Huntsville gazette., 1889-01-05
ELECTION REFORM.


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Dec. 81 A commit
Tee OF the Senate and House has for some
time had the matter of reform in the cleo
ion laws otsthe State under consideration,
ana has now prepared draft Of bill
which 1t will have presented in the Legis-
lature as soon as possible after the ses
sion opens, and which the Democratic
caucus viii certainly make party meas
ure. The majority of Democrats in both
houses is so large that there is no doubt
the bill will be quickly passed, and under
| the circlsmataTces there can be as little
doubt that Governor Hovey will sign it.
The bill to some extent is patterned
after the Australian law. i will make
| election day legal holiday, End in this
manner will seek to close up all manu-
| featuring and similar establishments, and
to prevent, as far as possible, interfor-
ence by employers with the opportuni-
ties of their employees to reach the polls.
| The present law as to election officers will
be re-enacted. 1t gives to each of the
leading parties a judge and clerk, and
the party in power an inspector. The
ticket will be a continuous ticket, all
the candidates for all the offices being
printed on single slip of paper under
headings indicating by which party each
is placed in nomination. The names of
tie candidates of each party will also be
distinguished by being printed.in differ
ent colorcd ink from those of the other
parties-Democrats, for instance, being
printed in black, Republicans in red,
Prohibitionists in blue, and SO on. The
voter, should he desire to vote straight
ticket of any party, simply indicates his
choice by putting a cross mark opposite
the name of that party. If he desires to
scratch his ticket or vote mixed ticket
he Will put o cross mark opposite the name
Of each person for whom he desires to
vote. The law will provide for five closets
or booths, cheaply constructed, in which
the voter will go prepare his ticket. He
will get his ticket from the election in
spector, who will be provided with them
by the county clerk in sealed package,
the expense of printing them having been
betrayed by the county and State.
The law contemplates small precincts,
averaging about two hundred voters to
each poll.
No person but the inspector will be per-
mitted to have ticket in his possession,
'xcept for the purpose of voting it, no
matter from where he obtains it. A heavy
| penalty is provided for the violation of
this section. In preparing his ballot,
should he spoil it by making a mistake in
marking it or otherwise, the spoiled tick
ct must be returned to the inspector, who
viii have to account for all the tickets
that have been given to him. Five min
utes will be allowed to each person in
which to prepare his ticket. Any voter
who may be unable to prepare his ballot
himself can have it done for him as he
may direct by any one of the election Off
GERS. AS soon as all the tickets are count
ed and return is made to the county or
city clerk upon a tally-sheet, the tickets
will be destroyed. There can be no re-
counts nor any tampering with the bal
lots after the election is over.
A distance flag will be placed within
fifty feet of the polls on each side, and no
person, except the voter and election Off
GERS, will be allowed to come nearer than
the flag to the polls. Each party may
have an official challenger, who will be
permitted to go up as far as the voting
)lace to make a challenge. In case of q
otter being challenged, he will be COM
)eled to make an affidavit as to his place
f residence, the length Of time he has
wed in the State, county, city, ward, and
s to his occupation and where he pursues
{. If the challenger persists, the voter
gill then have to be sworn in by q resi-
tent freeholder or two resident household
rs. By the present law only a freeholder
an swear in a vote.
A registration feature similar to that in
ogue in most States, will be incorporated
ito the law. Indiana now has no regis
alton system. Bribery under the new
NV will include the purchase of mans
ote, paying money or other considera-
on to him for staying away from the
oils, or sending an employe away so
lat he shall not be able to vote. The
enalty for bribery will be Imprisonment
Or less than two years and ineligibility
} hold office for double the time of i'm
>risonment but on2y the person who buys
he vote is liable to this penalty, and no
PROVISION will be made for the punish
nent Of the man who sells his vote.
Death OF Mrs. Major-General Schofield
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-The wife O
Iajor General John NJ. Schoffeld, in com
nand of the army of the United States,
lied yesterday morning at the Richmand
lats in this city. Mrs. Schofeld has not
been in good health since her arrival in
Washington some months ago. The at
-ack of illness which resulted in her death
vas, however, unexpected. She had been
;uffering from heart disease, complicated
With nervous trouble. Saturday night she
lad severe attack, and three OF the late
General Sheridan's physicians-Dr. Var
COW, Surgeon O'Reilly, U. S. A., and DR..
Lincoln-were called in. They were un-
able to do any thing for the patient,
md she died yesterday morning between
five and six O'Clock.
Mrs. Schofeld was the daughter OF
Prof. Bartlett, formerly professor OF
philosophy at West Point Military Aede-
my. She was married at the time that
General Schofeld, then a subordinate,
was detailed as instructor at West Point.
The body of Mrs. Schofield will be
taken to West Point, where it Will De
buried probably on Wednesday next.
Shocking Calamity.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, Dec. 31.-At six O'Clock
yesterday evening fire broke out IN the
residence of Michael Mcclure, partially
destroying the building and causing the
death Of Mary Mcclure, a child OF theirs
In the front room stood a Christmas tree.
One of Mr.. McGuire's children in lighting
the candles on the tree fired the tree
itself. The flames spread to the building