The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-10-30
Number Is.
The Powers efrederal Supervisors.

The partisans Of the Administration
are bnsy in this city and throughout
the United States in appointing super
vis"rs If election to officiate from now
till after the 5th Of November next.
Az the powers of these fellows are
widely overrated we propose to give
the exact facts Of the case. IN the first
place let us consider the powers which
ii ia claimed by the Administration
they possess. We have before us q
pamphlet set of in etrsc.ions ia Federal
supervisors, from which il appears that
they are expected to make a list ofalt
persons registering, obtaining from
each person his name for this purpose;
10 take a position behind the railing in
the registration office or behind the
ballot boxes when voting is going on;
to count Hnd canvass every vote cast,
and t" forbid any State inspector to
count or canva>s any ballots at tho
time this is going on;- to indorse on
the registry books, poll lists, ITALICS,
check. books, certificates, statements,
or returns made BY the State officers
any statement as 10 their fairness
which to them, the supervisors, may
seem fit; 10 order deputy marsl,als to
make arrests; to make arrests them
selves when II" deputy is by; to per-
sonally examine every honse in their
districts to verify reg stration !; and to
see to it that they do not allow them-
selves, under any circumstances, to be
interferea with by State law or State
officers. s
Tile Federal election la,s as it now
stands gires no ,carrGnt arhatsocrer for
any Of these claims. Every one of these
asserted powers, it should be clearly
understood, is in direct violation of the
act Of Cangress approved June 10, 1872,
experimenting aud amending the cleo
ton law OF February %, 1871. The
final proviso to said amendatory act
reads: "That the supervisors herein
provided for shall have 60 power or
authority to make arrests or to perform
other duties than to be in the inme-
date presence of the officers holding
the election. and to witness all their
proceedings, including the cornting Of
the votes and the making q return
thereof ....... ea4a,..,,
1t will be remembered that when an
effort was made at the last session Of
Congress to inject into the general app
preparation act a provision extending
the elections act of February 20. 1871,
to every voting precinct in the United
States, the Democratic members 10 the
Honse and Senate resisted desperately,
and, though unsuccessful in warding
off the entire wrong, deprived it of
much Of it's venom by insisting on and
carrying three amendments fist, that
the supervisor must be q qualified
voter Of the district in which he was
appointed to act second, that no COM
pensatinn should he allowed any su-
pefvisor except those appointed in
cities or towns of twenty thousand or
more inhabitants; and, third, that su-
pervisors should have no other powers
than ''to be in the immediate presence
ofsle officers holding the election, and
to witness all their proceeding
In view oftlIis plain provision tito.
assumed functions of the Federal super.
visors who have been SO freely appoint
ell of late are assumptions merely, and
any attempt at their, exercise can be
safely resisted. No man can be law
fully made t" give his name to any in
quirins supervisor; any supervisor att.
tempting 70 pry intaa citizens, dwell
ling can and shonld be elected like any
other intruder; any arrest hy;a super.
visor, either in person or by his in
structions ~ a marshal,3is in E,M an
assanlt and battery, and ne assailane
may not only be triedthereSr bnt may
be sued for false imprisonment; aud
any supervisor seeking to handle bal
lot-boxes or ballots, OF To count or di-
rect the counting Of ballots, or to write
upon the registry BOOKS, tally lists. etc.
exceeds his powers, and is a bare,
naked offender against not only tho
State bnt even che Federal election
laws. The powers Of these Federal
supervisors, once moro let it be UNI
derstood, extend no further than to DO
in the immediate presence of the Stats
election efScers and able to witness
their proceedings. A seat just outside
the railing and within seeing distance
of the ballot-boxes or perch on some
commanding window sill i. all that tho
super, isors can demand and all that ID
is legally incumbent on others to spp.t
ply. They cannot arrest: they cannot
finger bal'otsboxes, ballots, or sally
lists; they cannot demand names or
search houses. Their duty is simply
to see what is going on, SO. as to be-
competent witnesses in case any illegal
ity occur.-~N. Y. World. q
V Gents Erenrh Rubber Tn;lAt,