The Portland daily press., 1880-11-12
Changes in Methods of Election.

LOulcettO luIci-Occdu.J
Fifty years ago, the governors of New Jer-
sey Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina
were chosen by the legislature. In Louisiana
complex system prevailed, under which
there was popular vote, and the legislature
then selected the governor from the two can
didates who had received the highest number
or votes All the rest of the twenty-four
States, which then composed the Union, elect
ed their governors by direct vote of the people.
The terms were for single year in the New
England states, New Jersey, Maryland and
North Carolina; two years in New York,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Tennessee and Ohio; three years in Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware, Virginia, and Indiana; and
four years in Louisiana, Kentucky, Illinois
and Missouri At the present time
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are the only
states electing governor annually. OF the
thirtysix others seventeen elect biennially -four
triennially, and fifteen quadrennially. In 1890
the lowest salary paid to a vernon was $500,
by Georgia, and then came Rhode Island with
$500; Vermont, $3.50; Indiana and Illinois,
$1,000; Connecticut, S1,10O; New Hampshire
Ohio, 81 200; Delaware, $1,33S.33 which sum
seems to have been arrived at on the theory
that three governors were worth $4,000 for the
lot; Maine and Missouri paid $500; New Jer-
soy, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee aud
Kentucky $1,000; Mississippi, $500; Virgin
la, So, 1888; Maryland and South Carolina,
$500; Massachusetts,. S3,666.66; New York
and Pennsylvania, $4,000, and Louisiana
$500. On the whole governors salary have
advanced somewhat in the half century
though in New Hampshire it has dropped from
81, 200 to 81 900, and in Maine it has remained
stationary at $500. OF the other states, two
now pay 81 600; one 81 800; two $1,000; one
$500; one S2,700; six 81, 900; two $500; sew
en-, $4,000; six $1,000; four $1,000, and two
(New York and Pennsylvania) $4,000
In 1880 the legislatures of Delaware, Ten
nessee and Illinois met biennial,y. All the
others held annual sessions except that of
Rhode Island, which in May of every year met
at Newport, as it still does, to inaugurate a
new governor and satisfy the pride of the old
Rhode Island settlement, and again in the fol-
lowing January met at Providence to make
laws and do honor to the ancient Providence
plantations. To accommodate this migratory
body two patches of representatives were
elected each year, at intervals of six months
though the senators. as the more dignified Off
cials, held through the entire year. Another
dual seat of government, growing out of the
union of two colonies originally distinct, fell
to the lot of Connecticut, where until recently
the legislature met in alternate years at Hart
ford and New Haven.
At the present time the legislatures meet
biennially in twenty-seven States, those hold
ing on to the annual sessions being New York
Louisiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts,, Mis-
sissippi New Jersey, Rhode Island (the
assembly at Providence being now in form an
adjourned SESSION., South Carolina and Wis
consin. The legislature of Ohio also holds an
adjourned session, so that in effect it meets ev-
cry year.
Previous to 1924 the Presidential electors
were generally chosen by the Legislatures of
the several States. About that time the man
ner of their elections was for the most part
changed to direct popular vote, though the
old mode of legislative election was for some
time retained in Deleware, Louisiana, and
South Carolina. In the last mentioned State
it prevailed until 1868. In Maryland the cleo
tors were for a while chosen by districts in
stead of by the State at large
Up to 1S45 the Presidential elections were
held at different times in the various States
extending through period OF two or three
months; but in that year uniform time was
fixed, being the Teusday next after the fiist
Monday in November, and in most of the
States the local elections are held on the same
day, through Vermont, Maine, Ohio, Indiana
and West Virginia still give piquancy to
Presidential campaign by holding their State
elections beforehand. Indiana tried not long
ago to change her day of election to cores
pond with the national election day, but
Democratic Supreme Court upset the amend
ment, for which it is barely possible that the
Judges are now sorry.