The sun., 1890-12-13
omeial Results Of tho Now Ballot Law.

Tho of1olA canvass Of the votes cast at
ths late municipal election has made Its ap-
pearance In the columns Of that authentic
and Trustworthy channel Of oflctal infor-
nation. tho City Record and 1t Is important
as showing tho result Of tho first election
hold under tho provisions Of tho existing
law. This law bears tho title OF ian act to
promote tho Independence Of voters at
public elections, enforce the secrecy Of the
ballot and provide for the printing and
distribution Of ballots at the public ex-
pense;" but tho chief effect Of Its practical
operation seems to have been blow at In
dependent candidature. no candidate for
any legislative Office having received an
even respectable vote, except as the nominee
Of q faction. 1t has put an end, virtually,
to Independent nominations.
Another feature which the official canvass
reveals Is that 1t has served to introduce
into the electorate GLASS OF new and not
altogether desirable persons. tho "blank"
voters. Last year. on poll substantially
as largo as that Of this year. tho total
number Of blank votes canvassed for the
head Of tho State ticket was 1856 In tho city,
and for the head Of the municipal ticket (Mr.
ARNoLD), 800. This year the number OF
blank ballots on tho State ticket Is 20,2e4
while for Congressman 1t Is 12,2s7. for As
semblymen. 1858. and for Aldermen, 12,bbs.
In other words, the provisions Of the law
regarding tho official tickets were such that
the voter was deprived Of much Of the inde-
pendence which he had previously enjoyed;
and instead OF being permitted TO make up
such O ticket as his VIEWS sentiments, and
convictions might dictate. he found himself
compelled to make q choice from among the
tickets furnished him, many Of these. on &C.
count OF the intricacies OF the law. containing
blank spaces.
Another defect OF tho law, and ono that
shows how poorly Its provisions were UNDER
stood, Is furnished In the case OF GABRIEL
MARKS, stump candidate for the Office of
Sheriff. Mr.. MARKS was nominated by some
friends without the faintest expectation OF
success. He represented no principle. and
no canvass was made In his behalf. The ticket
upon which his name appeared was In all
respects identical with the one nominated
by the Democratic organization Of Tam
many Hall. Each votor on election day, In
his bunch Of ballots received two complete
Democratic tickets, differing only in the
nsme for Sheriff. tho regular one having
upon IL LILO udIn0 Oh JuuSo THURMAN, Wullo
tho other contained tho name Of MARKS.
There was nothing else on the ballot to tell
tho difference and In consequence Of this q
considerable number OF ballots were cast by
mistake for Mr.. MARKs-1O. AL In all. As a
condition OF voting. every voter was obliged
to handle q MARKS ticket; the city was
compelled to print over ono million Of them.
Tho last election for President OF the
United States was determined by l4.S7s
votes cast In New York State. . change Of
1900 votes being sufficient to turn the
scale. The previous Presidential election
turned on q majority OF Loaf. which 600
votes cast otherwise than they were would
have upset. Yet In this city month ago.
under this now system. l20O0 persons voted
"blank." while perhaps 5000. In single In
stance. seem by mistake to have voted for a
candidate they did not desire. and against
ono whom they preferredl
Under tho old law the election OF 1889 cost
the people OF this city $243.229; under the
new system the election OF 1890 cost the
people S432.4l7. According to the sworn
statements made by the candidates them
selves. and filed according TO law In the