
nt having lawful right SO to do; or do
any unlawful act 10 secure regstraion lor himself
r anv other person; or by Iorce threat menace,
q. a aJion bribery, reward, Offer, promise
Hereof or other unlawful means prevent hinder
duiy exercising such right or compel or induce by
any OF such means, or other unlawful MEANS any
officer of registration to admit 20 registration any
person not legally entitled thereto or neriere IN
any manner with any officer OF registration in the
discharge of his duties, or by any such means or
other unlawful means induce any officer of regis
traton TO violate or refuse to compy with his duty
or any law regulating the same; or if any such Off
Ger shall knowingly and wilfuliy register as a voter
any person not entitled to be registered refuse TO
80 register any person entitled to be regisered or
any lch OF ec personiw hose dlty it is to
TO perform any duiy in relation to such registration
or election or ascertain. announce or declare the re-
suit thereof, or give or make any certificate, docu-
meDt, evidence in relation thereto, shall knowing
" neglect or refuse to perrm any duty required by
law, or violate any duty imp sed by law, or do any
act Unauthorized by law relating 10 or affecting such
registration election, or the result thereof, or any
certificate document evidence In relation there
to- or 1t any person shall and, counsel, procure,
auyise any such voter, person or officer to do any
act hereby made a crime, or to omit any act the
omission OF which is hereby made a crime every
such person shall be deemed guilty of a crime, and
shalt be liable to prosecution and pun shment there
for as provided IN section nineteen Ut said act OF
NAV thirty-oue, eighteen hundred and seventy, Tor
persons guilty oil any of the crimes therein speci-
hed: Provided That eyerv registration made under
he az uf State Ot TeCrltD v at anr
other electio at which such Representative or Del
gate in Congress shall be chosen, shall be deemed
De egi tration within the meaning OF this act,
notwibsta ldns The same shall aso be Lade tor the
tion'
Sic. 2. And belt further enacted, That whenever
In any city or town having upward OF twenty ,hOu-
sand inhabitants there shall be two citizens thereof
who, 10 anv registration of voters for an cleo
ton Tor Representative Delegate in The Congress
o. the United ates or prior to any election at
which Representative or Delegate in congress is to
be voted tor, shall make known, ia writing. to
the jrdge of The circuit court OF The United States
Tor this circuit wherein such city town shall be-
tion or both, guarded and scrut'nized 1t shall be
the duty the said Judge of the circuit cour, with
IN less than days prior to salo gistration if
one there be- or, il no registration be required with
in less than ten days prior to saiu election to
open the said Icut court at the most convenient
point in said circuit. And the said court when so
opened by said iud =. shall proceed 2ppoiut and
commission. If m day day ami from time to time,
and under the hand OF the said circuit judge, aud
tict voting prec net in each andevery such city
town as hall, in the manner herein pre- scribed,
have arpeo therefor and to revoke, change or re-
said appoint ment II ON time to time citizens,
residents OF said city Town, who shall of fer
ent political parties and able 10 read ana write the
English language, and who shall be known and des-
ignated as supe visors OF election. And the said
clrrui court, when opened by the said circuit judge
required herein, shall therefr0m and the eater,
and up 10 aud Including the day following the day
OF election, be always open Tor the transaction OF
business under this act, and the powers and jurs-
dicton hereby granted and conferred shall be exer-
cised as well in vaca' lou as IN term time; and a
judge sitting at chambers shall have the same DOW
ers and jurisdi ton including the power of keeping
ordai anu OF nuui hing any contempt of his author
tty. wheD 81 tin in court
SEQ. 5. Ana Ue aJurther enacted, That whenever,
from sickness, jury, otherwise. the ju &c OF tie
ci cut court OF The United States in any judicial
circu shall be unable to perform and disc ~rge the
duties by this imposed, IL shall be his duly and
he is hereby r,qul ed, to select and 10 direct and
gu The perfoi nance thereof, in his place and
stead, sn one OF the ju ges of the district courts
OF the United tales within bis circuit he shall
deem uest and upon such selection and asst gnment
beng made 1t shall be iawiu, ior, and shall be the
duty Of the dis!ric, judge SO desgna'ed perform
and discharge in he place and Stead of the said cir
cult Judge. all the duties. powers and obligations
in posed AM conterren on the said circuit judge
by he provisi ms uf this act
Sic. a. And be 1T rurtter enacted. That it shall be
the duty of the SUPERVISORS OF electioD appointed
der this act and they and each of thr m are he v
authorized and required. to aue at all times and
places fixed for The registration Ct voters who being
registered, would be entitled 10 vote for Repre-
any person Offering to register to attend at all
times and places wheL The names OF registered
voters may be marked for challenge, and 10 cause
such names registered as they shall deem proper 10
be so market; 10 maze, when required the iisIs, or
either OF them, provided for in section thirteen of
this act, and verify the same; and upon any occa-
sion aud at any time when in tendance under the
provisions OF this act, to personally inspect and
scrutlnlze sub registry and Tor purposes OF identi
fcaton 10 af6x their or his signature to each and
every page of the original list and OF each and every
copy OF any such list of registered vo ers at such
fi.t.na anah boz.
be received entered registered and In such man
ner as will in their or bis judgment, tect and ex-
pose the improper or wrongful r. moval tberefr m,
adiiton thereto in any way, OF any name or names
SEC. 8. And be tt FURTHER enacted, That it shall
also be the duty OF the sail supe visors election
and they, and each OF them, are hereby authorized
and II quireu TO attend at all times and places for
holding elections of Representatives or Delegates
in Congress- and for counting the votes cast at said
elections; to challenge any vote offered by any per-
son whose legal qualifications the SUP ervisors or
either of them, shall DOUBT; to be and remain
where the ballot boxes are kept at times after the
polls open until each and every vote cast at said
time and place shall be counted, the canvass of all
votes polled be wholly completed, and the proper
and requisite certificates or returns made, whether
said Ger ifcates returns be requi, ed under any
law OF the Sta es any Slate, territorial or
municipal law, an to personally inspect scru-
tiDize, from time TO time, and at all tnes OIL the
day or election the manner in which the voting is
done, and the way and me hod in which the OIL
books, regstry-lsts ami taies or check books
whether The same are requh ed by any law of he
United aies, ot ans State, terrtor.a, municipal
law are kept and TO the end thar each candidate Tor
the office OF Representative Delegate in congress
shall OBJ ain the benefit If every for him cast
the sai superb ors OF election and each of tn EN-
is, hereby required in their his respective cleo.
ton districts OF voting incts personally scru-
tinize, count and canvass ch and every ballot in
their or his election district or voting precinct cast
whatever may De the endorsement on said ballot OF
in whatever box it may have been placed or be
found; to make and forward to the officer who in
accordance with the provisions section thirteen q
this act shall have been DESIGNATED the chief su.
pervisor OF the judicial district in which the city
W. Ut h1r in HOY ha hall N
ceIt hcates aud returns OF all such ballots as said
officer may direct and require and 10 attach TO tbe
registry list and any ana all copies thereof and to
aoy certificate, statement return, whether the
same, or any part or portion Thereof required by
any law OF the United States, OF any State ter
Iltorial, or mum ipal law any statement touching
the truth or accuracy OF the registry, or the truth
or fairness OF the election and canvass which tue
said super visors OF election or ether Of them NAV
desire to m axe or attach or which should properly
and honestly be made or attached in order that The
facts may becum1 known. any law of any tate or
territory to The Intrarv nolwi hstaudi
SEC. 6. Aud be further enacted That the better
to ena lie the said supervsorso election 10 discharge
thorzed and directed in their or his # snec se
ton districts Or voting p ecincts, on the diy OF
days OF .eglsratlon on the day days when regis
tered voters may be marked to be challenged and on
the day or days OF election to take, occupy and re-
main IN such position or positions, from time to
time, whether before or behind the ballot boxes a,
will. their judgment best enable them or him to
SEES each person Offering inset for registration or
ofering 10 vote. and as will best conduce to their
tration or vo IN is being cood ctei; and, al The
clio Ding ut the polls atoI The reception OF yotes.
they are. and each Of them is, hereby required f.
place fhcmse Yes OF himself in such position in re-
lation 10 the baot-boxes for the pun pose of en-
gazing in the work OF canvassing the bal OTIS in said
boxes cont aimed as will enable them OF him To fulv
perform the duties in respect to such canvass Dro
slded IN ihs act, an shall there main until every
duly in respect to such canvass certlfiraes renrns
and statements shall have been wholly cempleted
any law OF any State or Territory to the contrary
SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That if in anv
election district voting precinct in any civ tow,
OF VIII ge for which there shall have been APPOINTED
supervisors OF election for any election at which
represent itive or delegate in Congress shall he
Voteu ior me SAID Supervisors of election or etar
OF tDem shall not be allowed to exercise and dis
cnarge iuy ano freely, aud wi houl bribery SO ieta
ton, interior ence, hudraDce, moIestatiop Violence
or threats the part OF or from apy nerson
or persons eacn ana every OF The dutes obligations
acc hereby amended, it shall be the dutv of tba en-
prvsofs OF election and each them to make
report under oath, within ten 1a,s afler the 40 y IF
oN9on 70 Tue omcer who, in accordance with the
provisions OF section thirteen of this act shall no
seen aes gnated as the chief supervisor of the in
uIc,di uistrlct IN which the CITY or Town wherein
ey 81 ne served shall be, of the manner and means
~ mnicn they were. or he was, not so aIIowed
70 iuiiy aud freely exercise and discharge tbe nU
anu oplleauons required and imposed nv this act |
dntu a G any such report it shall be the
10y vi Ine saiu chef supervisor ACTING hotb in
sucn capacity and officially MS a comm ssionep ~ an
court 70 forthwith examine into ali the facts
thereof; 10 subpoena compel the attendano atos
foe him OF any Witnesses; adm nists. na9h De,
take testimony in respect to the charges mada anu
prior to the assembling of the Congress tor wbinb
to have filed with thu Clerk of the House o P ,oa,
sentatyes of the Congress OF the United States ali
the evidence by him taken, all information by him
obtained, and all reports to him m ade. -'iN
SEC s. And be 1t further enacted That, whenever
an election at which Representatives or Delegates in
Congress are to be chosen shall be held in any city