The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-10-23
The Powers ofFederal Supervisor,

are busy in this city and Throughout
the United States in appointing super.
visors Of election to officiate from nov
till after the s5th Of November r1exf.
As the powers Of these fellows are
widely osefrated We propose to give
the exact facts of the case. In the frat
place let us consider the powers which
lit Is claimed by Che Administration
they possess. We have before us 4
pamphlet set of instructions to Feder,l
supervisors, from which it appears that
they are expected to make a Est Of ali
persons registering, obtaining from
each person his name for thfs purpose:
To take q position behind the railing IL
the registration Office or behind the
ballot-boxes when voting is going on;
to connt and canvass every vote cast,
and to forbid any State inspector to
count or canvas any ballots az the
time this is going on; to indorse on
the registry books, poll lists, tallies,
check. books, certificates, statemeuts
or returns made by the State officers
any statements as to their fairness
which to them. the supervisors, may
seem 1T; to order deputy Snarshals to
make arrests; to make arrests them
selves when no deputy is by; to per.
sonal)y examine every house in their
districts to verify registration and to
see to it that they do not allow them.
selves, under any circumstances, to be
interfered with by State law or State
officers. 5 ~ ~
The Federal election lao az It nov
stands gires no Uarrant sohatsoerer for
any Of these claims. Every ane ofthese
asserted powers, it should be clearly
understood, is in direct violation Of the
act Of Congress approved June 10, 1872,
supplementing and amending the cleo.
ton law OF February 90, 1871. The
final proviso to said amendatory act
reads: "That the supervisors herein
provided for shall have no power or
authority to make arrests or to perform
other duties than to he in the imme.
date presence of the officers holding
the election. and to witness all their
proceedings, including the counting Of
the votes and the making return
thereof" ftifa 1.2F Is
1t will be remembered that when an
effort was made at the last session Of
Congress to inject into the general APP
preparation actsa provision extending
the election act of February %, 1877,
to every voting precinct in the United
States, the Democratic members in the
House and Senate resisted desperately,
and, though unsuccessful in warding
of the entire wrong, deprived il of
much ofits venom by insisting on and
carrying three amendments first, that
the supervisor must be qualified
voter Of the district in which he was
appointed to act; second, that no com.
pensatian should be allowed any su.
persisor except those appointed in
cities or towns of twenty thousand or
more Inhabitants; and, third, that SUI
wrvisors should have no other powers
than "to he in the immediate presence
of the officers holding the election, and
to witness all their proceeding
In view of this plain provision the
assumed functions of the Federal super
visors who have been SO freely appoints
ed Of Fate are assumptions merely, and
any attempt at their exercise can be
safely resisted. No man can be law
fully made to give his name to any in
curing supervisor; any supervisor at
tempting to pry into citizens dwell
ling can and should be elected like any
other intruder; any arrest by SUPER
visor, either in person or by his in
structions to marshal, is in law an
assault and battery, and the assailant
may not only be tiled therefor but may
be sued for false imprisonment; and
any supervisor seeking to handle bal
lot boxes or ballots, orlto cou3t or di.
rect the counting Of ballots, or to write
upon the registry books, tally lists, etc.
exceeds his powers, and is bare,
, naked offender against not only the
|, State but even the Federal election
} laws. The powers of these Federal
supervisors, once more let it be un-
derstood, extend-ns further than to be
in the immediate presence of the State
election officers and able to witness
their proceedings. A seat just outside
the railing and within seeing distance
of the ballot-boxes or a perch on some
: commanding wiudow.sill il all thatth
t supervisors can demand aud Allthat II
! is legally incumbent on others to sup
. ply. They cannot arrest; they cannot
finger bal'ot-boxes, ballots, or tally
h lists; they cannot demand names o.
. search houses. Their duty is simply
], to see what is going on, SO as to be
confpetent witnesses in case any Illegal
: ity occur.-N. Y. World.
81 II Look out for the next Democrat
ell --~---~--o IS