New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-24
A BALLOT-REFORM BATTLE.
HEARING ON THE sAxToN BILL BEFORE A
SENATE COMMITTEE.
MR.. sAxToN ANNOUNCES SOME IMPORTANT
AMENDMENTS TO THE MEAsURE-LIEUTEN.
ANT.GovERNoR JONES. EX-SENATOR
GRADY AND W. NJ WINS HEARD
A QUESTION OF vERACITY.
,sr TELEGRAPH TO TIE -.~rBusE.I

tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE -"'BuSEl
Albany, Jan. 23.-There was confct OF dramatic
intensity over the Saxt0n Ballot Reform Dill before
tbe senate Committee General Laws this afternoon
II was the first hearing yet given on the BILL and both
friends and opponents OF the bill thought 1t well to
a.a n oood presentation OF their views. Senator
ea,.oo was az course present, and he was aided by
w,niam NJ. WINS late Chamberlain Of New York, who
ro,rosented the Ballot Reform League Governor
ll apparently disturbed by the support the Ballot
Reform measure has recently received from his fellow
democratic Governors-Campbell, OF Ohio; Wilson, OF
West Virginia. and Albeit, OF New-Jersey-thought IL
necessary TO send before the committee to make
danonstration against the BILL of his most slav-
sb followers Ex-senator Grady, of New-York, re-
contlv reoudatcd al the polls, and Assemblyman
william F. sheehan, Of Buffalo, were among tne
snokesmen for Governor HILL Mr.. Grady said ne
only appeared TO speak for HIMSELF but there can DO
M question that he echoed the sentiments OF Tammany
HILL and of Governor Hill in opposition to the bii'
Then there was Lieutenant Governor Jones expressing
IT. nosi,ion IN the vital feature Of the bill, the re-
,roment that there shall be Official ballot. Sen
,,r Iinson OF Kingston who would like to vote for
senator saxons bill but hardly dares TO, was present
IN inter few perfunctory words In commentator OF
Goyernor HIPS sham Ballot Reform bill
The hearing began by tho interesting statement from
senator saxton that he had amended his Dill so thie
all the candidates OF each political party were
avon i,,iterae voters, he said, to discover easily
,ho columns in which were printed the
names of their political favorltes. In another
mnortant amer dment he had set aside the provision
that voters should put cross opposite te name Oh tc
candidates they selected, and submitted the IT,
| ouirement that they should cancel with pen OF
pencil stroke the of all candidates ior "hom 'oS
do not vote Mr.. SaxtOn said, IN part:
de.re IN state certain amendments which have drawn
Nm and put in this bill propose az amendment Oh sec
zion IL In regard the form OF the baliot aC seco
lid that the names OF all candidates for the same once
sbold he stated underneath the title OF that ONCE i"'
- =, h.ot was contrary to my ideas. have always
heen convinced that the best way the least
could he tn group candidates under title OF er
artv in pafale columns. The last column sha DC ci.
b,ank governor Hill has stated that possibly all poticai
,rtos may neglect to make nominations 1t Is dihcut 10
think OF such a contingency ~ possible ou' we nav
yded that the county clerks shall leave pahhs Ill e oa
,,,Ich han he filled with the names OF candidates oy
voters Mr. sheehan last made The objection eha'
. might ncssbly die his nomination and there De
| NO candidate In New-YoIk candidates never die.
Mr. Sheehan-Thcy do in Massachusetts
Mr. saxton-In such we permit the use OF an un'
ocial ballot Then provide also that all names sha W
from the ballots except those of the candidates voted
AR OF course this changes the mode OF indicating
choice In other bills It has been provided that cross
should be marked opposite the name oi ea0l
nm raised the constitutional objection that the ballot must
not contain the OF one candidate Tor Governor
or for any office never have construct ue cohS"u.on
in that way and thought that perhaps IL would Do
best TO have all the names stricken out anu uie cos
| tional objection would be avoided 49,
senator Brown-How about striking the names out with
| a pencil .,
| by courts.
rhen Lieutenant Governor Jones came forward and
| said:
| Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen OF the Committee; VIII
not permit any one to claim more elh,'. VI n',o
desire for ballot Reform than myself ana he h'hua
ton that those do not with the saNton Dill IN '
ntretv are not honestly In favor OF the proposed reform
an injustice against which most respectfully protest
| Conceding to all the same honesty OF purpose "heh
claim for myself have no hesltancy IN ASKING
lion for few suggestions All must recognize a. iac'
that any change voting system Is in the nature OIL
an experiment the election as legislator uoes ho'
nm fortunacly carry herewith nfalbiy. Inc people
| demand Of the Legislature Ballot Reform This re-
ouiremcnt does emanate from any one potcai parry
nor k H. addressed to any political division oil the Legs
lature This being 80, you are debarieu iom naAs ~.
nror,sed reform a party measure, or from cohsuerhs
in the light Of It's benefit or injury to the potcai parry
with whom you act All citizens are equally ntercsu
g., the nurty of elections Were convinced that purity
| OF elections could only he secureu ny VII,
MA OF an exclusive Official Daiiot'
I'D not onnose such restriction but as am not oil tina
nion must respectfully object to the adoption OF sue
measure But feeling assured that the majority OF th
Legislature will not any bill without such provision
hold that It the duty OF the minority 10 MAKE every
IN thpir
ior,ty insist upon passing as unobIecuohao'e !"
| rossIhle therefore appeal TO the spirit o
| concession that should exist for the cafeiul con
alteration Of few suggestions. The constitution ac
cords the right OF suffrage to every citizen Whatever HI
station and he should only be permitted 10 eNercls
that right without unnecessary hndrance but certainly
without humiliation In behalf of all lliteate voters
would make earnest protest against The provision con
tanned I'm Section %. Line g. which reads; Any vote
bo declares under oath said inspectors that ne canno
assistance Of election officers to be OF dherent po
litIca parties and to be selected by the Board OF In
specors" Believing, as do, that the erect oi iii
clause will deter many OF that class OF czehs iron
Gaming To the polls ask YOU consider whether all tina
IS desired cannot accomplished without such humiliation
OF the terate voter, and to achieve this 10 my mlhu
very desirable object would suggest that the provision
for the form OF ballot provided In Sector
~ should he changed so that OF the candidate
| Of each party should be placed under the designation
| q, each uarty That is to say that each part
ballot shall be complete in itself, at the hea
OF shall be legIby printed the name OF the party
| Tho state Committee OF each political party shall II
such manner It decide adopt an insignia or devc
such as lion, star, eagle an anchor, or any othe
semblanco OF thing which may be selected ana adOpe
for the purpose proposed as the insignia OF the party
| which insignia shall be printed, occupying the size
| one square inch directly beneath the party name
the right and adjoining the insignia shall be ban
| spacc OF the size that any person desiring
vote the entire ballot Of that party shall only need
mark cross in space This method, with the othe
provisions OF the BILL would protect the ilterate vote
In the exercise Of his rights without the necessity
publicly proclamne his iiteraey and would at the sam
| time expedite voting all who desired to vote hi
| entire party ticket could do with single mark
, | Experience the OF the so-caled Australian
ballot in other States has shown minor officers
not receive anything like the number Of votes that ar
cast for heads Of the tickets for the that tn
voter through csressness fatigue nogects to ndieat
his preference. do not wherein the arTangemcn
OF the ballots in groups, OF parties instead OF groups
OF officers Will conflict with anything beyond precon
ceiyed preference II will certainly add TO the con
yenlence ALL both in the voting and the subsequen
counting 1t is announced In the public press that tn
promoters Of this bill propose push through withou
amendment and that the hearing is simply eomplianc
with \ ume-honored custom. / have TOO much respec
for the authors OF this bill TO believe that the bill
Q not open to any amendment that justice demands