New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-14
THE NEW ELECTION BILL.
FULL SYNOPSIS OF ITS PROVISIONS.
,sr TELEGRAPH TO -:;E ."'svSE.:

BRIBERY AS WELL AS FRAUD
A FAIR, NOX-PARTfsAN BILL.
tsr TELEGRAPH TO -:.E .r'svSE.;
WasIungton June lathe Republican members Of
the House Committee on Election of President Vice
President and Representatives in Congress VIII hoIu
another conference morrow, to consider tie bH %
amend the election laws one matter which is CIV
ing them some trouble is the framing OF section
which shall clearly define the powers ana duties 81
supervisors of Election in regard to registatoh' ana
enable them to meet and overcome the dhhcuIue>
created in some States by artful partisan registration
laws. in other states By the arbitrary and unawiu
acts Of partisan registration officers, ana by variety
OF other means.
In several of the States tens Of thousands OF voters
have been DISTINGUISHED either by laws when were III
contravention of the state Constitutions or py "e
pcrvcrsion of laws which. although severe ana OPP
pressivc H. the extreme. still within the pale OF
the STATE Constitution. Under the registration law
Of south Carolina man who arrlvc' al ule axe III
twenty years is forever dsfranchl>cd uhes9 e '
his name registered to be qualhcu l" NoIe al INC
first election after he becomes Of voting age That
provision is in flat violation Of the Constitution oil
south Carolina. Chairman Rowell, OF The Elections
rompittec has clearly demonstrated. In the same
State the man who parts with his registration Ger
tiGcae for any reason whatsoever Is not alio"e1 %
vote. In other States different methods are eSorru
10 in order TO deprive voters OF their rghts' i"o
committee doubtless, would De gldu 10 Ic'oN0 "7
cestions from election officers of experience and o'e
In regard to the best and most practicable metou VI
meeting and overcoming the serious obstacles by
which II is confronted in regard to the registration
provisions Of the bill
The Democrats continue TO insist that the Dill Is
really designed to apply to the south Yet the D'n'
oc,ats also cOntend-especalN do Southern Demo
crafts contand-that elections in the South are as lilr
and honest as in any other part of the tnioh' II
that contention be true it most absurd for them 10
fy inc a rage. threaten bloodsled-aS senator r"N'
has done-or threaten in advance the lie o every
man who may sign petition for Cnited states super
vision OF elections as some southern men IN tc
House have done. less openly and couidseousN Una"
Senator PuGh did. II elections in South Carolina are
a. fair and honest "a south Carolina Democrats assert
that they are" honest As in NeWJerscF, on ~
item is reported as sayinC-why. then, the proposed
law will Le as applicable - New-Jer-cF as 10 oon'i
Carolina If the south has been all along. AS Nj.
Crsn Colonel oates and Others assert the victim ot
Republican trsduccrs and slancerers' the proposed
law will cradle her at once to clear her Own shTS
and cover her slandercrS with deserved contempt
and infamy ~
The measure proposed is no such partisan or one
sided affair a, The Democrats would he glad to MAKE
people believe it IS II i matter OF 50 mh'n pun
uc Interest because il is become law and has och
tho object of 50 much Misrepresentation" "rFc
extent by persons who do not know what II contains
that a rather full synopsis Of its PROVISIONS I'-
Gliding it is believed. all the substantial '"'nsv'
which the Republican caucus desired 20 DC "'''0' -
here given:
nv section l. chief supervisors Of election are
caTred both in person and through the supervisor oil
election with the supervision OF elections 81 "l"'H
Representatives or Delegates in congress arr N''o'
for with the enforcement Of the Na'ohal ee'"'"
laws and with the prevention OF frauds ana "'e-'
laltes in DECENTRALIZATION
section > provides that registration OF voters
hold rrior 70 or for any election at which Repre-
eer-at,yc or DELEGATE in Congress Is t. be voted io
and any such election, may b. guarded scFulh@cu anu
supervised in the following places In any Guy OF Town
having 10000 inhabitants or upward. OF III aug
county or parish. or In any entire congress p'S'''
10 part Of which Is in such city or town. whenever
ZOO or more citizens of the United states. residents
nj and qualified voters in said city or town. or Ihe
number of citizens and voters in said entire Con
gross District or fifty more citizens ana NoverS J."
said county or parish shall petition THEREFOR a'ic9"7
that there is danger that. without such supervision,
sch registration and election, or such election VIII
not be fair aud free.
Following this new section is To be inserted
which will define with precision the powers and dueS
~ supervisors in regard to registration, 80 "a u meet
and cover cases in states where. as in south Carolina
there is a permanent registration 50 hedged ABOUT ~
STATE law as virtually disiranchiSc thousands ~
voters or where. IN Virginia, Florida ana perhaps
some other states, registrars, in violation OF ooth te
,et,er and spirit Of the laws, have arbitrarily
stricken The names Of thousands of qualified qotera
from the registration lists, and TO meet other eHccp
tionsl cases.
sertjon Of the original bill provided that, upon
receipt of a petition before described inc OnHeo
states Circuit Judge shall within days open his court
and keen the same open until the second day after t'
election for the transaction of all business pertain
ing 10 registration or election matters which may o
done or required by law; said business may be ooI'
as well in vacation in term time and Judge si'uh'
IN chambers shall have the same powers ana JuIIsu
+,on az when sitting in court. II necessary, th'
Circuit Judge may delegate his authority 10 one o.
more District Judges in the state where supervisor
Is sought.
A supervisor Of election must be voter In th'
city town or Congress district, county or parsh Il
which his duties TO be discharged; must De o
good character and able 10 read and write INC hheis
language Supervisors Of election are to be ap
nointed by the United states Circuit Court upol
nomination of the Chief Supervisor the number shai
h, at least twice the number required for actua
service; and from among the persons 50 appolNe'
The Chief Supervisor shall select for each precinct ""
who shall be Of different political parties, ana on
additional person. to on election day ana uhu
the completion OF the canvass. No tender of resign"
ton shall excuse any supervisor from service uht
he shall have been advised of its acceptance IN
Chief Supervisor may at any time transfer a super
visor from duty In one election district TO uuty
another district in the city town, county 0
parish, Congress district; and he may suspcn
from duty any supervisor for sufficient cause Onl
such supervisors shall actually do duty shall b
entitled to compensation. The duties of supervisors
IN addition TO the duties now authorized or requires
TO be performed by them are defined as follows
To attend wheresoever they may be assigned or nay
directed 10 serve the Chief Supervisor OF Election
examine and inspect. the morning OF election day. an
before any ballot deposited in any ballot box u.s.
for any purpose election at which Represenat'
or Delegate Congress is to be voted for the interior
.h sueh box for the purpose asceranng that at tn
time there are ballots any candidate for such oh
contained therein supervision OF registration
petoned for make. when required by the Chei Supe
visor OF Election a. and complete return Of the rgi
,ton Of persons who may be registered who may