Litchfield enquirer., 1877-09-13
ss ualnorstv Representation Consti-
 eueiOnaI?


 Ouits c lively newspaper discussion has gsoxn up regarding the constitution aliEy sa4hs law Passed by the recent leg islasura restricting the voter at town elec- tious fron placing on his ballot more thnn bazB maiority of the selectmen, as- sssurs, and boards of relief to be chosen. The diasnszi0n began with letter m the COar.nt of September 1st from Roger Wells, Esq., maintaining that the law in question is in c0utravention of the pro- vision of our constitution which requires that, flaws shall be made to support the privilege of free suffrage" "Free sui fraes- hs considers the right of every sleetor tO vote for every person to be chosen upon board of town officers. The Nea Haven Democratic papers fall in at once with Q vlev so strongly in accord ance with the local interests of their par ty. Mr. F. s. Brown, chairman of the Dsmoerakic State committee, also issues . circular to Heading lawyers" asking their opinions and plainly indicating that hlsomu is hostile to the measure. It must be noted, however. that he bases his opposition on the section of the con stitnsion which provides that Each town ahall annna1ly elect selectmen, and such oelDsrs of local police. as the laws may pusssribe." -.
 xmRsa- .h.~. ,1x:a.&;o,,s ara ;noan;or1a vs ean hardly consider them sound. Our lsgizlaturs hes supreme power except where that power is limited by the con stitatiOn. Is minority representation in. support Of. or restriction upon. "the privilege of free snffrageF' Take the com mon instance presented at every one of our ..lItsls town meetings." A board of say-live sslectmen is to be chosen. Under the old law majority of three-ffths of ths vUsers selected the entire board. Un- dss the new law the majority elect the three selsctmeu. and the minority the two. to which their respective numbers would entikss then. Which is ''free suffrage" ths plan that attxibates no value to two- Rfths of the votes cast. or the one that allows them their just weights
 Nor does the section of the constitution requiring towns to elect selectmen and Osher officers of local police at all restrict the power the legislature has always ex. sruissd of prescribing the mode of their elseIso0. a- -.g .IaH
 We are most surprised, however, that the papeEa should treat the ''limited vote" as . novelty among us. Since 1872 our achool vi1itoEs have all been chosen on the sams plan nov extended to other town boaraa More important still, the limited vOts b the vital principle of all our re- cent ruglstEy laws. under which the regis trars of voters are chosen on the precise plan nov objected to as unconstitutional. If that objection can be sustained. what sort 0f fairnesss could we expect from board of registration both members of which the majority would have 6 consti- tufi0nal night tO selects ID.
 N is also objected that, in Pennsylvania and Illinois. minority representation eoald snly be reached by constitutional amsBdmenk If we correctly understand the measures adopted in those states. they had reference to elections previous. Iy FegalAted by specific constitutional provisions. which. as matter of course, could not be changed by mere act of leg islature.
 One thing is certain; maiorities will in- cur pretty heavy risk if they disregard the provisions of the new statute. Every vote having more names upon it than the law allows must be rejected; and the ma- iority may find themselves in Q minority On town boards as penalty for grasping for more than they can justly hold.