Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-18
T11 cry REClsTRy ssLL.


1. introduced by Representative Martin
Of this county, entitled An Act prov'd-
ING for the registration of voters IN the
citv Of Seattle, for the election OF city
odioers.n The object of this Bill is TO
secure elections from fraudulent voting.
II il, VI believe, an essentially necess-
airy prerequisite 70 q fair election and
ought 70 pass. We are 10 doubt as 70
the intent and purport Of section OF
the Bill. Il reads as follows:
See. 3. The Registrar shall ON or De
fore 10 o'clock A. NJ, Of the nrsf mon
day ia July in each year, make out M
alphabetI1hl order and return 70 zoe
Hoard of Registration OF SAID city
separate register Of voters for eacn
ward in said city, a. made Out aso sp
proved by the Board OF heg1strstion LOT
the last preceding election, except tne
names of such persons as nave sincs
died, or removed from the ware, ano
such as have In any way since then re
sistration become disqualified 10 vote
therein, and containing Also the na1ss
of all other persons VINO are poua nue
residents in said wards known oy nin
70 be qualified voters therein Tor cay
officers, Or who will become sncn ~ tne
first election occurring for sucn onnesrs
after the completion OF his register, oS
reason of age, residence or otnefwiss.
He shall, upon application, reRistei tne
name of any qualified voter for city
officers A aforesaid in the propef, ward,
or of any person who will become SUCH
~ Aforesaid at any time before return
inc his register to the Board OF Regis
tratiou. and no such register shall be
rssurued before the said FIRST Monday
in July in each year.
This would appear TO indicate that
the old registration lists are TO DO re-
vamped and used. II not, we suggest
respectfully that II is surpIusage. II u
il intended 70 continue registration lists
from year to year by adding 70 and sub
tracing thsrefrom persons respectively
ousliisd or disqualified. we believe
that every addition 10 the list should be
msde only upon personal application OF
the elector and not as provided In this
section by the Registrar from his per
soual knowledge Of those entitled TO
vote. II the electoral franchise Ii to be
strictly guarded let IL be made imposs-
IDLE 70 be registered except on personsi
apoIieation. No mans name should
appear on the list until he has appeared
and answered the statutory questions
satisfactorily. Again We are strongly
Of opinion that name once on the list
should not be stricken of except by an
order Of the Board made in regular
session. This section provides that the
Registrar shall omit from the lists GER
tain enumerated classes. 1t Is
left TO his individual knowledge
and Judgment whether they are
disqualified" or not. II is too
grave responsibility to deyolve on any
one official. These suggestions are
made on the assumption that the old
registration lists are to be made the
basis for new ones from year to year. as
the section indicates. We think that
registration de moro annually is prefsra-
BILE, and insist that personal appearance
before the Registrar should be made an
indispensable pre- requisite.
We also note the omission from the
bill Of an extremely important pro-
vision. to wit: that of publishing the
registration lists at the time when and
a. submitted to the Board of Registra-
ton. This Ia an almost indispensable
provision to secure the lists from mis-
take and fraud. Every eiector Of the
city should have attainable in the Of
fioial paper Of the city printed list by
wards Of all registered voters The
reasons arc manifold but two or three
viii suffice 10 show the neces-
sity Of this provivision. The
time intervening between the
surrender Of the registration list to
the Board ON the first Monday in July
and the meeting Of the Board ON Fri
day and Saturday of the same week is
all that Ia allowed for examination of
lists for purpose Of challenge, correc-
tion, additions, etc. Il h impracticable
for ths lists to be carefully examined a.
the Office Of tue Registrar or Board by
everybody who may desire, and even II
10 the publication Of the names will in
sv,tably aruose and compel careful
scrutiny. Again mistakes frequently
occur by omission, In spelling, etc.,
which publication will at once correct,
bat which otherwise leave loop holes
for fraud. Again. Il Ii not improbable
that II the lists are to be continuing,
many names Of dead or absent electors
will BE- retained, unknown TO the Regis
trar or members OF the Board, which
pnblic inspeosisn will discover. II to
tht Ne add the suggestion that the pub
location Of names il In general great
preventive against fraudulent swearing
for The purpose Of registration, enough
viii have bean said in favor Of the in
ssrtion Of section providing for pub
lished lists Of voters.
We note no provision for numbering
the lists for sss At the polls on election
day. This 10 an important aid TO the
inapsctos and clerks and should be
provided for. We hope the bill win be
amended and passed.
r. k-6incs the foregoing WAS In
type : letter from our Olympia GORE
spoudsnt notes the passage Of the bill
hy the HOUSE. We therefore respect.
fully call the attention Of it, friends In
the Council 10 the above suggestions.
Delegate Raymond is ssrenn-
co.'s advocate Of division and ad-
mission in his Territory. but be
hopes for little from Demo
cratic Congress. Dakota. undivided,
will make = flne State. and has popula'
tion nov greater than that 81 Al least
f0ur Of the States. Divided, however, III
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