Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-02-13
viduals are not % well and generally known

serve as such To save any additional ex-
pense, one OF the judges OF election could be
dispensed With, leaving out three still rs the
number of the election board, and the judges
AND clerks of election should be of opposing
political parties. The registration should be
biennial or quadreGnia! in he city, and de-
cennial in the counties, with revision in the
meantime. The registrars, together with the
judges u clerks OF elections, should be OBJ
liged to serve when appointed, aud put un-
der penalties for neglectiug or refusing to
serve. Some provisions, having the force oil
authority, should be mad to secure suitable
rooms for registration and election purposes
The voter should be present 10 tho room 10
see his ballot deposited, and at the same time
for his better Identification. Also provision
for a reasonable number of challengers, se-
lected by opposing parties and by candidates,
to be present on both occasions to witness the
process Of registration and balloting, and 10
contest the right Of those offering to become
voters or to vote.
The pay Of the registrar and Of the judges
Of elections ought 10 be nominal These
should be regarded as places of trust and OF
duty, and not OF emolument or profit. Every
citizen owes some personal service to the State,
and that without reference TO remunerative
compensation. That o! juror, registrar, Judge
OF election, the posse comitatus and soldier
are 10 be regarded as an elemental md pr-
mary duty. II is but occasional, and does
not seriously interfere with regular avoca-
lions, unless in case of continued war. 1t :s
that kind OF service where there is no time
left to the citizen for other modes of obtain
ing support which alone should involve the
considerations of adequate pecuniary consid-
Grafton.
There is no need Of the registration assum-
ing large proportions. II should be as simple
and plain as il can be made, and limited TO the
shortest period Of time consistent with fair
opportunity to every voter to register. The
vote at the election pref or district lie re-
CURED TO be taken in one day. and in the conn
ties within nine hours 1t does appear to me
that, with the precinct registration, where the
vote is not 10 exceed four or five hundred
three days for primary registration and two
for revision would be ample time for the voter
to register and for the careful performance of
the duties Of the officer. With this economy
in time and the very moderate and reduced
pay to be allowed for the service, tho expense
attending tbs registration cannot be greater
than that now incurred for the periodical re-
vision under the present law, thus obviating
the very serious objection urged by many to
the registration on account OF the appre-
hended large cost OF it,
Wv
the annual salary Of the registrar is $500, IL
this system be adopted there will be a reduced
expenditure, besides divestiug tbs registrar
there of the inviting character of a sslaried
officer. OF course there are many other de-
tails which go TO make up the efficiency OF the
system, but any detail which tends 10 pro-
mote fair aud an honest registration will have
my cordial approval know there are many
In the counties who are not favorably dis
posed 10 a new registration for different rea-
sons, and no doubt some are Of a substantial
character for their localities
The intervening difficulty Is, however, that
II is held by gentlemen Of high legal character
that if there be a new registration at all the
constitution requires that It must be made
general, and that though it mi ght be absolutely
required for the city of Baltimore only, and
no, elsewhere, still, to be made there, 1t must
likewise be made in the counties without
undertaking 10 express my own opionion in
this respect, most respectfully recommend
to you. In order to remove all doubts upon
the subject for the future, that the consiitu-
ton he so amended Ms to give the Leg stature
undoubied power TO make provisions for n
separate and independent registration for The
citr.
There is another subject euiisling general
interest, and 10 which most earnestly call
your attention Primary meetings or ASSEM-
blies OF the people tor the purpose OF present.
ing candidates have hecome potential ihstru-
men'aliiies 10 iireciug the popular choice at
elections and are TO be regarded perhaps AS
established institutions Being 60 important
IN their character and influence, il becomes
our duty 10 pat them nuder the protection OF
law, 80 as To guard their deliberations and
acts against fraud, corruption and violence.
Therefore | take The liberty OF recommend.
ing to your favor the adoption OF such leeis-
laiion as will extend to these meetings The
most thorough protection from tho perpctra-
ton OF wrongs that would n committed
make them absolute evils
Bribery at elections Is another subject 10
which invite your most serious consideia-
ton, not only direct bribery, but bribery in
all It's Podited, accidental and} attendant
phases There was legislation Fsaiust il so
far hack as 1899 and continued to this day
BY the constitution of 1850, article l. section
2, any person Offering or receiving u bribe ia
respect In voting AS therein sci forth In ad-
ditiOn 10 the penalties 10 be prescribed BY
law, was thereafter. upon conviction in a
court of law, disqualified from holding office
or from voting Aud by section 4, same ar
ticle, any person elected or appointed 10 Office
was required 10 swear that he had not violated
the provisions Of the constitution in relation
to bribery
All these prov isons were retained In The
constitution OF 1864 and 1867 except that re-
qniring the person elected or appointed 10
office to swear az prescribed by section 4 was
| omitted in the constitution OF 1867. Beside
laws have been passed inflicting severe penal
ties OF both tine and Imprisonment for this
ofiense. In so far as my experience extend.
no pres.ntments are found, and never 10 my
knowledge has there been a conviction. Tha,
the evil exists TO an alarming degree, and i.
| yearly increasing, no one can doubt
Probably the severity OF the punishn-a In
thereafter disqua!ifying the convicted person
from voting or holding office has prevented
due execution Of the law However this mas
be, existing legislation fails TO suppress the
evil. This uniform exemption from punish.
ment has made It's pernicious practices and
intusnces open .nd notorious as they ar,
seen and felt upon the approach TO nearly
every balloi-bos. II this is permitted TO co o.
tlnuc there 10 an end to all pure elections
The first quality of an election is that /, should
be pure as well as fair
! Ny objections go not only to bribery. hu,
to all those practices that require contribn
tons Cor election purposes or demands upon
candidates, or parties for all kinds Of pur.
| poses in view of the election So offensive
|
tenan not accustomed TO such practices, OF
without means TO incur such expenses, must
decline becoming candidate Under what
may Justly be called the duress OF an election
candidates and persons holding Office are moi
only expected 10 contribute voluntarily, bu,
demands are made upon them not only for
direct election purposes, but for all kinds OF
objects, religious, charitable, benevolent and
social, by clubs, societies aud individuals
! Pay tor service At the polls on election
day, and the pay ment Of wages fer the day'.
work are expected, and often required TO b,
made All this should be suppressed, II pos.
s'ble, Al all events every efor, should b,
made to suppress IT,
There are innocent aRd no doubt proper sx.
pendiiures Ia connection with elections, bul
any expenditures of money having tendency
To demorali1e or Cypress the candidate or cor.
rupt the voter should DO made illegal. Con.
sutnlional provisions and our penal laws have
utterly tailed TO stop direct bribery, AID much
less will IL be able to stop the conconitan,