The sun., 1890-07-31
Tho State Department Of Answers to
CorreSDOndentS.

1uo 5CoUo DepdTtiueuJ VI nuS"eES u
Correspondents.
The duties Of the Attorney-G General are
we'll established by precedent, and clearly
and explicitly defined by statutes. The
Albany Eoening Journals almanac briefly
and crisply recites these duties:
"The Attorney General is elected by the people holds
oee for two yoarS defends and prosscueS all suits
which the state interested prepares drafts OF
tEaet 4c. for state officers. and prosecutes in their
behalf persons violating tho laws In regard to their de-
parens and proseoutes criminals of Oyer and Termi.
whom required by the Governor Justices Of the
promo Court he ID Commissioner of tho Land ONCE,
and Of the Canal Fund, of the Board of State Can,
vasssrs and of the Capitol of the sodiera
and Sailors Homo"
These diversified and important functions
fully occupy the time and thoughts OF o
well-equipped and conscientious public off,
Ger with an annual salary Of $4,000.
But this year, without additional re-
enumeration, an entirely new set Of duties,
additional to those previously provided for
and performed, has been placed upon tho
shoulders OF the Attorney General He is call
cd upon to explain the meaning and purport
Of the new electoral law, and what used to
be bis hours Of leisure and relaxation in the
summer season are now devoted to answer
ing queries OF citizens throughout the State
who after long. patient. and careful perusal
Of the provisions OF the new law. during tho
three months Of May. June, and July, find
themselves unable to ascertain precisely
what it means Attorney General TABOR,
like the good Democrat and good officer he
is. has shirked no part Of his new and unre-
Quilted labor. lie may be said to have e5tab-
lshed a Bureau OF 1nformation-a sort OF
Answers to Correspondents aGency-and
from his Office in Albany he responds with
diligence and despatch to the flood OF ques-
tons, which rises higher every day.
The persons who constructed what is
known as the Compromise Ballot law inau-
gurated anew departure In State legislation.
Instead Of framing bill which would secure
TO everybody tho aims and ends desired by
the reiormers, they went about reforming
tho franchise on a new and original plan
Each reformer got up clause or section OF
his own. and he did so Independently of
every one else. Having given it tho requl-
site shine and polish, In q legal and literary
way, he brought 1t to the headquarters of
the chief rcformcr. CHARLES T. SAxroN.
This was done after the fashion OF those who
bring goods OF various kinds to common
AudIhclS dilu WHICH, ChCn IclOIulcE Uuu
his say, and had prepared and exploited his
clause, all OF them were hitched together
and presented to the admiring gaze of mys-
titled friends and bewldered opponents as
. great and intensely patriotic mea ure In
the interest Of the public and Of good gov
0rnmenk.
As might naturally be supposed from this,
tho new electoral law is inharmoaious and
Inconsistent In many Of Its provisions. Some
provisions conflict with others, oil even con-
tradtot them. Thus 1t Is that from nearly
evory part Of the State objections havo been
pouring into Albany. while IL New York the
various political organizations have about
abandoned the attempt to instruct their fol-
lowers IN the new law and are awaiting a
legal Interpretation Of many OF Its dlscord-
ant and inconprehensiblo directions.
In his memorandum filed with the Score
tary Of State on May 2, Governor HILL |
pointed out many OF tho deficiencies In the |
new law which have now come to light. He |
said: 1t must be conceded that 1t contains |
many oumbrous and unnecessary provisions
which might moro wisely have been elimi-
natod.S Some OF those which were not |
eliminated arc now giving great trouble
to tho Attorney-General. and 1t cannot be
long before the aid OF the courts will have to
b" Invoked In many districts to straight
out number Of the tangles In the law.
In the districts outside OF Now York a SUBJ
division has been ordered which, manifest
~, was not provided for by those who united
In framlng-as a child puts lcttered blocks
togethcr-this odd, new measure. In tho
city of Now York. by an error equally gar-
Ing, some lsO0 wholly unnecessary officers
have to bc employed this year to carry on
the election. Under the former law four in
spoctors and two poll clerks were required
In each polling place. The new law directs
that tho four inspectors shall Immediately
after taking their oath OF ONCE, appoint two
OF their number to serve as ballot clerks
during tho election" In New York city,
however,, that provision does not ap-
ply. and here thero must bo two
ballot clerks separately chosen This vii!
briug the number OF officers at the
polls to eight in each district, and II any
l..