Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-06
SENATOR SHERMAN'S PLAN.


1t Has tho Merit of Being Practical and
If Adopted Would Produce Good Re-
suits.
Hardly had the result of the recent elec-
ton become known before the Southern
problem began to be agitated with thor
oughness hitherto unknown. IL took on
some new phases, especially the evident
restlessness of the better element among
the whites of the South, who saw and de-
plored the general Decentralization incident
to dishonest elections. And now Senator
Sherman leads off in measure of reform
which has the air OF business and the
promise of practical results. His plan, says
the Chicago Inter Ocean, is confined to the
regulation and supervision Of the election
OF congressman, except as a State. may
voluntarily make it apply to the Presidential
election The constitution expressly vests
in each State the right to choose the mem
bers of the electoral college to suit itself.
South Carolina never, we believe, had
popular election for President prior to the
war. But Congress can provide the ma
chinery for the election of members of the
House, irrespective of State law. The
Sherman plan, which. if adopted, would go
into effect in time to apply to the next
SOuSrcSSlOudl cIcCblOl, ucStTNcS eSptCldi
study, and is as follows:
''After May l, 1890, elections for Repre-
sentatives in Congress shall be conducted
according to the provisions Of the bill, and
the Legislatures of States may direct the
election of Presidential electors in the same
manner, the expense of the election in such
case to be paid out of the Federal Treasury.
The bill authorizes the President TO sp-
point, with the approval OF the Senate, five
qualified voters in each State to be known
as the board of State canvassers, and three
voters in each Congressional district to
serve as an electoral board, the appointees
TO hold Office during good behavior. The
electoral board of each Congressional dis
trict shall appoint registrar and three
Judges, not all of the same political party,
for each election district or precinct, 10 hold
Office for six years. subject, however. 10 re-
moval for misconduct. The electoral board
is given the power TO increase the number
of election precincts wherever necessary TO
secure free and fair ballot.
s'The judge or judges at any precinct may
appoint bystanders in place Of any judge
or judges who do not report for duty with
in one hour after the opening OF the polls,
and In case none of the three judges re-
port the election may be conducted by any
three voters of the district who are will
ing TO act The electoral board is also di-
rected to appoint three commissioners OF
election for each county or corresponding
political division, whose duty IL shall be
20 meet three days after the election and
ascertain from the returns the number OF
votes cast for each person at the election
The same provision is made for filling va
cancles IN the list Of commissioners as IS
made in the case of election judges. Pro
vision Is made for q complete and correct
registration of voters, and the judges OF
election in counting tie votes are author
lied TO reject any decided 20 have been
fraudulently voted. The board Of commits
sioners is given power TO correct Irregular
tiles in the returns of the judges Of cleo
tons, and heavy penalties are prescribed for
ofenses against the election law"
It Is quite immaterial whether these de-
tails are carried out or not, for whether
there should be FIVE or three commissioners
matters little; bot the principle is sound,
namely, rigid, thorough and universal SUI
pervisicn Of Congressional elections. Tho
cost would be very considerable, but not
real objection, however. The United States
can well afford 20 meet the ex-
pense OF protecting the ballot, even though /.
such protection should extend Gully 70 tho
election Of Coagressuen. Tie House OK
Representa- has original jurisdiction +
over All bills relating 70 tie Treasury CT The .
Nation, each men Der Of that body beng Ia +
a sense Q director 10 the National company. i
But there need be very little extra expense
incident 10 the system for ia case u. elee- 4
ton ozseers under STATE law were in syra- !
pa;hy with The Sherman plan tie SANE set
Of officers couse serve for State AID Ma i
,scral purposes without much extra pay. /
The question, and the only oEe, b, would 4
the system eject the object Il vseyf Time
would have 70 determine, but Il surely \
seems as /: the end souga. would be a. /
tanned
We viii suppose the bsA 70 BE lsw. AID 4
that. as . Consequence. TIE South sSczld
have honest Congressional eleeilocs' tSzs
II i.seif would be a g-ea, reform TIE nexs
House Of Representatives escctee. the nfsJ-
second, VIII take psrt Il cozntsag tie Presr
Dental returns Of is9o. srd Ezigttfnssst sspoz
honesty In Presidential esectsoas, aioe's res
empowered 20 regulate The election tssslf
Tair AID hcDorab.e proceedings 81 the Goa
gressio.a Al polls wc2ld terd strong % fair
ness aoa noocr a. a. CHER polls Al tAs /
vc-y least. she reSzis:sors o. Con gres.socai
s.ecsso-.s could rci sz.l % rsAse bad rss.-