The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-18
IN THE PRECINCTS.
The Perni cious Practice of The Poor-B OK
RrsHrrected.

The Perni cions Practice of The Poor-B OK
Rrsurrected.
This is the last day Of precinct registra-
ton, and all citizens who are not already en-
rolled on the great register should bear in
mind trat their neglect will cost them their
votes, if they let this day slip.
The work in the precincts yesterday was
completely uneventful. In reviewing the
certificates from the precincts many curious
and amusing mistakes are discovered, but
they are harmless in character and VIII cut
little figure in the result. For instance, fol
lowing are Il few samples of the way the
examination of applicants is conducted IN
some places:
Third Precinct. Foriy-seventh District. Michael
BroSnahau-Q.- Where were you born? A.
Irellnd. Q-What time were YOU naUuralzed?
A-Sixleen years. ON what place? A
Eriug, Prncevenia Q.-By what court? A
Judge Vincent A.-What become of your GER
tilcale of naturalization? A.-kurthcomlng on
Monday. Q-Where did you reside at the time
Of he naturalization OF your father? A.-No:
Joseph Dayis-Q.-Where were you born?
A.-Binghamie, y. y. Q-What Time were you
naIuralized? A.-Ditto. Q.-How long nave
you resided in the United States A.-Liietme.
Q.-Nh ere did you reside at The time OF Inc nat
uTaiiZatiUu of your father? A.-Not born.
David YOuug-Q.-Nhere were you born?
A.-Boston. Q.-N hat time were you natural
lied? A.-Liietme. ON what place? A
Boston Q.-By what court? A.-Superior court.
Q.-What became OF your papers? A.-None
Third Precinct, Forty-hfth District. James
Augustus cSweegan-Q.-Where were You
naturalzed? A.-Regl-tered) on Fathers Pa
Pers Q-Mas your iath,r 4 citizen en- o., OF t Ls
UuHeu States A'-NO. - Htte uiu ou ie-
side al tile lime OF the naturalization OF your
father? A.-NOt borned.
The question that comes up every election
about the right of sailors to register has
again been raised. The law on that point
reads:
For The purpose of voting no person shall be
deemed to have gained or lost a residence by
reason of his presence or absence while EN-
poyed in the service OF the United States, nor
while engaged In The navigation OF the waters OF
this State or OF the United States or OF the high
seas.
1t is still an unsettled question whether a
sailor or any one in like position returning
to the city after registration has closed
shall be allowed 10 register and vote, Two
years ago the Election Commission allowed
such persons to vote if they could prove that
their absence was unavoidable:
Many complaints reached the Registrar
about precinct officers shutting up their
polling places for an hour or two at noon
and evening 20 90 TO lunch. Such practice
is in open violation of tie law, and orders
were at once issued to stop it, under penalty
of arrest. The offices must be Kept open
from o'clock in the morning till 10 O'clock
at night. continuously.
Serious complaint has also been made
d1alUSt dltUlutt DldCtitG-liOI tAdCtiA uh-
lawful, but certainly overwhelmingly,
the resurrection Of the 'poOr-bOX." 1t was
stated i'll the central Office yesterday that in
five out of every six precincts in the city this
abOmjnable system OF petty eXtortiOn is be-
ing practiced. Where It originated no one
seems 10 know, but under the circumstaD .
there is not a particle OF doubt apcut its
Objectionable character.
For years voters have feen asked at the
polls to drop a few cats in Slot IN cigar
box lid, across the to- OF which was printed
in Dold letters Poor Box" 1t was in
tended TO carry the impression, of course,
that the contributions were to be given to
the POOR, and perhaps originally that was
the purpose. But the good cause has now
become disgustlngly perverted, and instead
of the money going to the poor, it is used by
the precinct officers to buy beer and cock
tails with
They now regard it as clever dodge to
procure beer and whisky free, and with the
effrontery of brass monkey call upon all
who approached the polls TO give. Many
hundreds uususpectingiy yield a dime or
two, others give because they are ashamed
to be thought small and the aggregate often
amounts to considerable. The practice will
be frowned upon by the authorities and all
citizens cautioned not to be sWindled by the
scheme.