St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-08
HILL Is A REFORMER, TOO.
The Governor of New York Gives
the Legislature Some Good Adj
vice.


vice.
ALBANY, n. Y, Jan. Gov. Hills
annual message was presented to the
legislature to-day. The governor be-
gins his message by urging the legis-
lature to provide for an enumeration of
the inhabitants of the state. and then
takes up the subject of electoral reform,
which he deals with at great length.
suggesting the desirability of changes
in the present laws relating to cleo
tiOns. He says: 1t is conceded
by good citizens everywhere. l
think. that all legislation intended to
improve our election laws should have
for its main purpose the correction of
these two evilS-corruption and intimi-
datiOn. All other subjects sought to be
obtained are of subordinate Importance
and should not be permitted to delay
and prevent the accomplishment of this
great reform. Many well-meaning citi-
Zens and political associations are lust
now urging the adoption of what is
known as the Australian system
of voting, and apparently believe
that it will furnish panacea
for all the perniciOus practices
which now surround our elections,
My own opinion is that many OF the feat
ures are admirable, while Others are de-
cidedly Objectionable, cOnstitutiOnally
and otherwise. 1t has not been adopted
in its entirety anywhere in this country.
In several states its principal provisions
have been enacted. but not, however.
without essential notifications. 1t is
not a difficult task to discover those
features of the Australian system which
it is desirable should be incorporated
into our laws.
First recommend the adoption OF the
secret compartment system. This PROPOSE
ton reaches the two great evils of bribery
and intimidation. l believe that the adop-
ton of this single feature would secure the
chief benefits of true electoral reform
Second Whatever system is adopted
should be applied 10 all elections-gencral.
municipal ana local.
Third-A general registration of electors
throughout the whole state should accom-
pany the secret compartment system Of Vot-
ing.
FOURTH recommend that provision be
made for both official and unofficial ballots.
There are a number of desirable pro-
visions which ought to accompany anv
complete and comprehensive measure
on this subject.
First-The Massachusetts statute, entitled
IAN act to facilitate voting by emploves'
should be included. 1t provides. in sub
mechanical or mercantile establishments
shall be entitled to period of two hours on
election day IN which TO vote at any general
election.
Second-That species of Intimidation fire.
quently resorted to before important cleo
tons by the use of political pay envelopes
should be specifically prohibited and heavy
penalties imposed for a violation.
Tnird-Each candidate and the executive
committee of each political parry should be
required to publish an itemized verified
statement of ali the moneys expended by
them in each campaign.
Fourth-Legal facilities should be afforded
whereby successful candidate who can be
shown to have obtained votes by bribery on
the part of himself his agent or his political
committees, may be ousted from the office by
the defeated candidate, provided it appears
that neither the defeated candidate nor his
committees have used any corrupt means to
promote his election.
Fifth-It should be provided that election
districts should not contain over 800 voters.
The governor refers to the proposed
prohibition amendment, and says that
he does not believe the people of the
state favor its adoption. They are op-
posed to prohibition, but believe in the
regulation of the liquor traffic by Just
and equitable excise laws. rigidly en-
forced. Some new system of assess
ment and taxation. Gov. Hill says, must
be adopted to impose upon personal
property its equitable share of taxation.