Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-18
ELECTION REWARDs-A CHANCE TO
MAKE MONEY.

Tue State offers reward of 500 for the
aarest and conviction OF every person vio-
laiiug any OF the provisions of the election
lays embraced in Title w., Part l of the
Penal Code. The offenses therein enumer-
aed are, neglect of duty by election officers );
fraudulent registration refusal to be sworn :;
ting without qualification; procuring
illegal voting; changing ballots or returns
by inspectors; aiding or abetting frauds
q. on the ballot box; marking tickets
forging or altering returns; furnishing
money; bribery; disturbing meetings;
betting on the election; printing or cir
culating illegal tickets intimidatirg, cor
ruDtjng or defrauding electors. The re-
wards for detection and conviction for
these crimes the State promises to pay to
the aggregate of $4,000.
The offer is in the interest of the purity
OF elections, the protection of every citizen
in his right to cast a ballot freely, without
offer of bribe, intimidation or threat, and
to have his vote honestly counted and
properly returned and certified, TO the end
that IL may nave llS Utle SuECl.
1t is certain that if more publicity were
given to these laws there would be good
al less of election corruption. That there
have been so few OF these rewards claimed
is evidence Of the lack OF knowledge con-
corning them. There is enough in the re-
ward to make it to the interest of large
number of citizens - watch closely for
illegality and fraud in elections. and to
secure the conviction I! offenders. r.
wards are offered as stimuIant to duty
ding, ard to encourage officers and others
in checking fraud upon the ballot-b box.
The press ought 10 dwell with persistence
and emphasis upon the law referred to,
for the more publicity given to it, the
greater its deterrent influence, and the
stronger will it appeal to men to strive for
the reward.
Ia addition to this sum Of $4,000, which
the State offers in defense of the ballot-box
and the registry system, Governor Water
man has just made known, through 8
proclamation that has the ring of earnest
intention and the tone of high motive that
be is authorized by the San Francisco
Chamber of Commerce to offer the sum OF
$3.50 for each person arrested and convicted
of illegal voting, ballot-box stuffing, OF
any crime against the ballot in the city and
c0unty of San Francisco during the ensu.
ing election. Thus, in that city, where un
questionably at elections in some recent
years from 1000 to 900 illegal votes have
been cast, it Is possible for anyone discoy.
er.Dg fraud upon the ballot to secure
the information the sum of $3.50. all
amount that ought to stimulate exceeding
watchfulness. The greater number Of
frauds will be- and are committed in Sau
Francisco, and it is therefore more neces
sary to exercise there especial care to pre-.
vent them.
Governor Waterman well and forcibly
says:
The purity of the ballot, and the safety of the
bsllot-box, is the real foundation upon which
rests the progress, prosperity and perpetuity OF
Our common country and to my mind there is
no crime named in the calendar more destruc-
tive to that foundation than the prostitution
OF the great privilege represented by the ballot
oned for simple robbery of the property oi
those they have the power at the moment to
subdue and overmatch, and in the subsequent
punishment inflicted, the sternmandates of the
law are recognized, in their application, as be
ing eminently lust and appropriate; but in the
robbery OF man of his conscience, his free
agency and his opinion by the criminal in.
famous and depraYed, there is no adequate re
dress in my judgment, save that which is
enumerated in the list of offenses which in
their retribution, come under the head of capi
tai punishment.
Severe as is the punishment which had
he the power, the Governor would attach
f. he crime of the ballot robbers, the ex-
preston of the Chief Executive does him
Infinite credit and no one who knows the
IrrTity of his motives and his hatred OF
e.eclion frauds, viii doubt his sincerity
Let us hope that his anxiety to second the
liberal and praiseworthy offer of the Cham,
'beI of Commere will result in such vigi-
lance before and al the polls, and SO stimu.
late men by the hope of reward, TO extra.
ordinary watchfuiness, that the sconndrels
who attempt to vote corpses, who falsely
registers, who stuff ballot-boxes, who altel
urns and who perpetrate other election
frauds 10 negative the win of the voter
will he inspired by such wholesome fear o
detection and conviction. as to deter then
a. the coming election from praclicing theiI
crimes