Morning journal and courier., 1890-06-17
NATIONAL ELECTION BILL,

NATIONAL ELECTION FILL.
 The Principal Features of the Measure
 -Daties of the Chief Supervisors of
 Elections-The Penalties for Bribery
 and False Regissration.
 WASHINGTON, June 16.-The national elec- ton bill as framed by the house republican caucus committee and introduced by Repre- sentative Lodge of Massachusetts has just been printed. It makes seventy-six printed pages. The principal features of the measure, cempendiously stated, are as follows: Chief supervisors of elections in judicial districts are charged with the execution of the law which is to apply to federal elections In cities of twenty thousand inhabitants and upwards and in entire congressional districts, exclu- sive of such cities, upon application to the supervisor of one hundred voters, or in counties and parishes forming part of a con- gressienal district upon application from fifty voters. The supervisors are to guard, scrutinize and supervise registration and every act OF incident connected with regis- tratien and plans for ascertaining who are legal voters. Upon notice from the chief supervisors the United States circuit courts are required to open fer the purpose of trans action, registration and election matters. The supervisors are to be appointed by the cir- cult courts-three in each election district or voting precinct, but two of whom are to be of tho same political party. These supsr- visors are to attend all registrations in their districts, challenge persons, personally in- spect and copy the original registration books and papers, attend elections and detect and expose the improper or wrongful manipula- tion of the lists. In case of failure of local election officers to put the statutory oath to a challenged voter and to pass at once upon his qualifications, then the supervisors are to apply the test and receive and deposit the vote, making list of all such challenges. They are also to personally inspect ballot boxes before elections, keep independent poll lists and inclose rejected votes Gndersed with the name of the voter) in envelopes. In ad- dition to these duties the supervisors are re- quired to make-in towns of twenty thou sand people and upward-a thorough house to house canvass before election, to inform voters upon inquiry where and in what box to deposit their ballots, and to sorutinizs naturalizations. In canvassing the votes the state laws are to govern except: All ballots are to be counted by tens, first by an inspector of election and second by super visor, the local officers and the supervisors keeping teparate tally y-sheets which are to be compared end the result published. Bal lots deposited in the wrong box are to be counted. Returns are to be made by the supervisors in duplicate to the clerks of the circuit courts and to the chief supervisor, who Is to tabulate and refer them to the United States board of canvass of the con- gressional vote, which is to be appointed by the United States circuit'eours and to con sist of three citizens of the state, persons of good repute, not more than two of whom are to be of the same political party. The board is to con- vene on November 15 each even year and is to declare and certify the result of the election and send one return to the clerk of the house of representatives, one to the governor of the state and one to the proper 1 the house is to place upon the roll of men- | bers elect the names of the persons declared ! elected by the United States eanvassers, in case their is difference in the result reaeh-
 ed by them and by the state election officers. A penalty of between $1,00O and $5,000 is provided in case the
 clerk neglects his duty. Every ballot box
 is to be clearly inscribed ss to it's nature, ,and
 boxss are to be kept in plain sight and open
 to inspection. Bribery or attempted bribery
 of voters or election officers is made punish- able by fine of not more than $5,000 or
 Imprisonment not more than five years, or
 both.
 Like severe penalties are provided for false
 registration and vote repeating, coercion oi l supervisors or voters, improper cenduct o l election officers, false eanvassing, ballot boz
 stufirg, fraudulent ballot distribution, re-
 sistauce to a supervisors lawful commands
 breach of the peace at registration or election
 intimidation and almost every kind of cleo
 tien fraud.