Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-22
THE REFORM BILL IN NEW YORK.


deal of interest 1t was not surprise
that the Governor vetoed the measure, for
he had manifested his animosity to it from
the outset. The message, now at hand,
gives the reasons for his disapproyal very
fully. That they are responsive to partisan
demands, it is not unjust to so charge, since
he party of the Governor antagonized the
bill, and the Republicans just as warmly
espoused it. 1t is very much to be re-
GREETED that measures of this character
should be debated, passed or vetoed upon
party lines. All efforts made to conserve
the secresy of the ballot and to insure its
free casting and the honest ascertainment
of the result, are above and rise superior
to all partisan considerations Governor
Hill is very explicit in his message in his
approval of the private voting booth feature
of the bill, and in his regard for the gen
orally expressed wish of the people, that
there shall be an honest count. But his
main objections to the bill are twofold;
first, the exclusion of all ballots, except
those printed by the State, he declares to be
unconstitutional, las it is the guaranteed right
of every voter to come to the polls with
his own prepared ballot secondly, that the
requirement that each ballot shall contain
the names of all persons who are candi-
dates, is inconsistent with the private
booth and secret ballot system. These are
the principal reasons he advances for the
veto, though he argues that under
the Saxton system it would be easier
to control elections by bribery than now,
because all the corruptionists would have
to do would be to buy the service of ballot
clerks. But he does not explain why it
would be less difficult to corrupt the cleo
ton board than now, and to be entirely
fair in treatment of the message,
we are unable to discern why board that
receipts to the Secretary of State for a
given number of ballots with numbered
stubs to be accounted for, and hands them
to voters as they apply for them, is more
liable to venal practices than one that re-
ceives the ballots from the voters and
counts them, who have in turn obtained
them from ticket peddlers. The Gov
ernor holds, also, that the proposed uni
form ballots that admit to their face
the names of all candidates are cumber-
some, unwieldy and will result in confu-
sion and error. So far as that is con-
cerned, it may be replied that the Legisla-
ture having passed upon that objection, it
is not fairly proper matter for the con-
sideration of the Executive. So far, too,
as the Governors defense of the posi-
ton of his party goes, it is worthy of
note that in Missouri, where oil almost
the copy of that vetoed in New York is
under consideration, the party supporting
it is that OF Governor Hill, and the Gov
ernor who is urging its adoption is of Gov
ernor Hills political faith. The New
York World, which is also of the party
household of Governor Hill, supports
the Saxton bill and scourges the Gov
ernor for his veto of what it terms
one OF the wisest and most progressive
measures Of the nineteenth century. 1t is
almost precisely the bill that was presented
to the California Legislature in this year
by the Young Mems Democratic League,
and is practically the same bill that the
Dar,acr,ts af Massachusetts, .p,ro.-ad
Every objection raised by Governor Hill
has been answered in Kentucky, Wiscon-
sin, Massachusetts, and in Missouri, and
are not there deemed to be any longer
open questions. 1t is remarkable that this
important message, the first yet given to
the country by the Governor of any State
upon the new system, protests most
strongly against the feature of the reform
that, by its friends, is advanced as the
chief reason why the bill should become
law-that the exclusive official ballot COM
pels secrecy; that it is TIE only means that
has yet suggested itself to human ingenuity
to relieve the voter from the domination
of the men in whose power in social or
business life he may be placed. A sample
of the difficulty with which the Governor
met in devisng objections TO ballot reform
as expressed in the Saxton bill, is found
in his fear that possibly the officers
upon whom the duty Of having the ballots
at the place of voting might neglect that
duty. 1t is at once suggested in reply
that so, too, might party committees as in
deed they have, not only forgotten, but
there have been instances in which they
have purposefully neglected to have suf
ficient number of ballots prepared for the
voters. SO, too, he says that it is seriou.
objection that should a candidate die just
before election there could be no substitu,
ton by his party. But all these ballot bill,
provide that new name may be written
in by the voter. and blanks are left for that
specific purpose. The objection that such
bills are unconstitutional because they re
aaire voters to use the official ballot, il
good for anything. applies also to the laws
of all those States which, like California
require the ballots to be uniform in tint Of
paper and quality, and to be printed in a
certain kind Of type. That all the names