Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-11

Wilmington, with It's great manufacturing
interests and its 60, 900 people. don't
think my constituents expect me to sup
port any such measure. l am thoroughly
in favor OF constitutional reform, within
the strict limits and bounds Of our oon-
stitutiOn, which, until it is amended, re-
mains the law for our guidance; but,
sooner than be forced to accept this bill
under the circumstances I would tender
my resignation to the governor.
Then MIR. Donahoe moved that the
House bill be indefinitely postponed.
Without word In reply, this motion was
agreed to.
TIE SENATE CONVENTION BILL.
Having thus deposited the corpse in
che mausoleum which had been prepared
for it, Senator Donahoe proceeded to in
troduee the bill of which he gave notice
January 18th, entitled:
IAN act to provide an unexeeptionable
mode of ascertaining the sense of the
people upon the question OF calling
constitutional convention" Said bill CON
tains seven sections. 1t opens with q
preamble reciting that, whereas the Gen
eral Assembly deems IL right aud proper
to afford an opportunity to the people to
AAEho kAOAA osAloD AhOhh t0apCDtlhk AuG
calling of q convention to alter and
amend the constitution of the State, and
to that end to provide by law for the
holding of special election fer the pur-
pose of escertaining the sense OF ma.
jority of the citizsns Of the State entitled
to vote for representatives therefore, be
1t enacted. &c.
Soc. /. That on the third Tuesday of next
ATnav AL ~. - - a
which election all citizens entitled to vote
for representatives may vote ballots In
seribed "ior" or against convention"
Slch ballots may be OF any siae and form,
not exceeding the size now prescribed by
law.
Sec. 2. Said election shall be held by the
same judges chosen to hold the last general
election. All vacancies shall be filled In
the same manner now prescribed by law.
Sec. 8. Said election shall be held In the
same manner, at the same places and
according to the same regulations, SO far as
applicable, as are prescribed concerning
general elections. The votes shall be
counted and returned In the same manner,
Ne.
Sec. A. The returns certified by the boards
OF canvass shall be delivered IN the same
manner. by the same persons, In the same
way and to the same officers as the returns
Of an election for governor are required to
be delivered.
Sec. 5. The General Assembly shall, at
the next (the word biennial ia stricken
out here) session aftor the said special cleo
ton, and on the second Wednesday after
Its organization, meet in joint session in
the hall OF the House of Representatives to
ascertain the result OF the said special cleo
tlon.
Sec. 6. II 1t shall appear that q majority
OF the citizens OF the State having right
to vote for representatives have voted at
said special election flor convention. -
the General Assembly shall accordingly
make provision by appropriate legislation
for the calling and election OF a convention
to consist OF at least as many members as
there are Ia both houses of the Legislature,
TO be chosen In the same manner, at the
same places and at the same time that rep
resentative5 are chosen, on due notice
given for one month; the convention to
meet within three months after the election
OF delegates. The majority shall be ascer.
tained by references to the highest number
OF votes cast at any one OF the three pre-
ceding general elections, except when they
may be less than the whole number OF votes
cast both for and against convention, In
which case the said majority shall be ascer-
tained by reference to the highest number
election, (this provision being a literal
transcript Of Article Ky.
Sec. 7. II shall be the duty of the sherlifs
| or other officers to whom the ballot boxes
used at said special election shall be deliv
cred, 70 keep said boxes ballots, esrtif
Gates and tally lists safely until after the
meeting OF the General Assembly at IL
| (this word "bieunial" Is also scratched
here) session next after said election, and
| to hold the same subject to the order Of the
General Assembly during the session.
ANYTHING AUSTRALIAN IN THIS?
can Act to Secure Purity OF Elections, ,
| introduced by Senator Dorman, has some
good features and some defects. It pro.
vides that the tickets of different parties
shall be printed on paper OF different
colors. This is convenient for illiterate
voters. ALI tickets shall be printed under
direction of the Secretary Of state and
by him delivered in sealed packages to
the inspectors on the day before the cleo.
ton. Each ticket shall be inclosed in an
envelope ell tine envelopes to be alike.
No other tickets shall be received by the
election officers or voted. When man
comes up to vote the inspector shall hand
him one Of each of the different envelopes
containing the different tickets. Che
voter shall withdraw to convenient
private place, select that ticket which he
desiresto vote ana immediately return and
hand to the inspector that ticket enclosed
in its envelope. This envelope shall be
numbered and placed in the ballot box
in the voters presence. The unused
envelopes shall be returned to the inspec-
tor, and, with their enclosed tickets, be
immediately burned. In CASE an illiterate
voter desires to scratch his ticket, he
shall have the services OF one of the cleo
tion officers in the private place to aid
him in so doing. The election officers
shall sit ia room to which but one voter
shall be admitted at time. The dooi
shall be closed after MIN, and not be ze,
opened till he has gone out. The win.
dows shall also DO protected from az
inside view from without.
Two manifest objections come in here
The first is that the possession of two OF
three different tickets by the doubtful
voter gives him two or three chances tc
purloin one ballot and substitute q
previously prepared one, exhibiting the
| purioined ballot to his purchaser as a
voucher. The second is that as the bill
oontempiates only one retiring place al
each poll, it would be possible for dila-
tory voters to designedly consume great
deal OF time.
The bill further provides for chal.
lengers and that each party may have
two representatives in the room to watch
the election officers and sec that the Law
is faithfully observed. A good provision
requires every candidate to make oath,
before the Secretary of State allows his
name to be printed on a ballot, that he
has not and will not in any way, directly
or indirectly, attempt to bride voter.
Violation of this oath shall be punishable
as perjury aud shall work forfeiture of
Office. There shall be added TO the oath
of the nlantinn officers the FOLLOWING nnal.