New-York tribune., 1875-05-15
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE OLD NORTH CHURCH BEACON.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The Centennial anniversary Of the hanging
Of the two lights in the belfry OF the old North
Church has passed, but it has passed with such
spirit of patriotism that all the world should hearo
Thousands of people filed every street leading to
the church land such class of people as any city
would be proud Of, their eyes sparkling with enth-
srasm. Imagine cultivated refined, and intellectual
Athens in such hubbub as this. Ihe patriotic
spirit which there revived will never be forgot
ten by all who witnessed 1t. May it never be forgot
ten, and may the next 100 years bring us as many
blessings as the past, and may those two lights burn
in the same belfry and revive the same spirit.
Boston, May 10, 1875. PAUL REVERE.
A SUBSTITUTE FOR CUMULATIVE VOTE.
OUTLINE OF A NEW SCHEME OF MINORITY REPRE-
sESTATIoN.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Your late editorial on cumulative and indie
pendent voting prompts me to ask the publication
Of new scheme, designed rs a substitute for the
cumulative vote. | have embodied it IN the plan OF
a bill which follows:
Whenever voter shall record himself at the registry
o. ms district wl.In V ays 5f 600 voters
his shall be marked with number, device or es
naton which the said association has agreed and Al
the time Of election his ballot stamped on the ou,sdeo
correspond shall be forwarded 70 a bureau or eEcuOn
The receipt this bureau OF 5000 ballots stamped
in the shall be legal evidence Of the e1is
tence OF the association and the candidate having te
plurality OF votes shall Dc declared memDer-atarge VI
the Assembly.
c. deocalized voter may join another combination or
reon his local district within the thirty days Immediately
following an election.
d Fluctuations in the vote Of combination SHAH NOT
affect its right to representation unless the number OF
ballots fall below 5000 In this it shall not DC
represented until it casts again the normal quota OF
5000 ballots.
G At the close Of the thirty days following election
each Registrar shall advise the Bureau of Elections OF the
number OF local voters within the district When this
number falls below 1900 the bureau shall break up the
district and appOrtion II among surrounding districts.
In this both the delOcalized and local voters
shall register in the new local districts according to local
ty OF residence.
o. All voters shall register and rsidepce at each
election within the 80 days preceding No voter sh De
allowed TO deOcaze his vote or change bis combination
at this time.
h. Four combinations may unite for the election Of
State Senator or Congressman The evidence OF suen
uniOn shall be the receipt ~ the state Capitol Of 10000
ballots stamped with the same four numbers or
designations. The candidate shall be elected from them
by plurality.
denominate this scheme the combination ballot
plan, aud claim for it the following advantages over
all others heretofore proposed, including the eumu
latye," "list" and preferential" plans:
l. 1t admits OF a trial OF minority representation with
ont the abolition OF the present system.
. Ii admits OF gradual transition from one 50 Nem to
the other.
B. the ultimate Of voting reform by
placing t practical application entirely IL the hands OF
A. It realizes at once the IDEAL Of calling into united
political activity the most Intelligent ana. therefore,
most scattered voting class
D. 1t openly requires rs preliminary what all other
plans he preferential ncluded involve indirectly ~
resul:-that IL. organized quotas
g. Ii avoids that development OF the caucus system
which these organized quotas, as obliged 10 vote una-
imousy, will nfalliby promote
Z. l. does not PROFOUND II mathematical puzzle tO the
voter WILLIAM HENRY GooDYEAR.
No sos West rrent-thtrd st., Ner York, May 4, 1878.