Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-29
A NATIONAL ELECTION LAW.
Representative Houls, OF Tennessee,
Prepares Bill.
THE RERATeD TO BE RELOCATED.
Mobiles Letter to Smith Leaves Little
Hope For Omciai Pension Crab
bcrs-New Nebraska Land
Registrars.
WASHINGTON BUREAU The OMAHA BEE,
bl3 FOURTEENTH STREET,
DO It TVVNTEhNIH DI INEETi
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct, 2S

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct, 2S.
Representative Houk, of Tennessee, is the
first republican in the F'ifty-tirst congress to
come to the front with a prepared bill
placing the control of elections, where rep
resentatives to congress are chosen, In the
hands of the federal government.
This subject will undoubtedly create a
great deal of animation in congress at the
approaching session and bring about the
liveiest debates of any of the subjects which
will be discussed.
Judge Houk being the oldest republican
member from the south, is prominently men
toned for the workmanship of the commit
lee on elections
His bill provided that the president shall
appoint three qualified voters in each con-
gresslonal district, to be known as the cleo
toral board of the district.
Upon the petition of not less than one hun
dred qualified voters certified by the clerk
of the United States district court, IN which
it is alleged that the petitioners do not be-
lieve fair registration or election or either
of them can be held in that district, under
state supervision, the board will appoint
registrars for each precinct to serve SIX
years.
The board shall have absolute control over
the appointments of registrars and may re-
move them at wlll.for failure to discharge
their duties faithfully.
The electoral board may, instead of divid-
ing the election precinct provide two places
for voting adjacent to each other with two
ballot boxes and appoint two sets of Judges
and clerks to receive and count the votes.
The board is given instructions in the bill as
to supervision under clerks and judges for
the casting ana counting of votes, prevent
ing intimidation and fraud, and in short,
giving general supervision for Tree ballot
ana fair count.
There is provision for the canvass and
recanvass of the returns and the ballots cast.
The attorney general OF the United States IS
instructed to prepare suitable books and
blanks for the election officers
The bill is very lengthy and gives specific
instructions as to registrations and the con-
duct of electors and the returning of the re-
suits, so that there can be no such question
as conflict of state and federal authority.
Judge Houk holds that his ball Is constitu-
tional and cites article |, section 4, paragraph
l of the constitution of the United States as
his authority. This section of the constitu
tion reads:
''rhe times, places and manner Of holding
elections for senators and representatives
shall be prescribed in each state by the legis-
lature thereof; but the congress may at any
time by law make or alter such regulations.
except as to the place of choosing senator's"
The import of the bill is to give absolute
federal authority over dll elections Whereat
members of congress are chosen.
Judge Houk makes an estimate OF the
probable expenses for the enforcement of his
proposed law in each congressional district,
which is as follows:
Congressional electoral board at $50 per
day, sixty days, 81, 200, expenses same $500;
state board OF convassers at SD per day,
thirty days, $500, expenses s4OO; office rent
800, board of county and city commissioners,
three persons, five days ut S15, SIS, average
of ten for each district $3.50; 100 registrars,
an average of ten for each county, at 81 per
day, ten days each, $4,000; 100 polling places,
three judges and two clerks each at S25,
$500; one Judge to deliver returns at $500,
total S1l ,150.
There are at present 325 membcgs ~ con.
gress, ana therefo that number of congress
sonal districts IN the union. When the four
new states are admitted five additional con-
gressional districts will be added, making
$50 congressional districts. Thus Sl1, $50
multiplied by $50 makes the grand estimate
of expenses, according to the appraisement
of Judge HoulS 5000 500 for the enforce
ment of this law if all districts should de-
mand electoral boards.
The fact should be taken into considera-
tion, however, That probably not one-half Of
the congressional districts in the United
States will demand this federal supervision
of elections. The object is of course aid for
the southern districts, where it is claimed
voters are intimidated and honest returns
are the exception.
and the last section of the measure provides
that members of the electoral board Of the
congressional districts, the commissioners,
Judges, clerks and other officers shall be ex-
empt from arrest by state authorities during
the time required for the performance of
the duties prescribed in this act. This
would give the federal authorities absolute
control.
There are. however, men from the south
who contend that anything like federal IN
ia arfe O.
sisted and that there will be constant con-
flict between the federal and state officers at
the polls.
MOBILES LETTER TO SMITH.
The publication this morning of Secretary
Nobe's letter to j. 10. Smith, who was re-
Gently removed from the position of chief of
the certificate division of the pension office,
in which the secretary says that he does not
think 1T to the best interests of the service
that men who were rerated should continue
to exercise their influence In that direction
and broadly intimates that all OF the pension
office employees who had their pensions re-
rated under Commissioner Tanner and those
who had 10 do with the reratings are to De
dismissed, created a profound impression
in pension Office circles.
There is very little if any doubt, as stated
in these dispatches more than TWO weeks
ago, that all of these rerated men
and. and their allies in the pe1soi
to disgorge the money they have received.
The report OF the commission that in
vestIgated the management of the Office
under Tanner gave the names of thirty en-
ployes whose pensions were rerated, but 1t is
discovered that at least twelve, and probably
half OF the names were overlooked. 1t is
likely that between fifty and sixty employees
| in the pension office will have to retire from
| the service This will include one or two
members of the board of appeals and some
special examiners; the others are ordinary
clerks. Several chiefs of division are in the
| list.
Secretary Noble believes that u man who
would pass Judgment upon his own case or
| induce colleague TO do so is not proper
person TO remain in the government service.
| There is great deal of agitation among the
| pension office force now. Public opinion
| here sustains the position taken by Secre'
tary Noble.
WILL PROSECUTE.
Members of the civil service commission
| declare that they intend TO prosecute with
| vigor all Of the persons WHO have been en-
| gagged in sending circulars to clerks in the de-
partments soliciting financial assistance for
| the repu blican party IN Virginia.
Commissioner Thompson, OF South Caro-
| lima, very earnest confederate and bour-
| bon, with all the prejudices that bourbon
usually has, is especially earnest in this
matter. He says:
"The prosecution will be pushed with
| yigor, as il Is our belief that one conviction
1 81 fnr nd M an a