The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-28
OBJHCHING TO TIE BILL.
Interviews With Senators
and Assemb1ymen on
Werts' Bill.
OBJECTIONS ON ALL SIDES.
Senators Gardner, Adrain and Nc
Donald Give Their Views to the
"News" Correspondent.
Special to the Jerssy Citv Menus.

-GOmm1ttee on Ball0C keI0fm lASU IueS-
Gay does not seem to meet with the appro-
baton 1t was hoped that it would receive
Almost everyone to whom have spoken
upon the subject had some fault to find
with the measure. Senator Gardner, who
is busy ferreting out the frauds in the
Hudson county ballot boxes, took time to
glance at the published synopsis of the
bill and then said:--
"a RANK PARTISAN MEASURE
81 have just glanced at the bill, and my
general opinion, which is subject to re-
vision after careful study of the bill, is,
that it is rank partisan measure, while
it tails in some of its principal features.
1t creates partisan State Board OF Regis
tration, consisting of the Governor, one
Democrat and one Republican, which
will have the appointment OF all Boards
of Registry throughout the State, which,
in effect. gives the Democrats control OF
every precinct in the State. The Boards
ought to be non-partisan.
.sThe list is to be revised by the Court
of Common Pleas. That does not help
matters any. as the Courts of Common
Pleas are Democratic bodies all over the
State.
Il don't really see that there are any
safeguards against corruption and frauds
in the elaborate official ballots, when the
bill provides that other ballots similar to
the official ballots may be distributed ten
days before election and lawfully voted.
The official ballot would not be used IN
de: that provision in any district where
it was desired to pursue the present
practices. But other similar ballots
which may be lawfully distributed ten
DAYS before would be used
.sIn other words the bill has great deal
to- say about official ballots, and then pre-
vides that other ballots may be lawfully
voted. My hasty and partial reading OF
bill has failed TO disclose any adequate
provision for the prevention of the prac-
tices disclosed by the examination OF the
boxes opened this afternoon"
MERELY A GROUND WORK.
Senator Mcdonald SAID in speaking of
of the bill:-"I will be guided entirely, by
the discussion. L am anxious for a
measure which will be acceptable to all
people. We have nothing as yet but the
upon which we propose to build the
measure.
.Of course have my Individual views
upon the subject. but l am willing to give
them up for the welfare of all | think
there Will be some delay in bringing the
measure meas i before the Legislature, caused
by the thorough discussion the bill will
receive in committee.
.Ihere is hardly anything in the Werts
bill which is not useful and cannot be
utilized in a law upon the subject. In
some respects it goes too far for some and
not far enough Tor others. 1t however
reveals one great deficiency. 1t permits
the counting of the vote in the same man
ner in which it is now required by law,
which, in my opinion, Is the one great
thing which needs to be provided for by a
far more guarded and stringent method.
.sOf course the committee when all our
views are in and to some extent embodied
in or with the great bulk of the Werts
bill, will probably obtain something that
will meet with the approval, 1T not OF all
the people, at least of their representa-
tiyes in both houses. !"
IT is CUMBERSOME
Senator Adrain, VINO has advocated
bill for throwing safeguards about cleo
tions, said:-sI advocated a ballot reform
bill last year and still think such
measure necessary The method pro-
posed, however, in my opinion, is cum
it, is liable to disenfranchise d large num-
ber of voters. The demand by the people
for such measure, however, is so great
that man must shelve his private views
and vote for the bill, which shall do in
every partlcul
sThe great difficulty with all bills of
this nature is that they are not in line
with the progress of the age, and put
honest men on level with raScals and
scoundrels, in order that the rascals can
not disfranchise the honest citizen by
putting his vote in the box for consid-
GRAFTON.
AGAINST NOMINATION BY PETITION.
II have only given Senator Werts' bill
q casual examination, and am not there
fore prepared to speak fully upon it. But
am not in favor of Section ~, which
permits the right of nomination by petit
iion. ! still favor the old-fashioned
method of nominations by conventions,
which has worked so well in this State
for so many years. / do not favor the
nomination by petition. because, in my
opinion it will enable certain organiza-
tions to get candidates before the people
which could not be accomplished III any
other way, and who may become one OF
the greatest strikes against the regular
candidate"
Assemblyman James S. Erwin was the
first to introduce a ballot reform bill into
the House and is q member of the Joint
Committee. "The bill from casual ex-
animation by me does not come up to my
idea of genuine ballot REFORM" he said.
cit contains, outside of the features taken
from the English corrupt practices act,
no great improvement, nor does II adopt
the best features suggested by the ad-
vanced and true, ballot reforms. 1t con-
tinues the old system of registration by
affidavit, whereas the sentiment of those
who advocate the reform is that per-
sonal registration is necessary"
'sIhe Dill further C0nElnueS the pafLlSan
character OF the election boards, whereas
it is the expressed wish of all genuine
ballot reformers that the election boards
and machinery shall be either taken out
of politics altogether by having the courts
appoint equally from both parties, or to
keep the election boards equally divided
between the two parties which at the last
preceding election cast the largest number
of votes.
THE ANTE-ELECTION BALLOT.
Again, the cardinal and essential fea-
cure of ballot reform is the absolute
guarding Of the balloJs up to the moment
of voting, by The officials having the same
in charge 70 Distribute the ballots be-
fore election, as the bill seems to provide,
except to make known their contents by
publication, permits the same old methods
of intimidation and bribery, deceit and
chicanery.
"Not having examined the bill in de-
tail and it yet being non-acted upon by
the committee, further expression of
views might be inopportune. AS the bill
is now, am not satisfied with it, The
committee has not accepted the bill; it is
only Senator Werts' plan. and when it is
reported by the committee / believe it
VIII be changed and improved in many
respects.
Praise from Sir Hubert.
With brilliant show of flags and
striking exhibit Of display type and an
impressive array OF statistics showing sue