Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-18
Hxsahtng Down H. ea1senards Of H.
Haf3u< Box

Hssaline Down H. sassenazds Of -
Ballot Box
The Bcssaa JesrnAl points GO; the extra
ordinary asurr&sin II Arzcraey G<a<-xl
Garlasd in ralinz Ekss Unfsed Sfzs<s SzFer-
visor Of Eiecsiozs shash be paid fer sals
Eve days Of service, snd ne eorr~spozsi<zce
between The Attorney GsnerzI and Congress
naa Dzsisof Massachusetts,, in ~hich the lxsfsr
exposed the injustice Of the dsparsnent's
sctien. arr matters which have probably not
been forgotten By car rezssrx- The ssb5ees
comes again 70 The FROST. by reasoa Of IN
ssrucsioas addressed BY the Acting Atrszsey
General TO United States Supervisor Dawes
port Of Se- York. and Mr. D4venp0rt's reply
thereto The Instructions wsre esnrsrea in
these terms:
DEPAKrAEsr OF JusrtcE-
WasHIxsrox, July 80. lass
Mr.. VI. T. McNzhon, L. 5. Marshal. Sew
York, y. Y:
SIr-You are directed To officially inform
the Chief Supervisor Of your district that
pasmens BY the Department Of Jas,iee 10
Supervisors sill be limited 10 eve days as
the maximum for services readened IN GOA
aeeiien with the Congressional election On
November s, isss- Very respectfully.
G. A. JEsks.
Acting Attorney GeneraL
Section su3l Of the Revised Statutes pro-
vide that there 'sshail be allowed aud paid to
each Supervisor Of Election who is appointed
- ,...sn~x,.. ~. dn,x u-.lsr -hz rrss,a,it, -
provisions compensation AZ the rate of o.
per day for each day he Is actually on daiy /,
not sIceeding ten days" Here is an obvious
conflict of authority. The las enacted By
Congress declares that the Supervisors shall
be paid for each day Of actual service. not
exceeding ten days; the Attorney General
declares that they shall not be paid for more
than five days. There the Department OF
Justice undertakes 10 override the statutes.
Sow let Us What the effect would be in
New York II Mr.. Garland's construction
were enforced. Under section cole of the
Revised Statutes the Supervisors are ere
CURED to attend at all times aud places
| hxed for the registration of voters" There
are toui days Of registration in New York
Under section 20l7 they are required to be
present at the day Of election. The Ave
days allowed by the Attorney General arr
therefore all exhausted in the time required
for registration aud election. But the law
imposes these additional requirement, upon
supervisors;
| Section 2o26 reads The Cnief Super.
visor shall require of the Supervisors
of Election, when necessary, lists of the per
sons who may register and vote, or either, IL
their respective election districts or votins
| precincts, and cause the names Of those upon
any such list whose right to register or vote
is honestly doubted To be verified BY propei
inquiry aud examination at the respective
places by them assigned as their residences.
Seetron 20l6 also reads THE Supervi
sors of Election so appointed are authorized
and required To make, when required
the lists or either of them provided for il
section 202G, and verify the same"
Section 1921 reads; IF any person BE-
appointed Supervisor Of Election,
and thereafter neglects or refuses, with
out good and lawful excuse, to perform ane
discharge fully the duties, obligations anr
requirements OF sucu ONCE, ne
shall not only be subject to removal from
office with loss of all pay or emoluments
but shall be punished by imprisonment fol
not less than six months nor more than on,
year, or by fine of not less than 5000 ant
not more than $500, or by both fine and i'm
prisonment, and shall pay the cost of prose
cution."
Here, then, are definite duties actually re
CURED. The plain intent of the Attorney
General, who acts under general instruction
from the President, is to make ineffective IN,
safeguards which Congress has placed abou
the ballot box, and to facilitate the work o
election consprators in the interest of "Cleve
land reform" Mr.. Garland when in tn.
Senate, did all that he could to break dow
this law, and now, as Attorney General, h,
assumes functions superior to those of Con
gress and utilities the law. few month
more this country must endure the officia
usurpation and misconduct of such men.