The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-14
YOU MUST Go IN PERSON.
NO TRANSFER CAN HEREAFTER BE
ENTERED BY PROXY.
Judge Atkins Decides that the Voter
Must Appear I'm Person
BEFORE tho Registrar.

Must Appear I'm Person
Beforo tho Registrar.
On the question Of whether a voter must
personally appear before the registrar
when he wishes 10 have his " certificate OF
registration transfer, II is commonly
callcd) entered upon the books, Judge
Thomas 5. Atkins. OF the Hastings Court,
Yesterday reversed the decision rendered
bv his predecessor, Judge George l..
Christian, and decided that the voter must
in all such cases appear before the regis
trar to answer such questions as may be
propounded.
QUESTION AND ANSWER. -,".
The question was asked by ID. B. Jones,
registrar OF the Third precinct, Monroe
Ward, whether il " Is necessary for voter
10 be present in person before me for regis
traton. or can proceed upon his personal
descriptive-lst and written application;
also, II the law is the same as to an origi-
nsl registration and an application coupled
with transfer"
Judge Atkins replied that the language
OF section III, chapter Z. and section lG,
chapter 8, OF Code OF 1873, leads me TO the
conclusion that all voters applying TO be
registered upon transfers must be present
in person when they are registered. Sec
tiOn II says that . voter may "apply for a
transfer in person or in writing, and that
such transfer shall be sufficient evidence to-
cnttle him 10 register"
Section 1G goes further and says OF the
transfer: "lt shall be sufficient evidence
to entitle bin 10 vote in the district in
which he resides" Now, the language is
the same with reference % the registering
as to the voting. VIII any one contend for
Il moment that vote can be cast without
the voter being prcsenty 1t cannot. Then
why should 4 party be registered when not
present, when the law i precisely the
samcY A. / said in the Gill case, the uE-
contested registration oi u voter in one dis
trict was evidence that he was a qualified
voter in the city, and upon his removal
from one precinct to another in said city
his transfer was. 10 Use the language Ofthe
law, sufficient evidence TO cntitlc him 10
register " that IL, sufficient evidence 10
entitle him 10 register in the district in
which be resides" a. section rs says.
The residence In the district must bo
proved Giiundc, and therefore it is nece,-
sary for the voter 10 be present for ideLti-
fcation and to prove that he resides in the
district and in this city; that he has re-
sided in the ward for thirty days; and, in
case OF a challenge. TO answer any other per-
tinent question and make himself personal
ly responsible under the law.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHEEst
1t is TO be presumed that the transfers
entered under Judge George l.. Christians
Of the law stand good.
II there Is a doubt on that point, how
ever, the question should at once be set
tied. so that. il required, the voters may
personally appear and have their transfers
made good.
The importance oi this thing can he seen at
q glance, and the subcommittee Of the CITY
Commlttee-Messrs. Jackson Guy, b. Rand.
Wexford, and Sol. Cutchins-Will no doubt
act at once.
All that the Democrats wish to know j..
What is the Laws Knowing that, they will
obey it.
TIE EFFECT.
The Democratic City Committee. through
their central and ward headquarters, have
been relieving the voter of the trouble OF
applying for or entering the transfer.
The two papers they used were ~ fol-
lows:
APPLICATtOS YOR TRASsFEH.
RICHMOND. October -. lss-.
To Mr.. -, Registrar of --- Precinct' --
Dear Sir.-PIcase deliver to Mr.. -- my trans
fer from your precinct to the -- precinct of
- ward.
Very respectfully yours,
applicant ign herc -.
present residence here - --.
Registrar should retain this order.
Personal DESCRIPTION.
TO be dlled up by the applicant and attached to
the transfer, and to be sent with it TO the new
voting placcl
Name, - --- axe, ---; present residence,
No. -- -- street; occupation. ; how long
resident Of the city, ---; how long resident of
IL a naturailed citizen. also state when. where,
aud by what court youI paper- were issued ---.
applicant Sign hcrel .
Richmond. October -. lSs-.
The clubs aud committee can still pro-
cure the transfer FOR the voter, but the
voter i'm person must take the transfer 10
the registrar OF his new yOtingplacc.
now TO WORK.
Luckily the clubs and the committee
have in hand transfers by dozens which
they have retained possession OF, having
heard that there was to be a question Of
this sort raised.
They can only rejoice that it was raised
so early. 4 decision OF this character q
few DAYS in advance Oi regular registrations
day would have been troublesome; ye.,
very troublesome indeed.
The clubs and committee Will hereafter
OBTAIN THE TRANSFER.
The voter must 20 in person to see it en-
tered.
He can 90 at any time up to October
9th and on that day, but the sooner the
better.
SYNOPSIS or THE LAWS.
Tho laws as construed 10y Judge Atkins
are
You can register at any time up to Octo-
Der 9th. and on that day, which j. the reg
uar registration day.
You can obtain your transfer. and. by
APPLYING 10 the registrar IN PERSON, have
il entered on the books at any time UP 10
October 18th, aud on that day.
II YOU have resided in Virginia twelve
months and in Richmond three months
YOU can register here; you need not get
transfer il you are registered in any other
portion OF the State. You are put on the
books as 4 new voter: but il you change
your place Of residence from one precinct
TO another in the city you must get
An IMPORTANT POINT.
Gentlemen in charge OF headquarters will
do well to observe the following extract
from the law. taken from the compilation
OF the Secretary Of the Commonwealth Of
date OF 1883:
The Common Council or Board OF Trus-
tees OF each city and town having more
than five thousand inhabitants shall appoint
for each ward as many y0tng-places or
precincts as they may deem necessary, and
shall prescribe and cause to be published
the boundaries OF such vJtng-places or