, 1873-11-02
Eclectic ticlet unanimously noxt Taoat1ny
Lyain hnn always boon deyoteo Of Tho Eclectic


DAN o'HARA's BLANK COMMISSIONS.
| Tho exposure which Inns bcon mule Of tho
praotico Of tho prosont Closls OF tho Criminal
oonrt (who Is likowso candtlate for tho Office
! Of City Troashror), IN igsufpg doputy'a commits
stona In b]anh, was yesterday noticed by Judge
Wflliana, tho presiding Judge Of tho Criminal
! Court. Mr. O'ffara stated tint lis chico Ind
boon pluulerod by a TTluuNE reporter, which
| WAS not true. Three blank oonsmiasions" Of
this sort ,yora brought to CTR office on Friday
/ night. Two Of thom wore obtained as political
| ward-nootinge In The uHual course Of reporting.
None OF tl,on1 yoro obtained from DIr. O'l1aras
of1lco. Judge Williams seems to llavo accepted
Mr. O'Haras explanation az perfectly satisfac-
tory.
Thoac commissions are probably iutondod to
10 used for qualifying men to swear III
voters at Tho polls who have neglected
to have their na,nea entorod on tho
registry-books. If deputy olorkB nro properly
md oi1lcialiy commissioned by the Olork, the np-
pointmonts for thia purpose are legitimate, and,
to ao,nc e1tent, necessary. But whom tlogo
commissions with ailidavita attachod aro issued
in blank, duly signod by tho Olorl and attested
by tho seal OF tho Court, The action Ia unlawful
anu dangerous. In iesuiug such commissions
Mr. o'Hara attcsts that man has appeared be-
foro him, las subscribed and sworn to certain
things, whom no such thing has occurred, and
when ho doos not oven know who will obtain the
commissions which lo lns thus officially attost-
cd. Wo do nos mean to intimate that Mr.
0'Hara is doing anything different In tie present
campaign from what he has loue in fortuar CAM
paigns, but tho action Is unlawful all tho sa,no,
and one for which hc might bo impeachoa. uo
deliberately tosi1cB in cach caso that man llas
como boforo him and sworn that he will properly
discharge his dutioa as deputy clerk, that he
has never fought q duol, accepted a challenge,
boen tho bearer OF d challenge, aud SO
on, whereas tue nan whoBo nana is filed
in the commission n,ny have dono all tho things.
and is not required to take lawful oath thas ha
will do Lis duty aB Deputy. It ia easy to SEQ
that tho practice is altogether roprohensiblo.
The danger is that the mon anong whom these
commissions are circulated may neglect thor
dutios and administer tho office OF deputy
clerk falsely, without mourning any of tho
penalties Which would have deterrod them
II they Ind taken their oath of ot1ico in due
form of law. Tho Deputy thus commissioned
for administering oaths at tho polla ia always in
tho employ OF the party furnishing him his CON-
mission and paying him for his work. If he utl-
deratanda that hia commission has boon irrogr,~
larry Issued, and that he cannot therefore be
holdon for neglect OF his duty, ho is not likely
to insist upon tho strict observance Of formali~
tics that clash with tho interests OF his employ
.ers. In this campaign, it ia gouorallY fclt that
there is necessity to guard against reckless and
Illegal voting in certain districts and Mr.
o'Ilara's issue Of blank commissions, tl,at may
be put In the Lands Of Tom, Dick, aud Harry, ls
eepecinlly to bo condemned Mt this time.