The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-16
WHY THIS SHCRHSY?
The Public Want to Know
Who the New Election
Officers Will Be.
HARD TO GET GOOD MEN.
Efforts of the County Committees
Still Leave the Lists.
Incomplete.

The disposition of those in authority to
keep from the public the list Of the new
election officers is creating an intenae
feeling of mingled bitterness and curl
osity throughout the county I talked
with several last night who have the mat
ter in charge, and talk on the subject
leads to the conclusion that the hint let
drop by Secretary Thomas McEwan, Jr.,
OF the Republican County Committee, ex-
plains the matter pretty accurately Mr..
McEwan talked for long while, and his
explanations would fill column. But
towards the last he said:-"Oh I'll admit
| am partially responsible for holding
back the Republican list You see, the
democrats haven't yet announced their
list. and experience has demonstrated
that it is foolish to be caught mapping by
the Democratic Ring of Hudson county.
NEITHER LIST COMPLETED.
"The list Is not yet complete. / am un-
der the impression that the other side is
laboring under the same embarrassment.
Our County Committee HASN'T had a
meeting since the list was made out The
two committees, Executive and Election,
were only advisory, and only wanted to
help out Mr.. Collins, who, by virtue of
his position as chairman of the County
Committee, by the law, has the appoint
ing power.
whole thing resolves itself into these two
considerations:-1. We want the oppor-
tuntty to revise the list. 2. BY withhold
ing the list for the present the danger Of
attempted tampering with individuals
whose names are published is lessened.
Besides" continued Mr.. McEwan, two
don't want to make enemies of those
whose names might be published, yet
afterward rejected"
Secretary James T. Minturn, into whose
hands the two unfinished lists are at
present. is out OF town; but John r.
| Virgins, chairman of the County Board
OF Registration. discussed the matter at
some length.
The selection of individuals" !" said he,
who are to form the 129 election boards
of the county under the new law is no
slight task, / can assure you. So far as
the Republican representation is con-
cerned 1t was left TO the Executive Com
mittee of Ten-one from each district
HARD WORK TO GET GOOD MEN.
we have been four weeks getting
those names. You see, under the old
law two days of registration was all that
was required. Under the new law the
Board of Registration meets q month be-
fore election day for the purpose of or
ganization. They meet on the following
| Tuesday, and with the blank poll lists
| furnished by the Secretary of State, make
a house to house canvass, divid-
/ ing the districts as tar as posSi-
bic between one Democrat and
one Republican They have from
half-past ten O'Clock or that Tuesday un-
| Til Saturday night to complete the can
vass. They meet the following Tuesday
] and elect two poll clerks--one Republican
| and one Democrat They sit as Board
of Registration. The clerks make dupli-
cate copies of these poll books and send
| them to Judge Lippincott, who, with his
| associates on the bench, sit as Board OF
| Registration, adding to or taking from
| the list, according to the testimony, such
names as may, in their discretion, be
| deemed right and proper.
$50 you see the time is considerably
| broken up. Individuals who have hith-
| erto served as election officers decline to
serve under the new law, because of the
excessive time required. There is diff
| ference of between three and nine days.
! Then, again, a man, under the new law,
who holds public office, is Disqualified;
| whereas. heretofore, Justice of the
| Peace, constable, q notary of the pub
| lie, employees of the Post Office or Custom
| departments served willingly. You can
readily see what time we have had to
| secure even the uncompleted list, subject
| to changes and alterations. Naturally
we are not disposed, as yet, to make the
| list public"
Others with whom talked, including
| Justice Wanser, Colonel Dickinson and
| William II. Corbin, declared they knew
nothing about the matter.