The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-30
II WAS CONCEIVED N SIN
And Will be Brought Forth in All
Probability ID Political
Iniquity.
Judge Crisp, Of Georgia, Carefully
Analyses tho Partisan Elec-
ton Bill
He Lays Rare the Purposes of the Meas
ure-To Perpetuate the Republican
Tenure of ONCE.

had printed copy Of the bill before him
and proceeded to analyze it as follows:
..The bill requires the appointment Of |
chief supervisor of election in every ju-
dic1al district of the United States, and, on
the application of 100 voters in any congress
sional district, it is the duty of
the chief supervisor to take charge
of, manage and practically con-
troll the election. He is authorized to
appoint three supervisors for each voting
precinct in the district, who, if there be
registration law, may be employed six days
at S. per day each. It is the duty of the
United States marshall on the application
of the chief supervisor, to appoint as many
deputy United States marshals as the chief
supervisor may want, who may be employed
as much as eight days at IS per day each.
These are the provisions of the rural dis
tricts. In large cities such officers may be
employed longer time. The effect of this
is to permit the chief supervisor to appoint
thousands of federal officials in each con-
pressional district who are to be paid out
Of the federal treasury. As to the super
same political party. As to deputy United
States marshals, they may all be OF the
same political party.
''The bill authorizes the president to use
the army and the navy to preserve the peace
at the polls or to aid in the enforcement of
the law. Under this provision the president
may, prior to any election, order troops to
any state in the Union for the ostenslble pur-
pose to aid in the enforcement of the law,
and they may be used, as they have in the
past been used. to influence and control the
elections.
''The bill changes the methods of obtain
ing juries in the federal court. Ever since
1879 the law requires that the judge shall
appoint jury commission who shall be of
different political faith from the clerk Of
serve as jurors in the federal courts.
That statute was passed to create
confidence in the administration of
justice in such courts. The bill repcals
that statute, and allows jurors to be selected
by the clerk of the court alone. This pro-
vision is evidently intended and designed
to obtain partisan jurors in the federal
court for the trial of persons who may be
charged with violation of the election laws.
will supervise and scrutinize all registration
of voters, the casting of the votes, the
counting of the ballots, the making of the
returns and the certifcation of the result.
True, the state officers are permitted, under
such a supervision, to discharge their du-
return of the federal officers prevails.
I'm each state there is to be a returning
board composed of three citizens, to be ap-
pointed by the judge of the United States
ceives the returns from the precincts in the
counties, and may hear evidence outside of
the returns and certify under their hands
and seals who was elected to congress. Two
members of the board constitutes quo
rum, and not more than two shall be of the
ing their certificate is to be by the clerk of
the house Of representatives placed upon
the roll of members elected and thus au-
thorized to participate in the organization OF
the next house.
'The bill provides infinitely for the man
ner of registering the voter, of receiving the
vote, of counting the ballots and of certi-
flying the result. The manner and method
is different from that now established by
the laws in the several states. In the rural
the law, and men honestly striving to carry
it out will often fail in many particulars.
ITO me the purpose of the republicans in
pressing this bill seems to retain power in
the house of representatives. It is moi
framed for the purpose of obtaining fair
in control of the government such power as
will enable it, even against the will OF
the people, to retain control. The
great number OF federal officials
that may be appo1tea az and d. Rat
objections to the bill. We may REASONABLE,
expect all deputy marshals to be partisani
of the republican party. Hundreds Of
thousands of them will be appointed il
each district. They may be employed eight
and doubtless would be used to advance tn.
interest, not of free election, but of the
republican party. If generally enforced
the cost of an election under this bill could
not be less than $8,000,00O to $4,000, 600
The number of federal officers appointed
ho Loco thoO holf u
million. There is really no necessity fol
the passage of any such law. For more
than 100 years states who prescribed thu
qualification Of the voters have al
50 prescribed ESQ d.t the manner rs and place
of the people Of each state OF
the question of elections is illustrated BY
their laws. In every southern state, and
presume in every northern state also, thu
statutes provide all that is necessary to en-
vide for an honest return of the vote cast
That these laws are violated in every state
at times is true, and SO would the fedora
law be. There is no reason to suppose tina
an act of congress will be any more respect
ed and observed by the people of the state
than an act of their own legislature witt
respect to the conduct of elections. Thos'
who support this law necessarily retec
upon the honesty and integrity of the OH.
icals of the state.
LIZ returning DOdIA 1cdtu10 VI IuS Dll
is most obnoxious. The citizens arere to b.
appointed to certify the result. Not more
than two of them shall be of the same DO
litical party, two to constitute majority
whose certificate is conclusive. The indi
vidual holding that certificate is entere.
upon the rolls of representatives-elect ant
participates in the organization of tn
house. Corrupt or yenal returning board
can, against the will of the people, return a
elected republican majority. We hay
had in this country some experience Wit
such boards. in Louisiana and in Flofid
in 1876. Certificates which we're untrue il
fact we're given. On these certificates Haye
was counted IN as president. and the vena
and corrupt members of these returniE
boards were rewarded by the republican
party by high and lucrative federal appoint
ments. With the power to appoint vena
boards, with the patronage of the govern
ment to reward them for villainous con
duct, with an expressed design to do thei
own registration, counting and returning
if this bill becomes q law the people ma
confidently expect repetition Of the fraud
of 1876.
Under the methods and rules in vogu
in the house. by the aid of caucus action,
have no doubt the bill will pass. What j.
fate will be in the senate cannot foretel
We can only hope that in a deliberatiy
body, where the right of a full and fire.
discussion exists. no such barefaced attemr
TO betray this will of the peopls will receis
the sanction Of patriotic and faiF-miude