New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
GOTERNOR HILLS MENNAGE.

! The message which Governor Hill sent TO
the Legislature yesterday is principally de-
voted to the consideration of the question OF
ballot reform. The entire message makes
pamphlet of thirty pages, and over twenty
one of them treat exclusively of this subject. 1t
is evident that the Governor is anxious to pro-
duce the impression that his own attitude to-
ward the reform is not only one Of respectful
attention but of fervent friendship.
Scattered through these twenty-one pages
are a number of pious reflections on the sacred
ness of the ballot and the rights of the voters,
which read in the light of the Governors record
as a worker at the polls of Elmira, or OF his
more general reputation for unscrupulouSneSS
as the political beneficiary of the rum power
campaign corruption funds, are seen TO he
merely buncombe. Besides one may well be
suspicious of the sincerity of man who be-
gins his discussion Of electoral reform as the
Governor does, with the prepoSterouS assertion
that the existing elections laws are " excellent
! II was under these q" excellent election laws
| that frauds were committed at the last cleo
| ton in Troy so atrOclous as 10 attract the AZ
tention of the entire State. However this Is
a side issue let us sec what are the Governor :
theoretical views touching ballot reform.
He believes in secret compartment in which
the voter shall prepare or examine his ballot I;
! that any new electoral system which may be
adopted should apply to all elections. general,
municipal and local; that there should be a
general registration of electors; that employees
of business establishments should be given two
hours for voting on Election Day at any gen
eral election; that the use of "pay envelope"
| al hot Cbould
be required to publish an itcmizcd verified
statement of their election expenses that pro
vision should be made for oustng from Office
a successful candidate who can he shown 10
have obtained his office by bribery that cleo
ton districts should not contain over 300
voters, and that provision should be made for
the use of an unofficial as well as official bal
lots.
Many OF these views are sound some OF
them are important; but the fact that the
Governor still insists upon the use OF unoihclnl
ballots separates him from the recognized
friends of genuine ballot reform. They hold
that the official ballot is of the essence OF bal
lot reform that without il it is useless 10 at
tempt to check bribery and corruption at the
polls or prevent candidates from being SWIM
|
ments which the Governor employs against an
exclusive official ballot are not new. lie made
them last May in his veto of the SaXton bill
and they were disposed OF at that time. " y
party ballot cannot be a secret ballot 50
saws Mr. Saxton. and 50 say those who are
making the fight with him More than that, an
exclusive official ballot is one OF the features
Of all the Ballot Reform laws which have been
successfully enforced. Governor AmeS. Of
Massachusetts, writing in the December" North
American " of the working OF the reform IN
that State. testified that the use of the cN
elusive official ballot "struck a severe blow a
corruption In politics" The Governors main
objections 70 the exclusive official ballot are
constitutional" objections. The Constitution
SAYS that every male citizen, twenty-one year,
of age, possessing certain qualifications OF
residence, shall be entitled 10 vote
for all Offices that now are or hereafter may
be, elective ly the people" Commenting
upon this provision the Governor says The
Legislature cannot restrict the right of Suffrage
thus established. II cannot restrict it directly
or indirectly" Under this Interpretation Of
the Constitution all registry laws are uncon-
stitutonal, since they are in sense :" indi-
rectly " restrictions upon the right Of suffrage.
An exclusive official ballot is no more OF a
restriction than a registry law. Under thai
| law an electOr cannot vote n all If his namc
is not on the list. Under the SaXton law he
cannot vote at all except he avails himself of
the official ballot
The SaXtOn bill will be pressed TO passage.
| The Republicans will support il with all hcarti-
ness, realizing that it cmbOdicS genuine prac-
teal REFORM and that behind it is the intclli-
gent reform sentiment OF the State and Of the
country If Governor Hill chooses 10 veto it
for the third time. that is his and his party
lookout Our friends al Albany will not lower
the standard 10 please a party with Hill as its
| boss which has never been identified with any
measure TO conserve the right Of suffrage
The rest Of the message is Of slight impor
lance. There is the familiar heated protest
against the course of the Republicans in de
clining 10 give the Governor additional Oppor-
| tuniticS TO veto an Enumeration bill. There is
also the usual sop for the saloons. a number
Of recommendations made in former messages
are renewed, and there is paragraph worth
considering in relation TO the improvement Of
country roads Perhaps the most gratifying
portion of the message is that which relates TO
finances The State is substantially out Of
debt. and the little Indebtedness that remains
is being paid as rapidly as the law permits.
s-----------------------
RAILWAY SIGNALS.
An interesting and suggestive article by
Dbl .,,I,,u in fi,,t,