Connecticut western news., 1890-05-07
BALLOT REFORM AT LAST
The Compromise Measure Has
 Become a Law.
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR HILL.

APPROVED BY GOVERNOK HILL. He Is Not Satisfied with the Bill, but
 Considers 1t Better Than None-The
 ''Paster'' Ballot Described-some of the
 Features of the Bill.
 ALBANY, May 3-In his memorandum filed with his approval of the amended Saxton ballot reform bill (bill 55O Governor Hill says:
 "The people of the state are to be con- graduated on having at last secured the enactment of 8 reasonable and constitu- tional electoral reform law The bill re- ceived the unanimous support of each branch of the legislature and apparently reflects faithfully the demands of public sentiment
 ''It is not claimed that it is perfect measure It must be conceded that it con- tains many cumbrous and unnecessary provisions, but it presents as a whole a fairly acceptable measure, capable of eff fecting some substantial and practical re- form.
 His Efforts Partially Successful.
 "It has been my earnest endeavor during the past three years to secure the enact ment of law which, while preserving the purity of elections, should not unnecessar- lily infringe upon the rights of citizens or violate constitutional guarantees. I have steadily opposed every effort to impose un- necessary restrictions and impracticable regulations which are not adapted to our free institutions, or which would render c1a c1xr o;xy r1 vexatious. It is to be regretted, however, that such endeavors have only been par tially successful"
 Features of the Approved Bill.
 After pointing out the differences be tween the present bill and the bills here tofore vetoed, and dwelling upon some of his objections to the latter, the governor says: "The approved bill provides for the private booth or compartment system in which the voter must enter and where he is at liberty to prepare his ballot in secret. The bill provides for independent as we'll printing of all ballots at public expense. It may we'll be doubted whether these pro- visions will effect all the reforms claimed in their behalf or that they will materially reduce the expenses of candidates, but they are worthy of fair trial. The blanket ballot, which has been one of the leading features of all the previous bills, has been abandoned. To that form of ballot have always strenuously objected, believing it to be cumbersome, unnecessary and unwar- ranted by the constitution. There has been substituted in it's place the form of ballot now in use to which the people are accus- toned and to which I firmly believe they desire to adhere.
 The "Paster" Ballot.
 "Each set of nominations is to be printed on a separate ballot, and one additional ballot is to be furnished, on which only the names of the offices to be filled are to be printed, and each voter on entering the polling place is to be given one set of these ballots, and upon entering the private con- partment he is to select one of them to vote. The bill also provides for a new species of ballot, known as 8 'paster' ballot, which the elector can procure any where outside of the polling place, and he is allowed to paste the whole thereof upon any of the official ballots which may be handed him and vote the same. The 'paster' ballot answers every purpose of the unofficial ballot contemplated in the Lnson bill. Instead of placing his ballot in an official envelope the elector is allowed to aff1x the same to an official covering which performs the same service. The H. Iterate voter may efectually indicate his choice by the use of the spaster' ballot, and he is not required to perform the inn possible task of erasing names which he cannot read or of making d1scriminations which he cannot comprehend.
 A Constitutional Ballot Preserved.
 "A constitutional ballot is sacredly pre- served. An elector Is permitted to vote 8 ballot which contains the names of the of fees to be filled and the names of the can didates of his choice and those only. One official ballot which the elector is to receive and upon which he is at liberty to af6x his 'paster' ballot, contains only the names of the offices to be filled. In one sense it may be urged that the exclusively official bal lot is still retained, but in another and broader view it is apparent that its pecu- liar characteristics have been largely elimi- hated e... 'sThe Tasmaniau Dodge'' Prevented.
 q have never objected to any reasonar ble regulations which have been suggested for the preservation of the secrecy of the ballot and the promotion of the purity o1 elections; but have opposed every effort, no matter how insidious, which has sought to undermine the principles of manhood suffrage and to establish conditions, re strictions and qualifications not authorized by the constitution itself. Unlike the first two bills this one applies to all elections I for public officers by ballot, except school | elections. One defect which has existed ir | all the previous bills has been cured ir this. A system of numbering the stubs | upon each ballot has been devised, where by it is believed that the evasion of the Australian system of voting known as the Tasmanian dodge' has been effectuallJ l prevented.
 l Some of the Bill's Provisions.
 "The conceded unconstitutional sectio1 in relation to the election of ballot clerks contained in the last bill has been rejected and valid and proper provision inserted The provisions applying the new system t< elections where constitutional amendment! or other similar questions are to be sub mitted to the people have been stricken out l The number of electors necessary to pre- sent independent nominations has bee1 increased from that required in the las two bills. The construction of the pro posed private booth substantially conform to the provisions of the Linson bill in tha regard. The provision giving two hours t1 workingmen in which to vote, without de duction of their pay, first recommended b. me in my annual message of 1888, has beel included in this measure.''
 '"The American Reform Election System.'
 The governor says that he has approved the bill with the registration provision omitted upon the assurance that such measure which passed the senate nearl. unanimously would also pass the assembly He says the new bill is not the Australian system, but it "may more appropriately b styled the American reform election sys tom, because 1t aims at practical rathe