New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-16
4 Plan OF ELECTORAL RrFORM


at Albany intended to bring about certain
electoral reforms It proceeds upon the prin-
cple that the State, having called for an cleo
ton, should provide and take charge of all the
machinery necessary to ascertain the peoples
will. This is sound doctrine. The gen.
eral plan of Mr. Hamilton's bill is to be
found in the present electoral laws Of the
Australian provinces which, in a modified
form Great Britain recently adopted. Mr..
Allen Thomdlke Rice has made patient study
of this system of voting with results familiar
to the public Mr.. Rice and Mr. Elihu Root
have co-operated with Mr. Hamilton in pre-
pairing this bill. In its present shape il may,
perhaps. not be all that is best but at least
it brings the problem Of electoral reform con-
spicuously before the Legislature and offers
the framework of solution.
The bill provides that all ballots shall be
printed by the State. by it distributed TO all the
polling-placcs and there guarded and cared for
during the progress Of the election Any
| ORGANIZED party that has cast onc-tcnth Of the
votes poed at the previous election Is entitled
to have its nominations placed before the peo-
rle in n ticket and furnished when called for
This is dopo through the county clerks Of the
various counties or through such other officials
as NAV have charge Of elections. The ballots
are to be in the custody of two clerks. of
different political faith. who shall deliver to
each voter full set of all the ballots printed
The ballots are to be printed in books fur
nished with stub and the voters name is to
he entered on each stub as he receives the bal
lots From all the tickets given him he makes
his choice destroys in the presence of tho
clerks those he docs not wish to vote and then
casts those he retains secretly. no one being by
except tho official clerks and inspectors.
No one can enter the compartment unless he
means then and there to vote, and having per-
formed that act he must Immediately retire.
No one can print ballots except the person
chosen by the State. No one is permitted to
pedde them about the polling places, and it
is taken as evidence of an unlawful purpose for
| any one to receive ballots which he does not
| either vote or destroy. If he attempts to leave
the polling place without voting he is liable to
immediate arrest The evils this scheme is
designed to reach are obvious. First of all.
it aims to prevent the raising of large corrup-
ton funds by doing away with the excuse for
them that now exists in the necessity to pro-
vide ballots and pol-worllers. An election in
this city entails great expense upon the
political parties. which is now met by assessing
candidates. Mr. Hamilton's bill does not
obviatc all expense. He still requires that the
political parties shall help pay for ballots
Their order upon the State Is to he accom-
panied bv n payment at the rate of SIS for each
thousand tickets required This is condition
which may call for criticism II is also clear
that other details will need TO be more care
fully studied ont. The complications In The
present bill would almost certainly cause sucb
delay as to prevent in many precincts the poll
ing Of the full vote
But the legislature should not fail at this scs
sion TO pass law on the lines of the bill nrc-
pared by Mr. Hamilton. The scheme in ocn-
cral is good-a great step in the direction
Of electoral progress and reform. Annie
opportunity should be given for dis
cussion and the consideration Of what
ever amendments NAV be offered. While this
ought not to be party question. there is little
hope that the Democrats will take anv usefuI
part in solving it, The old way suits them
very well. Their supremacy is maintained in
this city. and consequently in the State Inv
using the opportunities for fraud which tbo
present law affords. and they are not likely IN
want to change it. The whole burden OF This
reform is on the Republican majority. and thew
should esteem il ono Of their first and most
important duties.