New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-01
RECENT ELECTORAL REFORM
WHAT ENGLAND AND HER COLONIES HAVE
DONE.

snccessfu operation Mr.. Rice introduces his article by
preference to the increasing interest that shown In
proposals to reform the prevailing American methods
Of election He comedies that they have greatly improved
aimee the days the practice OF voting carly and
voting often prevailed with us to an almost unlimited
sxtsn" They largely reformed since the days
Of the Tweed regime, when, Mr. Rice halfdivertingy
points out;
emseve. to vote later IN The day these unfortunate
hen quietly informed that their already
was q NO S S ,s %ssSe
by spoceman with the request 70 create no disturbance
sSs S.o%s 'ves
seref ILLEGALLY in unlimited numbers on election day these
so S sa s S ss n to So 40
sS or esu s al s hA
But Notwithstanding a vastly improved condition of
things the gress evils still exist Mr. Rice finds
70 be undeniable He says:
long electoral abuses England general
Seisy Wna. has SV;
EnsIish siSoash should be modified
The chief evils Of oar existing system anl
candidate supporters and the frequent failure Of the
S ss ''''' u Young 'O''' ''''' '''' '''''
Ono OF the most fruitful springs of political corruption
in Mr. Rices Judgment is found in the assessment Of
candidates for Office To stop this ev partisan expendi
In elections be stopped Then determinations
IN Of candidates would and that pest Of
American poltcs-the odfashioned practical politi-
clan would find his wrongful business gone The
remedy Mr. Rice believes is to be found in law requr
ing elections to be held at the public expense
This. he says.
would pn stop to all such abuses Not only should
psnsss he should not be permitted 70 incur any ea
sVIvaps an. 40, oDy iorSds all aud IKE
ss ssarss hs to
%Sn,y on ss Of the Of THIS law
the Legislature Of Pennsyvania some three yesrs since
ssrT 10 take the oath His deca red vacant
e Of at the polls IN the
Certainly poor man can eapeet 10 represe any OF %
friends or mortgagng his official acts IN advance
.,,sp"s exceed the
rsn who the right 10 call himself poor Certainly TINS
s ei1 :" sna % professions
Practical experience has seemed TO demonstrate the
wisdom Of secret baloting In New South Wales, where
that system been in operation for many years. inqu'
ries have shown voting had ehectualy pre-
vented bribery and tended diminish undue canvGssng
and the evils intimidation Mr. Rice thus describes the
methods there enforced:
All things considered the advantage of conducting cleo
tons almost entirely at the Government expense would seem
70 prepJnere There should be- Of course some restrictions
dates Mere love ca notorey would otherwise
be a. premium m bssdT Ssepr his name on the list
should he ia to pol more than hIed prop9ron OF tae
he saes o. gSe 6S dsPS srapnr % sn d. e
has een proposed England 70 make candidate repon
his who ias TO poll one eighth OF The
Ssn sendent upon large 81
Tie Voter receives number
votes those who cannot read or write are taken as fol
lows room Is provided at each polling place WIN a9e
scrutineers Each candidate also provides table for him
ofcer 10 enable him voters they come in to
Voter with slip Of "a er containing opposite
Of such voter as he aPPr on n9 c,0 O co s
psres with his Inst, and. correct hands voting paper
.sG ni' aso1 as the Voting goes @ Voter
Just sufficiently large admit the voter pencil is
provided He then, alone and out Of sight runs The pencil
to vote folds voting and puts IL into the
Srnins Sidsr st is N the top Of tie just suacienty
Es SSe' S'
' Each room pfovasd ballot
rooms baotrooms situated against the wall az
structures ISit Of boards about thirty inches wide and
assed 70 The wa % n lns sSe
the BLACK printing Ink and G TO s1
the name policeman placed the ballotroom TO show
the voters M ana 70 a nd o to show the Voter The way out
When the voter cannot read Or wr'e ne @ Tbe
reupning oicer then goes him and
paper up and puts it into the balOtboI and retres
After the polls close the method OF counting is as fol
lows:
turning ocer poll clerk and seratineer The ballot ls
then unlocked and voting o out a Sn G ON ON
lists already provided This done the vo9s paper % or
an ai S ne wnols through and ...,.a
up Each DEPUTY officer does here described AS
possible after the poll closes ana as mon M .e
thus shsIns him declare he Of the poll Each T1p
is no with preventing any wholesale 1SS
auenens votes Tor the csDdae Wa. R.s
hayq hepn
alone the voter SGS 9 no nc w'n
This system, though operating so satisfactorily ID SAID
to have one defect prevents any subsequent
Investigation and conviction In case OF bribery or per
eonation In Victoria this evil is largely remedied There
the voter is supplied with ballot paper marked with
number corresponding TO his registry number, bearing
the names OF all candidates He oblteaes the names
Of those for whom does wish TO vote The ballots
after election are sealed up and forwarded TO the
clerk Of the Legislature be kept in safe custody In
both these countries the expenses OF the elections are
borne by the public.
The present British law Mr. Rice describes as based
upon those of New-south Wales and Victoria
The ballot of paper showing the
names and description OF csnaate hsGn d h%e apSed
with the same number printed on The lace te
tune OF S ami ise a iS eVersd the within
polling The number OF such voter Oh tne
Voter having Secretly marked vote ne and
Closed box IN the presence presiding al poll
this officer inspected Olnal
ballot which has not on It's BACK tic
ofciai mark which votes given to more candidates
entitled for. or on winch any ng
except number the back writtenor the nak Oy
winch tie idenufied-is condemned ana not
AZ the close polls the boxes sealed and
taken returning officer who opens the boxes
I'm the presence OF any agents Oh o
Crown that may be present
Mr. Rice remarks in conclusion that these systems can
only serve as a groundwork for the proper laws which
would conform TO American conditions.
nperativeiy demanded in tho interest Of
pure government deny Why Is that so %
our best men decline the SURFACES OF the people, BE-
cause oar methods corrupt aud degrading Plao held uas
persons should be- sought out to be invested Win
bower are personally most averso TO ia seh
fent reechoed By in his familiar declare
ton fat the Office should The not the man the
be generally called lht the puoo
service only publication OF present system "
Rendering bribery counting out and trading
Impossible through which faithful returns
Is such scheme The Austraush anu
suitable modification, must iorn lie
basis remedy With the Will the will open