Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-27
United States Election Officers.

The employment OF special deputy marShalS
ard supervisors of elections in the late elections
seems to be misunderstood. There is a Suspi-
Cion among democratic members of congress
and Others that Attorney General DeyenS mis-
used these two Offices in the interest OF the re-
publican party, and that a deficiency to pay
item for their services exists in the Department
CT Justice Mr.. SOuthard introduced In the
House resolution calling on the Department
c1 Justice for information concerning the en-
pl0ynent OF deputy marShalS and supervisors
out IL went over upon an objection by Mr.. car
feld. The objection to the adoption of the reSO-
luton by republican leads many To the belief
that tie Attorney General would be put to
straits to answer the inquiry proposed. There
mas been no appropriation for paying SUPER
ViSOlS OF elections. but the fact that tney have
been employed leads many to believe that they
We're paid out of some fund not appropriated by
congress for that purpose. luGuiIy develops
the Fl CT that there is
A MISTAKE ALL AROUND
over the supervisors OF elections the head Of
the department of Justice has but very little
control He has nothing whatever TO do with
tEelr appointment. Sections 2oI1-20f2 Revised
statutes United States, direct that the Judges
or |. :. circuit courts shall, upon the applica-
ton CT citizens. open their court ten days prior
10 congressional elections and shall appoint
fer each election district OF Voting precinct two
citizens Of different political parties as super
Visors OF elections. This law is imperative. and
the [. :. circuit Judge has TO make the appoint
mentS when called upon without any reference
whatever TO the opinion of the Attorney Gene
raj These supervisors are under chief SUPER
NiSolS OF election, who are permanent officers
one 1of each Judicial district IN each judicial
circuit. The chief supervisors are always by
law selected from the l. s. circuit court com
mlSsloners; and are appointed by the circuit
Judges They render the accounts of the ey-
renses during the elections for supervisors.
The appropriation for the pay OF the SuperviS-
Grs Is permanent one. The money comes out
of the Treasury directly and not out OF any Of
tie funds OF the Department of Justice Besides
being permanent appropriation. and there
fore not having to be renewed every year il is
an unlimited appropriation. The sect ion OF the
revised Statutes under which the money comes
out or the Treasury Tor these expenses is as
l0lloWS: .'To pay supervisors of elections CON-
Iensatlon apart from and in excess of all fees
allowed by law for the performance of any duty
as circuit court commissioners No amount is
mentioned; they are only to be paid The Chief
supervisors in the late elections were quite
Wr0thy when the Attorney General tried 10 eX-
ercse some authority over them. They quoted
the law creating them and the unlimited ap-
preparation to compensate them for their ser
vices and told the head OF the Department Of
justice that ne had no authority in the matter.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
When their accounts began TO come in said he
would not pay any one through his depart
ment, whose expenses he could not limit. The
Treasury department received letter from
him to that effect. The men had to be paid and
II was usual that the warrants on the un-
limited permanent appropriation should be
drawn by the Department OF Justice. Secre-
tary sherman represented to Mr.. DevenS that
unless he drew the money and paid It out
through his marShalS, the Treasury would have
to appoint bonded disbursing officers to perform
this duty at considerable expense. The Attor-
ney General finally consented to draw the
money and let his marshals disburse it. All
warrants received at the Treasury for this pur-
pose are not w0rded according to the usual
formula. Mr.. DevenS shifts it around and saws:
:. For pay Of supervisors under Section POLL
Revised Statutes, L. s." Before this warrant is
drawn the accounts are very carefully gone
over and frequently cut down. Under the law
II is possible for supervisors to get pay for ten
days. The Attorney General has cut them
down to as low as two and three days, and the
accounts for their pay have dwindled ac-
cordingly.
l., The special deputy marshals are appointed
by the marshals, upon the application of cItl-
Zens to assist the supervisors. They are paid
out Of the fund for L. $. court expenses. The
Attorney General can limit their number. The
records will show that he has done so con-
siderably. In Northern Florida. during the late
elections, there were fifty special deputies, but
the marshal only employed them on condition
that they serve without pay. The time for en-
pioy ing them was also cut into.
THERE Is A DEFICIENCY
1or the last fiscal year in the Department of
;gus1lce OF Sloo,oOo This IS for court expenses.
These court expenses IRE supposed by some
people, az already stated TO cover an abuse of
the use OF supervisors and deputy marShalS
AS explained tie department now needs no ap-
prol riatlon for the pay Of supervisors, they
being permanently provided for by the Statutes.
There could therefor be no deficiency for their
expenses. None or the 100000 deficiency could
possibly be put down to special deputies The
denclency Is for the fiscal year ended June 30th
last, during which year there were no Congress
sional elections and consequently no deputies.
When the Department OF Justice sent in its last
estimates they contained an item Of $1,000 900
for court expenses. The House appropriation
committee asked the Attorney General to divide
this amount up. He did so. and although there
are no regular Congressional elections during
the next fiscal year, thinking that there might
be special election ordered, he put in an item
CT $4,000 for special deputy marShas. This
with certain Charges against supervisors has
led 10 pretty rough attack ON Mr. DeYens'
branch Of the government.