New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-01
FOR A BOARD OF ELECTIONS
AN IMPORTANT BILL INTRODUCED Bf A.
SEMBLYNAN HOAG.
An ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE CONTROL OF EUEC'
TIONs FROM MAYOR GRANTS PARTI

uRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUSE]
Albany. Feb IS. The spectacle Of three Democrats
and one Republican members OF the board oi
Police Of New York. with the knowledge thai thl'
Board has the appointment through tic bureau OK
Elections Of the inspectors Of election in New-forK
is one that has been looked upon with great dsfav0r
by the Republican Legislature ever since IL mct'
As is well known for twenty years past the Democratic
Mayors Of New Yor appointed Republicans to succeed
Republicans as Pocc Commissioners, and Democrats
to succeed Democrats. There was "balance OF
power, Of two thus in the Board Of Police, and
policemen therefore assumed attitude OF benevoleI
neutrality upon election day. Mayor Grant las'
spring at the lnstieat0n OF Governor Ill., broke TINS
long standing practifc by appointing James j. Nsruh'
a Democrat to succeed stephen Il. French, kepuD-
llcan whose term as Police Commissioner expired.
The balance of power was thus destroyed. since thei
not only has tho Republican party been NJ u
disadvantage in having its political oppo-
nents in control Df the Police Department. but
IL has had grave reason TO suspect that the B0ard Oh
Police In choosing the inspectors OF clect0n-that 49,
the men who count The vOcs-apponted In many cases
ustensble Republicans. and not actual ones Naturally
any political party is unwilling that the men VINO
are TO guard its Interests at polling places shall be
appointed BY men Of opposite political faith. Nor
i II alone TO the interest OF Republicans that TanInany
Hall should not appoint the men who are to count
the votes. Every Independent Democrat every Pro
hibitionst, every Independent Citizen has similar
interest
To-day Assembly man Hoag, Republican, introduced
a hill 10 end this unfair and dangerous arrangement
lie presented measure which dcprlves the Board Oh
Police Of its control Of tho Bureau OF Elections ana
rrovldcs for the election Of two Commissioners OF hiec
lions, one TO be Republican and the other one 10 DC
a Democrat. The. men are to be elected al the
general election mel t fall and are to serve for SIX
mars and receive On annual salary OF $4,000. The
bill says
In case O, a vacancy Office Of Commissioner OF
Elections the shall appoint person TO act a. such
Commissioner the political faith and opinions on
state Issues person whom he IL appointed to sue
coed and he shall such Commissioner until the first
day OF January succeeding the election at which sue
oessor il chosen
Elections occurring hc Of the other Commissioners OF
Election. and determine at the first day
- January succeeding election at which successor TO
on such vacancy chosen, and at such election two Com
mi.Soncrs Election shall be elected. one to I'LL each
vacancy.
The said Department. Of Elections from and after noon
on the frs. day Of January 1871 hal possess all the
power, relating elections vested IN the Board OF
Police and upon thu organization said Department OF
Elections 10 shall duty % the Board OF Police TO
transfer to Department Of Elections thc Bureau Of
Elections and tccorls books property and the offices
now occupied ~ ss,d' Bureau.
There shall tid Department OF Elections bureau
to be known the lBursu OF Elections. The AFFAIRS OF
said bureau shall lund.r and subject such rules.
regulations and order. a, may time to time be made
and adopted by Of Elections. Dr. man
serd conducted and carried by suitable and proper
person 70 BE- chn.cntani selected by aid Commissioners
who shall be known IA. Chc' o, the Bureau OF Eec-
lions who shall hold onc for The period OF three years ana
whose salary shall be pllt by ah Commissioners.
AZ such sum ~ they deem proper. rot cs"''dlng
q 600 and shall removable by the Commissioners OF
Elections for cause.
Tho person now holding office Of Chief Of the Bureau
O, Elections IN the the Department Of Police shall
continue TO holl aid orcr under the Department OF
Election. rrti -, nr.t dav q January. 1898.
THEN follow, this important provision regarding
the inspectors Of election:
II ,s b. ,he inv said Commissioners OF Elections
annually I'm the months Of August and September IN e"'h
nceedny year for each district IN said city ana
county 70 select inspectors Of election f'ur
u two of whom on State issues shall De Of different
not,al faith aud opinion, from their associates anu
nose annotated to represent ia. party in political minority
an Stat. issues In said city aud county 70 De hao
oy by such Conr.ls- OF Elections Is the frpfe'
sentative ~ political minority Ana H. Az 'he hN'
nrecing municipal election any political party OF orrani'
ration shall have Tor ~ anddsie for any once I"
many a. nnr thousand votes upward and tho said Com
,,ty or organization entitled Ia the appointment
n, ., lea.t on. q. such inspectors Zach election district
to r-prc-eu, IT, shall BE- the duty OF said 'omnls.
.i.n.r OF Elections appoint FOR Zach election di>ucc
In s,tl .t~ and county further and additional III
uctor Of election Of the political fah or opinion % >'u
totcal party and enrolled member OF the ofR''N'o"
thereof and the inspectors OF election apIohtn 10 rel
son, aid o:cal party organization shall be appointed
-oly by such Commissioner of Elections - the ch'"
and .o,rctiry Of organization OF SAID poeai parry "
-ald city - all 4 signatr.