The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-02-05
Editor
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1874.
TEl GENERAL ELECTION LAW,

We print elsewhere the general elec-
zion bill as it goes to the Governor for
bis signature. 1t has the distinction OF
being the first law framed under the new
Constitution. We presume it is as fair
hnd non-partizan measure of the kind as
ever emanated from the Legislature, ond
amendments proposed were considered,
throughout the long discussions on the
bill, not on the basis of their political
bearings, but solely on the principal
whether they would subserve pure cleo
tions. 1t is barely possible there will be
bwindling under this bill, but go mani
fold are the guards contained in it, and
in the Constitution itself, that q CON-
munity that now tolerates electoral
frauds merits no better fate. 1t goes as
ar as any law should go, and If the
people OF any city are not capable oi tax.
ing some little part in defending their
rights, such communities deserve all
the oppositions OF the "rounder" and
"b2llox-box suffer" There have been
complaints Of frauds from Philadelphia
until the people have become nauseated
by them. If they are continued under
this law, the capacity Of that city for
selEgovernment will be questioned
Aside from the provisions necessary
to carry into effect the constitutional de-
fnitiou of the qualifications Of electors
and direct the conduct CT elections, there
are not many changes from the law Of
1869 with which our people are famil.
lar. The canvass Of the votes of the
county mus. be made rrder the direct
ion Of the Court of Common Pleas, on
the second Gay after the election. The
meeting oftho return judges is abolished,
This will be Objectionable in many parts
of the State, and is open to the general
criticism that it introduces INTO cur iu-
dicial system political questions which
will undoubtedly, at Intervals, strongly
excite the public mind. One thins is
certain, it will not elevate the judicial
standard in the State, this paking Of
our jud@cs the cusSodia1s and counters
Of election returns, and arbitrary Of the
POLITICAL disputes involved. But
tkis was a concession to Pii'a5oipiia to
enable that city to Iii itself Of that toun-
tain Of political inj4ui,7, It's Board Of
Return Judges, ard as such j: will have
TO be borne uu5il experience makes it SO
obnoxious to tie people Of the rural dis-
tricta that thoJ will demacl q return to
the old methods.
The annual registry Of voters made by
the ward and township assessors must be
made in Jua9, and completed with all
their corrections, 20 as 70 be returned TO
the County Commissioners two months
before the November elcction--shas is,
early iu September. This IS 10 carry
into eject the Constitutional provision
acquiring voters 10 be assessed tvo
months prior to tho election.
The penalties IN the law on fraudu-
lent attempts at voting, rio!ing at the
tolls, and On corrupt and laTioss cleo
ion officers, assessors and oversecrs, TO-
gethor with the stringent regulations
for administering oaths 10 judges and in
spectors (often neglected), with the
other provisions Of the bib, should give
the people OF the State fair elections, an
honest count, and true return. That's
all any body desires, ana no houest man
will be content With less.--Pittsbureh
Eveaing Tt!egrcph.