, 1874-03-18

The recent election In New Hampshire will
probably result In tue partial exposure Of ono Of
tho grenteBt abuses under our Government, and
TINT III tho uao Of public money for the control
Of elections. Tho piscataqua niycr forms tho
boundary botwcon tho States Of Maine and New
Hampshire. III this river ia all island which the
Government purchased somo yoars ago from the
state Of Maine On tho Maine side Of tho river
IL tho Town Of Kittery; on the Now Hampshire
side iB tho City Of Portsmouth, and on tho leland
is planted Navy Yard. The principal uae OF
this NavyYard is political; tllo public uso ig to
repair occasionally such vessels as may be sent
there. The number OF workmen for whom
thero is work docs not probably excoed
800, but on tho eve OF elections 1t rt,ns up to
1,000 or 1,500. The Navy-Yard is admirably To-
Gated to servo tho political wante Of two States.
mime holds hor elections in September and New
Hampshire In March Of each year. Tue olec-
tions in New Hampshire aro go close TINT this
Navy-Yard llas, aloue, probably "savod the
State several times. Aftor the election in
Mano, last September, thoro WAS large roduc-
ton Of tho working-forco IN tile Navy-Yard. In
january the local politicians in Now Namp-
sh,ro started out to tlnd worlmen; they selected
! Democrats or men who would not vote tho Re-
/ publican tcliot. They picked out nearly, II not
quito, 1000 Of these men, Of all trades and oc-
| cupations, md, according to tho Boston
Post, obtaining first SOLEMN proua'so to vote tho
Republican ticket III March, put them at work in
tho Navy-Yarl at an ayorago Of - each por
day. Men woro taken from, the farm and put
in the carpenter shops those taken from shovel
| ing gravel on tho railroads were put into tho
tinsmith'a department., and mon from tho shoe
factories wore put at boer-making. Fishermen
wero employed as painters, and masons and
teamstors wero enrolled as ship-buildors. So
ludicrous was the whole thing that it has boon
a standing Joke among the men employed
These extra thousand workmon, receiving 81 ,00(
aday, Of courao did no WORK thoy wore promised
sixty dnys' wages, and thoir principal
duty waB to voto tho Republican ticket
In March. Tho cost Of this job will not be lest
than s25o,00o. to bo paid out Of the nppropria
.tion tor Navy-YardB. Tho deficit Of tho Nav,
Department this year was 81 900 900. Some dayt
before the election there was Oil unpleasan
ruu1or TINT tho mon intended to voto as tho,
pleased. Immediate steps wore taken to proven
this on electiou-tlay. Tho mon were brough
over from the Nayy-Yard in boats; they wer
marched to headquarters, and thcre assorted
aud wero then led OF to tho several voting
rlacoa. Each man Was furnished with Bpecia
ticket, printed Oh a largo aquaro piece O
stin colorod paper, which could nc
bo mistaken, and these ballots. thu
marked and distinsuishable. they wore obliged t
, deposit in the boxes. Many tried to dodge. BIT
: they wero too closely watched. In ton days tiles
9 men will be discharged, and next September ii
samo thing will be repeated on the Maine side {
, tho river.
: This trick OF using tho Navy Yards to NAL
d yotors was tried iu California, whero each one
several thousand voters Ind to vote tiok
!; printed Oh pastoboard card, which could not |
folded. The resul. was that tho Logislatul
o prohibited the use Of any ballots OF that or al
,. kind that could be distinguished by their cello
, or which could not bo folded. It Ia likely th
= the Legislature Of Now Hampshire will interto
l. in like manner to prevent the repetition Of til
! abuRa