New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-24
ELECTION EXPENSES UNDER THE NEW

Ballet reform has undoubtedly come to stay
The leaders and the rank and file OF both
uarties concede that OF course, all OF them
do not love it. but even the bosses of the Hill
school of politics while hating it most cordially
realize that it would be sheer folly to fight an
established reform which has back OF it the
irresistible power of public sentiment. 1t is
Just as true however, that the new Elechon
law has not come to stay in its present shape.
The practical test to which it was lately sub
iected all over the State and the bills for cleo
ton expenses which are now being prepared
for the audit of the Boards of County Super
visors show that it needs to be revised ana
amended before it can meet the best eXpecta-
TONS Attention has already been called Ill
these columns to some of its defects-the eX-
cessive number of ballots which it imposes on
voters when the candidates for any one office
are numerous; the Onerous nature of its pro-
vision in regard to folding ballots; its require
ment that voter shall remain in the booth IN
which he prepares his ballot for three min
utes, although he finishes the business that
took him there in less time; its failure to pro-
hibit the use of "pasterS."
In the letter which is printed on another
page our Albany correspondent directs atten-
ton to still another defect of the law. 1t is
grave one-the last election cost altogether
too much. The mass of our people pay with
out grumbng all the necessary expenses OF
government, but at the same time they are
quick to resent extravaganza III any direction
and it is safe to conjecture that when they dis
cover that the cost of elections has been enor-
mously increased by the new law they will i'll
sist that it shall be amended next winter, Sc
that the same wholesome results shall be
achieved at a greatly reduced outlay Oul
correspondent reports the election expenses OF
Albany County. Last year they were $3.50
| This year under the new law they are Over
So, 900. Let there be anything like the same
advance in the ether counties, and the sun
total will have tendency to scare oonserva
tive taxpayers. What ought to be done to cu
| down these expenses? Some scheme ought Il
be devised which will obviate the necessity o.
printine so many ballots. The original Bailo
! law which Governor Hill vetoed provided fo
a blanket ballot, that is a ballot containing
the names of all the candidates OF all thu
| parties or organizations figuring III any par
tcular election. But the Governor posi-
| lively refused TO sign any bill reqmrinI
the Use of blanket ballots, and for tina
reason, and that reason only, the compromis
| bill. which the friends of ballot reform pre-
pared after he had killed the first one, cale'
for separate ballot for each set of candidates
In other words, David Is. Hill is primaril,
responsible for the main source OF the vast in
crease of our election expenses. The Repub
icans of the Legislature desired to keep thos
| expenses down--the blanket ballot would hav
kept therl,down. llili-possibly with the hop
of bringing ballot reform into disfavor-pur
sued policy which resulted in those expense
being what they are to-day, enormously and un
warrantably high.
1t is suggested in the letter in question tha