The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-08-21
THE "FoKcE" BILL.


Democratic statesmen are howlinl
themselves hoarse because it is proposed
to put the Federal Election law into force
upon request of 100 persons. For nine
teen years in the cities of the North this
law has been executed upon the applica-
ton of two citizens-all that the statutes
required. That has been done without
objection on the part of any journal,
any committee. organization or body of
citizens. When, however, in the pro
posed bill it was thought wise to in
crease the number who should ask for
it's enforcement and it was increased to
100, the whole Democratic party of the
country becomes shocked at the idea
that 100 citizens in Congressional dis
trict put in execution statute of the
United States.
We are speaking now of the conserva-
tive character of the law, and this
request of one hundred comes under
that head. Under the present law the
United States marshal may appoint as
many special deputies as he sees fit,
there being no limit to tho num-
ber No marshal in the Southern dis
trict of New York ever had over 2,400
special deputies. Ex-Prcsident Cleve-
lands marshal (McMahon), at the cleo
ton of 1888, proposed, and so notified
the Department of Justice, to appoint
four thousand special deputies in the
city of New York. The department got
frightened and declared that he should
not do it, fearing if he did he would
have some difficulty in getting their pay
as long as the department had taken the
stand it had. He appointed some two
thousand odd under pay and then ap-
pointed others who agreed to serve with
out compensation. The proposed bill
places a check or limitation. upon the
number of marshals who shall hereafter
be employed. 1t provides that hereafter
the marshal shall consult the chief
supervisor as to the number of deputies
which, in the opinion of the chief super
visor, may be necessary to preserve the
peace and execute the warrants which
may be issued. 1t also provides that no
other or greater number shall be ap-
pointed than the chief supervisor is will
ing to certify are necessary for these
purposes. This one limitation will, in
the city of New York, save at least
$4,000 on the item of marshals. Under
the existing statute two have been
appointed for each election district
Under the law now marshals receive
pay for not exceeding ten days. The
proposed law provides that marsbals
shall be paid hereafter for the days only
on which they actually do duty, not ex-
ceeding eight days. The chief supervisor
has always maintained that within the
territory lying north of Twenty-third
Street and south of Harlem River and
between Lexington and Sixth Avenues,
not twenty-five marshals were nee
essary.
No fee of chief supervisor is in
creased in the promised bill, while on
the contrary prohibitions are put upon
the charges which some chief supervisors
have heretofore made The present law
provided that in all places outside OF
cities of 10000 inhabitants and upward,
supervisors, if there be no registration,
for the days on which they serve shall be
paid not exceeding So, and if there
be registration, not exceeding Sc,
and in the cities. If there be n reEistra-
ton, not exceeding Sl2. This is a re.
duction except in the cities, and there il
is increased, because some of the States,
such as Massachusetts,, have registry that
continues for twelve,days, and in Maryland
the supervisors have been obliged tC
serve by reason of the State law fol
eleven days, but the courts of this State
decided that Notwithstanding they were
obliged to serve that number of days, the
statute did not give over $40. So that
they have been raised to Sl2, which il
the maximum under any State law
They are obliged to serve though paid
for only the actual days of service
Hence, in New York it would not cause
anyincrease over what it Is at the present
time-being four days of registry, ont
day of election and one day of verifica
ton of registry, ......
| Upon the whole, then, the Fedora
Election bill is neither force bill nor ;
radical bill, 1t increases the numbe
who should ask for Its enforcement i
curtails rather than expands the numbe
of marshals and 1t restricts the possibl,
number of days employment anC
reduces the pay Of officials employed t.
enforce its provisions Y. Press.