The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-12-30

OF them count the ayes and nays sue
cessiyely, and announce the result.
Thirdly, by division of the house. This
is the method universally adopted in
the English House of Commons: Four
tellers are appointed, two from each
side. and the members pass into two
lobbies, being counted as they go, and
their names are also taken down, which
is not practicable where the vote is
taken by tellers as in Congress. Fourth
ly, by the ayes and nays: The names
of members are called in alphabetical
or other order, and the answer of yes
or no; the clerk keeps the tally and re-
ports the result to the presiding officer,
who communicates it to the House. To
these methods there may be added
fifth, European invention: Each
members desk is connected by two
wires with an indicator behind the pre-
siding officers chair. By touching
one or the other he votes yes or no,
and the result is seen at once and by
ALL The adoption of this practice
would be sad blow to the American
device known as tilibustering. by which
so'much valuable legislative time has
been consumed.
There is one mode of voting which
is capable of being employed in ca1-
euses ahd political conventions, but is
wholly inapplicable either in popular
elections or in representative assem-
blies. This is called the '.marking
list" and is probably more popular in
New England. particularly in Mass
achusetts, than anywhere else. Sup
pose three delegates are to be chosen
to a convention to nominate a Con-
gresham. The caucus votes to open
marking list. Nominations are made,
and the names are written down upon
a sheet of paper. Each voter then
makes mark opposite the names of
three persons whom he prefers, and
| plurality of votes elects. If there are
| persons to watch and see that no voter
puts down more marks than he ought,
| that he does not mark more than once,
and that no unauthorized person marks
at all. this is very expeditions way of
voting, and the counting is matter of
very little labor or time.
Imerely glance at one or two of the
methods of voting at popular elections.
The ordinary American election needs
no description. We all have the ticket
distributors, the ballot-boxes and the
other surroundings of an election be-
fore our eyes. Unfortunately, too, we
know how even granting all the i'm
| provement suggested above, the pr.vi-
lege of the freeman is abused. Men,
whose real names are not on the regis
try, vote under assumed names even
| vxyhf hn LIST.
they vote more than once at different
precincts; the ballot, invented to give
them an opportunity to conceal their
action, is recognizable rods away; men
are brought to the polls like so many cat
tie and vote as.they are told to do. This
picture is, let us be thankful, getting
rarer every year among US, but unfortu-
nately it is correctly drawn for too
many American elections.
| The ballot in England. however, is
very different from that which goes by
the same name among us. 1t is a
machine of great complication and in
tricacy. and totally inapplicable to our
| system of government. Englishmen
elect only members of Parliament and
few loca, officers. The administra-
tive and judicial officers are all APP
pointed. The plan which may possibly
work well in general practice for the
choice of a single luember, or of two
not be employed in an election for the
! choice of various executive, legislative
and judicial officers for nation, State,
country and city at the same time.
1t is impossible to describe briefly
the ballot system adopted in Great
Britain in 1872, and only an outline
sketch can be given. The public NOM
ination is abolished. but the nomina-
ton day is preserved. the ceremony
taking place in the presence of only a
few designated persons. If only as
many candidates are nominated as are
to be elected. they are at once declared
elected. If there are more candidates.
there must be a ballot. The elec.
tion officers procure the printing
of the requisite number of ballots,
which are bound in the same way as a
merchants check book; that is to say,
there is coupon which may be de.
tached. leaving part of the leaf still
in the book. Upon the ballots are
printed the names of all the candidates
in alphabetical order When the cleo
tor presents himself at the polls, be
first satisfies the presiding officer thai
he is legal voter. The latter ther
tears off ballot, upon the back o.
which he puts an official stamp. aftel
which he enters the registered number
of the elector on the retained part O.
the ballot. or counterfoil, and makes {
mark against the name of the voter or
the registry.
! The voters and the ballots both being
, numbered, in case it becomes necessary
to ascertain how any particular person
has voted, as, for instance, if there is {
contest on the ground of illegal voting
, the identical ballot given by each per
son may be found and examined. The
j voter, having received his ballot. re
tires to room provided for the pur
! pose, where, unseen by any person. h'
, makes mark opposite the name OF thu
person for whom he wishes to vote
, He then folds the paper so as to CON
, ceal the printing and mark within. bu
| to show the official stamp on the back
. returns to the polling room. and throw
: the ballot into the box. To use tn