The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-17
GOV. HILLS VETO.
REASONS FOR oBJEcTINo 10 THE
BALLOT REFORM BILL.
Official Ballots-The Citizens Right
Secret voting-opportunit For Free
Advertising Bribery Held to be Made
Recommendations.

bdSy-heCotutuchott
Albany Special to the New York Herald.
No ballot reform this year. Gov. Hill
sent the expected veto Of the Saxton bill
to the Assembly tonight. 1t excited nc
comment except by its length, the Gov.
ernor needing great deal Of room to ex
plainwhy he sees fit to deiypublic demand
and TO deny the people the reform SO Org
emily needed.
The Republicans took the veto with
looks that said ave told you so" while
the more decent Democrats looked not 9
little ashamed. The veto was laid on the
table, there being no use OF attempting e
pass the bill in spite OF it.
Mr.. Saxton remarked 10 me: at Is
strange that Gov. Hill alone can find rea-
sons to veto this bill The Democrats OF
the West make it party question. II
must be that he believes aud knows such
law would end politically David Bennett
Hill, don't think we will pass the Gov
ernor's bill, called the 'Linson bill II
may have good points, but il is too late in
the session TO consider it, Besides, we are
not here to pass law at the Governors dc
taton. Furthermore the vital principle q
the exclusively official ballot must now be
abandoned. Without II there can be nc
ballot reform, and the Governor knows IL.
His pretense about wanting ballot reform
is thus clearly shown. The Republicans are
content TO let the people OF the State deal
with the man who has tonight deliberately,
for purposes Of his own, prevented them
from securing the purity Of the ballot"
Other Republicans talked in the same
strain.
THE VETO.
Tho message Is an extremely long on,
and abounds in quotations from previcu
messages Of the Governor relating to legis
lalion upon this topic. One OF its mos
prominent features il the comparison in
stiiuted between the vetoed bill and IN,
l.inson bill, and the Governors recon-
mcndation that the latter. which lac en-
doHes, with some notifications, shall be
enacted.
At the outset the Governor declares that
the evils which the SaXton bill ''prcicnds"
10 remedy ARE startling, widespread and
dangerous beyond all Others which threaten
our government" Political parties, he
snys, cannot differ ms to the necessity Of
suppressing bribery nj elections and ho
thinks that there should be no longer any
necessity for partisan controversy in tho
discussion OF the subject.
Proceeding 10 discover the points Of
general agreement on the subject, the
Governor declares himself In favor OF the
system OF private booths or compartments
through which each clccior must pass on
his way TO the balloi-box, and says that II
this feature stood alone. unattended by
multiplying and suicidal couplcrprovisions.
hc would most heartily approve the bill.
In support OF this declaration no quotes
from MS veto Of similar measure last
year.
OFFICIAL BALLOTS
Tho system OF an exclusively official
ballot the Governor believes to be inner
emily defective, vicious and unconstitu-
noual, and on this point hc quotes FROM
his annual message 10 the present Legis-
lainW rs disclosing precisely the points of
agreement aud difference between the
Legislature aud the Executive upon tho
leading features Of the bill. lie adds:
II am willing 20 try the experiment Of
an official ballot, printed at publicoxpcnsc,
provided II Is not prohibitory aud the bal.
lot Is substantially OF the same character
as the ballots now prescribed.
"Bnt the two other leading features OF
the bill are inherently inconsistent with
the object sought by the private booth or
compartment system, and are liable TO alb
Holuioly defeat such object These two
features opch the door 90 new dangers
even graver than those from which tho
one worthy feature OF the bill seeks an 60.
cape, aud are clearly aud beyond question
unconstitutional,
"Ihe two Objectionable features 10 which
] refer arc-ll the requirement that none
but an officially printed ballot shall under
ordinary circumstances b. voted 90 the
requirement that each ticket shall contain
the names Of all the candidates OF all the
parties and parts Of parties, and irrcspon-
Hiblo combinations pretending to DO a
party, Who choose 70 certify that they have
made a nomination"
TnE CirizrN's m0nr.
Both Of these objections are considered
In detail nj great length, the text OF the
discussion OF the iisi being a declaration
that citizens should never surrender
the right 10 bring with them TO tho POLL.
their own ballots, aud see that they are
properly deposited Ia the box"
Among objections 10 the official ballot
raised by the Governor are the possibl,
delay In the supply OF ballots aud the pos
sibiliiy Of the supply being exhausted
before all the electors have voted. III,
disposes OF the argument Of expense q
candidates avoided by tho furnishing OF
official ballots aud then proceeds {,
the following interesting argument
GrCnEf yoriNa.
The only other point ever urgcd n
iayor Of M exclusively Official ballot d
That Il will promote the secrecy Of the bal
lot, aud viii make Il moro difficult for thl
vote buyer 10 know whether his man ha
voted as De was bought believe that ii
actual puciicc this system will worl
just the opposite result.
TO render IL absolutely certain that n,
other Than an official ballot shall bc voted
tie ballot j. required by this bin 10 b,
marked with the initials oi the election
oiiicvrs who originally deliver II 10 th
voter. The voter Is not thereafter to lcav,
the polling place until lac has dcp1s.tc.
the ballot with the initials thereon "a
posed. This scheme has a very plausible
appearance, and has deceived many int
The belief shat V inlurc absolute secrecy
except TOT the word II the voter The lil
OF last year provided that the initials 4
the election oiiccm should be indorscd o
the back Of the ballot itself / then pointc
a 1t 4. H. ID