Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-31
CAN COPY THE BOOKS
JUDGE HUGHES REGARDS ReeisTRA-
TON LISTS AS PUBLIC RECORDS.
lie Orders Mr.. Taylor to Allow the supor-
wiser Cpe Pricsp Co Transcribe tho
Registrar Discharged.

As indicated in tho Dispatch OF yes
tcrday Judge Hughos, Of the United
States Court, rules that registration
hooks are public records, and as such
sro accessible to any person who may
wish to copy them.
Ills decision was given in the case OF
Registrar Taylor, Of the Second pre-
cinct Of Jackson Ward, who refused to
allow Supervisor Clinton De Priest to
copy his books MS directed 10 do 10y
Chief Supervisor Peasants. The mat
or came before tho Judge sitting in
chambers few minutes before noon
yesterday.
ARGUMENT MADE.
The question was argued on the part
a those who denied the right by James
C. Lamb. Esq, chairman Of the City
Democratic Committee, Mr.. Il. b. Nun
ford, and Captain 4. G.. Pepam. As
as,ant District Attorney l.. c. Bristow
represented the Chief Supervisor. The
point involved was the proper construc-
tlon of sections 20l6 and POPS OF the
United States Revised Statutes.
Counsel for the registrar argued that
those SECTIONS only contemplated that the
supervisor should have n list of the per-
cons who are registered or offered 10 be
REGISTERED upon the day Of registration.
j, Was contended by Judge Bristow that
t.Ose sections authorized list not only
Of the names registered on the day OF
registration, hut the whole registration
books. and all the names therein should
De- allowed 10 b copied for the Chief Su-
p.risor 10 be used by him 10 accordance
with law.
Tho JUDGE held that the latter was the
proper construction and entered a de-
cre5 saving: alt is ordered 10y the
Court. sitting under authority of section
CJi9 Of the Revised Statutes OF the
United States, that he. the enid Clinton
Ue Priest, be allowed access to the regis
iat.on-books OF said precinct for the
purpose Of copying said books as hereto
iors decided by the Chief Supervisor for
fbe district aforesaid, said copy to be
made IN the presence Of the registrar OF
f,l precinct, if so desired 10y him, and
with as little inconvenience TO hun, the
said registrar, ns may bo consistent with
the thorough performance of the duty
degoved upon said supervisor. II Is fur
turrmore ordered that any delay which
may be caused by said registrar in the
copying Of said books shall be reported
forthwith TO tie Court for further action
thereon
Opinion Of the Judge.
ell 4Io f.11ov-fvf,
written opinion later in the afternoon:
"In The matter before me l am called
upon 10 say whether, with reference to
ttr election Of members Of Congress TO
bo heldnext week, local supervisor Of
elections appointed by this court may,
when required TO do so. take a copy OF
lists Of the persons qualified TO vote at
the approaching election as they are en-
tered in the books Of registrar Of cleo
tion for a voting precinct
"Ihcse listsaro commonly calledregls-
trntion books. hut they are spoken OF by
Congress ms lists Of persons who may
register and vote
WHAT TIE STATUTES PROVIDE.
"The United States Revised Statutes
provide. in section Z02G. that the Chief
supervisor shall require Of the super
visors OF election, when necessary, lists
Of the persons who may register and
vote in the respective voting precincts.
And section 2jlG provides that the
supervisors OF election, when thus re-
ouired by the Chief Supervisor, shall
make the lists above mentioned aud
verify the same.
" Authority is thus given the Suparyi-
eor of Elections 70 demand access 10 the
registration book Of the voting precinct
for the purpose Of copying It's lists of
the votors of the precinct and complying
with Tire reQuiHt.on upon him Of the
Chief Supervisor.
"ln respect to the election aboutto DO
held for members of Congress the regis
tciug officer appointed by state
authority is an election officer Of
the United States, bound by the
laws of tho United States, and
amenahio 20 the penalties prescribed Ivy
those laws Tho remstration-books kept
by each registrar are public records,
open TO inspection hy officers. of cleo
ton, aud may bo copied 10y such officer
IN the fuldlmont OF official duty.
FEDERAL RECORDS.
"For tie purpose Of the mp
preaching election these registration
books are not only public records IN the
general sense as distinguished from Sc
Cret documents in close and special
custody, but they are Federal records
showing who may register and vote in n
Federal election. I'm this latter respect
they are liable to inspection and to being
copied by the supervisors of election
when they arc required 90 DO so as pro-
vided by law.
In the case under consideration the
Supervisor Of Election was required by
the Chic. Supervisor to furnish copies OF
the lists Of persons who may register
and vote ia one of the voting precincts
of the city of Richmond. To obey that
order he must have access to the regis
tmion-book OF the precinct. That
hook is a public record in the
custody of the registrar for the
precinct. 1t is the duty of
tlat registrar TO give the supervisor
access TO the book FOR the purpose of
making the copy called for; and il tho
registrar denies or obstructs him in
making the copy that officer commits an
offence denounced by section 1922 Of
the United States Revised Statutes,
which makes him liable To in
slant arrest without process, and i'm
prisonment for not moro than two years,
and fine not exceeding $1,000.
TIE CONTENTION.
1t Is contonded bv counsel who ap-
pear Tor the registrar that the two
sections of the United States Revised
Statutes first above cited DO not refer to
;he entire registration.book Of the pre-
cinct, but only 10 the names that may
have been newly put upon il at tho
registration held few days ago, and
only 10 such OF those names as the SUI
peryisor himself had dmade list of This
is altogether too narrow and technical a
view to take OF the matter. The conten-
tion cannot be true as o general PROPOSE
ton. Suppose a law had been passed redi-