Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-13
JUDGE HOUK'S BILL.

The following is Judge Houk's
bill to preserve the purity of the
elective franchise, and to punish
bribery aud other offenses against
a free ballot:
Be 1T enacted By the Senate and
House of Representatives. of the
United States of america IN Con-
qress assembled, That section fifty
five hundred and eleven of the Re
vised Statutes of the United States
shall be, aud is hereby, so amended
as to apply to all cases of bribery
and other improper influences by
which any voter may be induced
to cast his ballot at any election for
Representative or Delegate in Con-
gress, or at any election of electors
for President and Vice President of
the United States, contrary to his
free and uncontrolled will, by any
such means as threats of, or the
actual infiiction of, personal vio-
leDce or restraint of liberty, brought
about by violence or threats
thereof, or superinduced by threats
of discharge from any employment
in which such voter may be then
engaged, ,or thereafter TO be Sd en-
gagged, under and by reason of any
existing contract, written or other
wise expressed or implied.
SEC. 2. That any person who may
resort to any device or trick, by
| the use of any false token or false
ballot, by which to mislead and de-
| ceive any voter at any election for
Representative or Delegate in Con-
greSs, or electors Of President and
| President of the United
States, and shall by any such false
aud fraudulent means cause any
voter at any such election to cast
his ballot contrary to his purpose
and intention, freely and knowing
ly exercised, or any person who
shall give or offer to give any fee
gratuity, gift, or reward, as money
or other thing of value, for the pur-
pose of inducing such voter to cast
his ballot at any such election, in
any particular manner whatever,
or for Or against any particular per-
son or party, the person or persons
so offending, by the use of any of
the means hereinbefore mentioned,
or by any other false or fraudulent
means, shall be deemed guilty OF
felony, and punished as hereinafter
provided.
SEC. 3. That the violation of any
of the provisions of section fifty.
five hundred and eleven of the
Revised Statutes of the United
States, of which the first section o.
this act is amendatory, or the viola
ton of any of the provisions O
this act, shall be, and is hereby, de
clared felony, punishable as here
matter provided.
SEC. 4. That the violation of an,
of the provisions of this act, or thu
= act of which this is amendatory
shall be cognizable in the Unite,
States Circuit Courts within tn
district and circuit wherein sue
: offenses may be committed, accord
: ing to the rules of practice wit
q reference to jurisdiction and pre-
ceedings for criminal offenses nov
: established by law. And it shaI
Il be, and is hereby, made the duty {
d the judges presiding in the Unite
q States Circuit Courts in thei
o several circuits to give this az
= specially in charge to the gran
Z juries which may be organized 8
f their several terms of court.
It SEC. .. That the punishment fC
q the violation of any of the foregoin
=" provisions of this act, after cOnvis
}. ton according to the practice of tn
s. United States Circuit Court, sha
!" be confinement in the penitentiar
4 for a period of not less than five nc
more than twenty years, and di.
/ qualifi alton to testify as witnes
l. in any of the courts of the Unite
It States, or the exercise of the cleo
+. i've franchise at any election fl
Representative or Delegate in Coz
y gress, or at any election of electol
2, for President and Vice-PresideI
IS of the United States"
b The bill is good one and ougl
n to become law. We would gu,
o gest as an amendment that the gi'
y ing, delivering or paying of none
n or other thing of value, to avot
at OF near the polls, should be pr
II sumptive evidence of purpose
is induce such voter to cast his ball
% contrary to his free purpose and i
IS tention.
J. Such an amendment would c
A. up election bribery by the We
ii roots.