The examiner., 1886-02-13

did not want the State to force him to hide his ballot, for he always was in the habit the largest mills in the State, and never saw any of the intimidation or corrupt prac- tices alluded to by former speakers. If there are such miserable creatures they should be disfranchised; and emphasized the point that the man who could be intim- dated could also be influenced to remain away from the polls.
 Editor Graves of the Hartford TeLeqraBl combatted this point, saying there was a law that could take care of this open intim- idation, but none providing for the more quiet and subtle He then rehearsed his experience in the labor movement and how funds had to be raised at one time for the transportation of B families out of Rock vile to New Jersey, the heads of which had been victimized after election by the combination of manufacturers, who would not permit them to find work within the State. There was nothing to prevent MT. Rood from declaring himself, and thus showing his colors if he wished. but others not so desiring should be protected.
 Rep. Pigott of New Haven favored secret ballot, but thought the bill had defects which should be seen to by the committee before it entered the house. He believed that a provision should be inserted for dividing up some of the towns into smaller voting districts; for designating whO should be the judge of fraudulent ballots; and for not leaving penalties to the discre- tion of the court, especially in such State as Connecticut where the judicial power was so uneVenly divided between the par ties, to the detriment of the Democratic party. MT. Pyne here explained that the latter clause was thus written on the advice of the late Gov. Hubbard, in view of the experience gained in the celebrated Hart ford ballot stuffing case of a few years ago, where jury composed of eleven democrats and one republican shielded culprit, to save others from compromise.
 MT. Lee of Norwhich exhibited model for booth, and the hearing was adjourned till afternoon, Wednesday.
 D. C.. Birdsan opened the hearing this day in advocacy of the measure by taking up the questions of MT. Lee the day pre- vious. He said that there never was a time when some men were not disfran- chised under the law through physical ail- ments. This should not stand in the way of the general benefit to be conferred. In nearly every general campaign in the state sums from $15, ,OOO to $50, ,O0O were spent illegitimately. The incentive to crime should be taken away. MT. Kehoe's bill left loopholes that would be taken advan- tage of, and MT. Lees bill was only sub terfuge intended to deceive
 MT. F. E. Cleveland of Hartford made the point that the ballot in itself implied secrecy, and this measure was only to better carry out the original intent of the law, A good many people do not like to %f,11va injury to themselves without benefit to others. Under present conditions the re- suit of contest is sometimes known before the votes are counted. He recalled one instance under his personal knowledge of the discharge of an employe for publicly declaring his intention of voting in oppo- l sition to the political preferences of his em= ployer. He was ready if challenged to give names and facts.
 MT. J. c. Britton Of Hartford explained why the bill had been shprn of all clauses l referring to penalties, and leaving that to the discretion of the court. It's length was taken advantage of to bring up object ions of cumberousness.' If passed it would prevent rereating and ballot-stuffiDg nov made possible by cpllusipn of the voter, box-tender and checker. It would also stop the purchase of votes, growing to an alarming extent in this and other states, for no corruptor would risk his money for the purchase of thing he could not see deliy. red. Mr. Britfpn explained the modus Operandi of the booth system, and claimed that the state should provide it's own polling places.
 Mr. H. c. Baldwin, of Naugatuck, was the last speaker, and spoke with his usual point and energy. He believed that the measure was essential to the preservation of republican institutions in America. Both Of the great parties were continually accusing each ether of bringing undue in fuence into deciding election contests by bribery, intimidation, and other corrupt practices, and no doubt they told the truth. The republicans hoWled themselves hoarse over the shot-gun policy in the south, while the democrats charged fhat the same results were accomplished in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, by other agen- cies. But the speaker could not bring him. self to believe That Connecticut legisla- ture was yet elected liberal enough to grant measure of this kind.
 This closed the hearing, which was sub stantially one-sided, no one appearing against all the bills, and only one in oppo- sition to that which all the others favored. ting in their Worko elsewhere, and the re- suit will be the passage of compromise measure, with lOop-holes enough to allow completely as though all the bars were friends of labor sufficient in the Assembly this year, if not for positiUe good, will nev- ertheless have power enough to make others the contests to follow may know the sheep frrr fn ofa