The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-10

more or Jess, asks Tor the reveal of that law.
Ever slnce the Passage OF the law in 1881 il
has been continual source Of annoyance to
farmers and shippers
The House refused 70 concur in the report
OF The committee, and the bill was ordered
engrossed.
CONSOLIDATION OF VOTING PRECINTs.
Mr.. Hopkins bill II. R. 27O] coming up
on the second rtadILg with a committee
smeLdmeL6meLt TO maize tie voting dis
trict TO be composed Of 500 instead of 700
voters
Mr.. SAYRE ssid: I hope this amend
meDt Of the committee will net be ad opted.
Where there are more has 800 voters this DILL
provides that o consolidation may take
place, so that precinct may contain $50
voters. IL is Lot imperative. The County
Com missioners may consC date as they deem
best. 1t sim ply permits them TO consolidate
90 that there NAY De 100 voters in precinct,
and TO amer it and change ii to SEQ would
hardly better the condition OF things, while
I5OwoUld. Now IN the county live We have
% pecincts, aud We have 500 electors IN
esch precinct, 81 there are no large towns.
r ectiOD comes late IN the fall-in NOvem-
ber-and the weather ig- liable to be in
clement There is no place for the people 70
assemble on election day 10 keep comfort
able. There is no provision made By any
body By which they eau obtain refresh
ments aud the result is that persons come
and vote and 20 away. II there were $50
voters IL precinct, it would greatly lessen
The expense and furnish additional security
l. think the amendment ought not to be
adopted.
Mr.. WILLIAMS: I an opposed to the
amendment. ! hope the amendment will
De 6elesteG So well as the bill. | think the
Jaw OF 1881, ia this retpf c., is the best Law
Indiana ever bad. You can get fairer and
frll h. fha
there lie less opportunity to tamper with tie
returns. II you have precinct 50 large il
takes tweDty-four, thirty six or forty-eght
hours to count the votes, aud the men vii
become weary and tired for want of refresh
ment and sleep, while it gives more opDor
tuBjty TO tamper with ths votes. For that
reason ! think the law of 1881 is the best la
We ever had on our statute books / hope
the bill will be amended II it becomes a la y.
Mr.. SMITH. OF TiDpecanoe: Now, since
the law was enacted in 1881, We have
changed the time of elections from the 1st
OF October to the lst OF November, making
the time from sunrise 10 sunset, nearly
iOTty minutes shorter. Some have pro.
posed openiog the polls at O'Clock in the
morning l am opposed 80 that. / sm IN
favor Of opening the polls as soon SIS it is
Jjght-ss soon as citizens can get together. l
IN in favor Of giving the labocing men in
l6Fge cities q chance TO exercise the right of
suffrage. Now if you would change the
law SO &c TO usks 100 voters in a precinct,
great many perhaps would have 10 go away
without sfexeIcisirg tie: right OF
suffrage. The right of suffrage is the
desIest right man can have
! am in favor of pro Getting the people
aud giving them en- opportunity to cast
their votes aud have them counted. shall
stand by the pIeeent election law in Indiana
becsuse | believe il is the beat law. II we
change II this session it will be an invitation
t0 the next Legislature 10 make a change !
SO opposed to the amend u ent ana am Do
rosed to the bill before us, and I shslI vote
sgsinst both OF them
The House refused TO concur in the COM
IuItIee amendment and also refused to or
Ger the bill eDgrcssed.
And then the House adjourned.