New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-02

by the payment or SlOVOOo Nldbai" W.
ervafion bonds and s5cl.G50 canal bonds.
on the 3Oth day Of september 1888, the total
funded debt was sG9G535f 81. classified as follows
Indian apnu,es General Fund).--- s, 5cs9 M 9o
Niaeafs 'e Reservation bonds 100000 90
g. s ses ga 80 s. s.
Aggregate Sinking Funi.......----...'-. q'o1o-oo %
Total debt unprovidca fo yet due 81 ss990o 4S
The tax rate for the current fiscal year Is Two
and sixty-wo chnndrrdihs mills q 621Ool' whlch,
on the present assessed valuation, VIII yea
soOso.303 Sc. A.
Tn, amount received from notarcs during inc
last fiscal year. arising ont OF their appointment
as provided under Chaper eco of the Laws OF 1851
Is the sum of Sl0G37 %.
There has been received during the same perou nun
the pool tax sOcslcd the sum OF s2"'lo 10
which Is to be dsburscd BY the State Agricultural So
cicty IN the form Of prizes for improving inc O"co VI
cattle sheep and horses. al the various county iarS
throughout the state under Chapter 479 OF the Laws
of 1887.
REFORM IN ELECTION METHODS
The necessity Of some change In our election laws
yhe,ctv the increasing corruption which las become
incident to our elections nay be prevented Is III
pcra'ive.
II believed that the recent Presidential election was
the mos; corrupt Of any in the history OF The country 50
far a. the direct Of money was concerned III III
Hucncing the electors and public sentiment IS nat
urally awakened 20 the dasiralillty Of some relief
The peculiar causes which injured this immense cor
rupton are apparent. II wa alroN proclaimed tha'
the success Of one Of he gIca; political parties would
endangcr certain o. tie manufacturing interests OF
the country which had Heretofore been accustomed to
receive the fostering aid OF the Government at the
expense OF the masses OF th' people ana Ter uie
avowcd object Of protecting their business persons
and colporaiions interested n securing continuance
Of such faNors caused VaSi and unusual sums OF
money 10 b. raj ii for tn" purpose Of debauching the
electors and defeating The parry supposed to be in
lmcal to such Interests.
The anxiety to suhscrye selfish and private sd-
vantage rather han It's general Interests of the pub
he naturally led 10 tho campaign being conducted
upon alleged business principles. hereby II IS as
Sorted that electors bought and sold like goods
and chaiieIs in the open malltt II IS claimed that
al Least 100000 expended in ;he XAth and
NXIVth CongIc slCnai Di lets I'm this state in the
efforts made therein to Set Congressman ard to
secure electors believed 10 be favorable 10 the policy
Of fostering private interests.
SO successful have been recent efforts at corrupt
Ing the balioLbOX, tina good citizens are led TO
doubt Whether The free and unbiased sentiments of
the people may not continue TO be nullihed through
corruption whenever and as often as it appears that
the interests of the people conflict with those Of
interested monopollss. who, prohgac Of their moneys,
are intent upon resisting all interference with their
selfish and arrogant demands
This subject IS not one. had the honor
of saying In my annual message Of 1887, as follows:
a.; IS the growing impression, founded upon much
truth that offices too frequently sought by and
bestowed upon wealthy men, who obtain them by the
lavish and improper of money, rather than any
real merit Of their OWN. This fact dscourages men
of moderate means from seeking official honors, and
creates the conviction in the minds of wOrkingmen
that public positions not within their reach"
1t IS clear that change in existing laws Is
required TO prevent or check the evils in question
-, all urttn No
tanning to elections, but It would seem as though
much OF It be abatcd. invite the earnest CO.
operation > ;he Legislature in an intelligent aud
conscientious effort 10 devise honest ana practical
designed to purify our elections.
BRIBERY.
In the first place. it Is important to inquire wha'
IS the precise principal abuse complained Of. and
10 consider proper remedy therefor. The present
system Of elections in this state has existed for a
long period of years. and in the main has proved
satisfactory 1t has been tested in nearly all Its details
I'm many important contests, especially in 1884, and
having proved reasonably sufficient there IS no neces
sity for rs being wholly overturned There is no
real demand for the hasty adoption OF an entirely
new untfcd system. II may be safely asserted
that tie election laws Of this state whole are
not excclcd by any in the country, and. while they
may be improved in several particulars. any pro
posed amendments thereto should be most carefully
prepared and thoughtfully considered. 1t IS evident
electors Il the great evil pertaining to our elections.
and one which the honest people Of the State desire
TO have remcdied. Bribery is forbidden, and adj
eauaic provision Is male for the punishment thereof
under existing laws bat the chief difficulty is that
such laws a,e nowhere enforced. What IS needed
&c soue amendment preventing making more dini-
cult tho act OF bribery. snd afordIng less opportunity
for the succes thereof the polls
II Is suggested that tic existing election laws b.
amended by providing tina reasonable distance from
the polls be Sc aside reserved by ropes barriers
Of some kink behind which ep peace officers
and one elccfOr a time should be permitted TO enter
and that all eeciioneerng should be done outside
Of such reserved distance, and that each cecOr should
be required TO pass behind scrcc1S or within compari
ments or booths situated within such reserved boun
DIARIES and there, alone prepare assert his tickets
and then proceed directly from such place 10 the
polls wgtL,ui any one accompanying hint or any
opportunity being afforded for discovering what
ticket he votes.
The value of such a provision consists not In per
hitting The electOr to cast secret ballot, but IL
connecting him 10 do So Under such circumstances
tho elector Is not SO liable to be brbed, because The
br,ers would not be likely to pay their money
Gov a vote when they cannot be positive which way
that vote has actually been cast The opportunities
and probabilities Of corruption would thereby b'
greatly diminished. and pure election rendered more
cest,Io Such a provision plain, simple ana ea'ilS
,,nders,ooo would tend prevent or at Least restrlc
corrunton at the polls, AMI It IS dinicut 10 cohcei'
~ any reasonable objection thereto
.nother decided advantage 10 be derived from snc'
-. t,oovatton would be its effect In preventing EN-
nloyers from successfully Influencing Oh Illuminating