The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-27

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entitled to vote, while being no adequat,
safeguard against those whose nercenary o.
otherwise corrupt ballots they are intended
to exclude. 1t is, therefore, in all respects
one Of the most important and difficult
problems Legislature has to deal with, ant
while universal assent will be given to tn,
purpose in view, there may be wide differ
ences Of opinion as to the methods of attain
ing the object, and even as to the advisability
Of any legislation requiring Registration.
These reflections are incident to the bill
now before the House. It requires that be
fore juno 1, 1885, each county shall have
prepared book to be known as the Great
Register Of the county, in which shall be
entered, before October /, 1886, the name,
age, nativity, residence, etc., Of each suali6ed
slector who may be entitled to vote in No.
vember, 1886. The names may be entered
by the County Clerk on the affidavit of the
person that he Is . legal voter of the county
or upon monthly returns sent in by the As.
SCISSOR, or on certificate from another county,
or upon evidence as to naturalization. The
Clerk and Assessor are authorized TO admin.
lister oatbs to obtain the facts Of eligibility.
The Assessor Is required on the last day Of
every month to return certified copy Of all
entries and afadavits made to him during
such month. The Clerk is required to enter
these and upon request Of the party regis.
tered, or upon knowledge of his death or
removal, or insanity, or certified conviction
Of felony, to cancel such registration. Pro-
vision is made to compel the Clerk to make
Registrations or cancel the same upon proper
showing.
After the LIST of October, 1886, and until
after the day Of the next general election,
and In every second year thereafter, the
Clerk shall not register any person, except
upon the additional affidavit oftwo resident,
registered, property paying vsters that
such person Is . legal voter Of the county,
and shall issue such person . certificate,
upon presentation of which he can vote.
1--WE call attention here to the fact that this
will bar those persons whose names are on
the lists sent in by the Assessors In October
Of the even years). Before October 8, 1886,
and every second year thereafter, the County
Clerk shall make list OF all the uncancelled
entries on the Great Register preceding o.
tober /, and no person shall be entitled 10
vote, Except 81 school slections) whose
name does not appear on these lists, which
must be printed and ten copies supplied to
each election precinct, and ten additional for
each 1000 voters In the county, copies Of the
same to be posted, sent to election boards,
delivered on demand to county and town
ship officers, etc. Heavy penalties are i'm.
posed for false registration.
An officer shall be appointed by the Judges
In each election precinct to be present during
the election, keep the peace, and enable all
qualified voters to have unobstructed access
to the polls. A space Of 100 feet about the
voting place shall be kept clear Of oil per-
sons except four registered qualified voters
Of good repute, not more than two Of whom
shall be Of the same political party, TO act Is
and voters shall approach the
polls from one direction and depart In an
other Is nearly opposite Is convenient. The
Judges and Clerks of election shall have
four printed copies Of the Great Register ct
the place Of voting, and IS each properly
registered person votes, the fact must be SO
written opposite his name, which copy shall
DO transmitted with the returns to the
County Clerk, together with certificates
vsted, and the list Of the persons challenged
and Of those who, to their knowledge, have
lied or removed from the county. Compen-
'ation Is provided for the Clerks and Asses
'ors for performing the duties required of
hem.
We confess not being sufficiently CONVEX
liant with the provisions Of registration laws
y they have been tried or are In force else
where, to express an unqualified opinion Is
% the special merits or dement's of the above
bill. 1t will certainly bar those who do not |
'islt the county seat and whom tbs Assessor
nay not interview, but Just how 1t would |
'rsvent the recurrence Of such corruption ss
osk place ct Butte last November, except In
Is provision prohibiting "workers" from
teering their men up to the ballot boz and
esing that they voted . particular ticket,
70 are ct . loss TO see. II no registration
aw shall be enacted It would at least be well
hat the section Of this bill keeping the VI
Unity Of the polls clear Of people and pro-
scting each voter In the right to approach
be ballot box alone and offer his ballot free
'om the surveillance Of any one except the
,ur reputable challengss and the officers Of
be election should bs added to our election
lws. This section might be improved upon,
ut the idea b unquestionably correct and
. enactment and enforcement vii do much
J keep the elections pure and secure the
% expression Of the electors OF Montana.
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