New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-26
DIRK, SUGGEST Al iENDMBNTS.


YORK, SUGGEST Al iENDMBNTS.
,-vou TINE REGULAR CORREsPC )NDENT THE 'rRIBUNEI
Albany Feb Ex-senator SaXtOns Ballot Reform
In came up for considerat ion before the Assembly
1ndicisry Committee this a tenOon. among Others
present to make speeches the bill Lieutenant
Governor Jones' senator ,aXton and eX-COrporauon
counsel Beekman, of New York.
Lieutenant Governor 10 proposed all amendment
which he thought would obviate Governor HIPS OBJ
lection TO the exclusive official ballot. In support OF
This amendment he Sat
The amendment whe l propose the saNton Dill
IN brief is first that there shall printed at public
cxpense ballot know n a. the unofficial ballot when
sha be in every respect the Official p'o',
except upon the folded back There shall be Pn'eu
the arms of the Stl Of NewEOrk and the GATE W te
election. OE device that you may deeh pesO !"
distinguish It froy the official ballot. The unoihcaI
ballots shall be s. ven to applicants. who may tSAe ue
from polls for such preparation a. they desire "eh
the voter presents himself vote after 1t has been "'
tanned that Is thereto he passes the vote as
tributor and from him take an Official OhIot lie
then passes into the private compartments PROVIDED "hefe
In may he scces. ible unofficial ballots that he chooses
h. prepare Unofficial ballot for hscu III place. Oh one
he NAV have uiat has prepared for him he can do
So He passes thentc the bslot-boA, where he DE-
post, his cial ballot he desires to use that ana
AZ the same time must deliver the official ballot which
he received to the inspector VINO PAGES the same III
a box provided therefor.
This will the principal objection to the UNOFFICIAL
ballot as IL dcpves the voter Of any evidence to Sho"
that he ha, voted unofficial ballot which given
him by tho exhibition official ballot no has lett
that In order to this effective, any person
who Iemovts the polls i found with an Official
ballot in lis possession. should be dccmel guilty Of
msdemesndr.
The printing Of the unofcia. ballot, h, and with the
oNica ballots obyiaeS the necessity for the assessment
Of candidates for the printing Of ballots
1t nay be argued this not fully provide for
the absolute secrecy Of ballot inspector might
in all WHO Dtad
ballots This evil would be small that II should not
be taken consideration, for absolute secrecy is an -
possibility there many by which an inspector
could to distinguish the rest Of the ballots
such as creasing in handling between thumb and
fingers certain place the bill. by scling the same
with his thumb other devices which would occur to
the ingenious inspector who was determined 10 ascertain
how certain individuals voted.
Mr.. Beekman then made certain suggestions as to
amendments, prefacipC ii with the statement that he
lad been msrepresentcd TO his attitude toward tho
bill - strong supporter Of the bill, he sald'
and ! in favor Of its passing without any amend
ment at ALL II it be deemed wise. shall recommend
amendments, however, applying TO the city of New
York. which think would render the bill more perfect
At the time, don't pretend to iniahbil'y in the
matter and therefore you taAe them or not, a. yon
Please
Nh Beekman then suggested that more time be given
10 file certificates of election in The VII senatorial
District which Richmond County a well As tho
senators were made late in New York. and the nonna-
ton in the With District also made late. IL Ger
tfcate Of nomination should conform TO the other sen
ate districts.
senator saxton here interrupted Mr.. Eeelman. and
said the bill had been incorrectly cngo>,cd There
Wa, no requirement that the inspectors Of election
should remove the stub from the ballot before
putting it in the ballot box. That requirement was
in the printed bill" Mr. saXton. but has fallen
out somehow. The bill should be amended IN this
respect
,lr. Beekman said he had intended 10 suggest that
tins amendment should be made. lie then suggested
third amendment. that the number Of signatures to
certificate of nomination for state Offices should not
lie less than 500. We have hundred, Of clubs in
N@W-Y YORK." said Mr. Beeknan. and might have
hundreds Of nominations made if fifty people could
make them and you might have an Official ballot
III that case, Of the size Of bed
Guilt in order to accommodate all the of,candi
dates. You would have the cause Of ballot reform
perhaps ,Wampcd al the first election, il you lcNc
f. tais provision. / have consulted with p'It'ai
leader, in New-York aad they regard this a. "a
dangerous feature 1t is not zoo much 10 require
800 signatures in New-IQ.A 90 make a state h'hh'-
ton
! think You are quite right Mr.. Beekman' said
Senator saXton. and that this amendment sn"n!d be
made only would suggest tha' the same amendment
be made 10 include Brooklyn
Mr. ;eel,nan agreed 10 this. lie further suggested
''"' '"' ~ " I ,.o,,tI, di.-rict
A".e' 81 Hoi,;,u '-,n lH ,c' t,1lt BID. g.. id.
~ New loIh. ~ nav '',I ,,.,,,, ,.,..c.- ~
and n Is unnecessary I" give ~ H'''' ...., y.
nominations Ic>lceo the newspapers eve ''i"e
notice 81 Them 49,. -. ...;o.,.1 f.il,t ir
lie further suggested thdi Inc HiAIiI' pm '"l1|
New YORK should contain the names o. INC o.'il
the District attorney and the County ERR %ni,H
otherwise would 20 the state rcot Of state
Local nOmluoes Should 70 upon H,1! l,"'''' ,'rt
Nh Lcch.bu, ana - ,il'4'i1t
BE- made Of thcm' NJ 'i, .o,,..r ,,nnr
dca'cS should be Mmied .H-C,' ',ot." rIn
ticket t" Oe Known a ti. I"ctl az md ,Ii.li,
Bechmau concluded MS argument ~ ,pI,1''"t
M 20 IN &c INC Pm d.Hot4"- ',, M t5-