Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-23


ing districts, attending elections an,
making returns, with heavy printing ex
penses, and the pay of vast number Q
deputy narshals to assist in canvassipl
and to attend elections. These aud othe
outlays are indicated in the nineteenth
twentieth, twenty fourth and other section
of the bill, and by the former eiection-in
spection acts, which are recognized or con
tinued in force by the present bill.
1t is no sufficient answer upon this poin
to say that the law may not be executed il
all the Congressional districts of the coun
try at the first election; for the bill is o.
universal application, and the individaall
who are invited to come forward as ap
plicants for public employment and public
money, will soon be forthcoming in every
district, and the great electioueering forcs
for which the bill provides will be gladly
accepted by political leaders for the great
election of 1899 and for those which will
follow it.
No part of the expense upon the States
for holding popular elections will be re-
moved by the present bill. The people d
the States as contributors to the national
Treasury will bear the whole enormous ex
penditure under the bill in addition to theii
present burdens. As they have not asked
for this measure it ought not to be imposed
upon them.
s. The connection of the circuit courts
(that is of their judges and clerks) with q
political and party scheme like the present
is greatly to be deprecated. The appoint.
ments by the court of district and precinct
supervisors and of returning boards ol
canvassers may be in q great measure
formal, without the exercise of much dis
cretion or choice, as they will largely be
directed and controlled by the applications
and nominations made to the judges; but
they will be virtually political appoint
ments, and made by Judges ;issTilaii al 6 o.
whom belong to the same political party
As to the precinct supervisors, who con
stitute the great mass of the appointees
the appointments in every case must be
made from the lists furnished the distric
supervisor.
Z. Particular objection lies against the
change IN the number of precinct super
visors. Under former election inspection
acts, they were to be two in number fol
each election precinct, and were divided
between political parties. By increasing
the number to three, two of whom may be
of the same political party, and comforting
upon them the jurisdiction and authority
contained in this bill, they become at once
instrumentalities for party management
and control. The district supervisor di-
rects their action; they are to obey his
orders, not as to the election, the prior
registration, and naturalization of voters,
but as canvassers in their precincts, and to
furnish him classified lists of voters a suffi-
cient time before the election land other
information) to enable him to manage
political action in his DIS strict with eff
cheney and success. The unfairness of this
arrangement and its inevitable result in
demoraliz;ng the party that resorts to it,
are too evident to require illustration or
comment.
s. The powers of the district supervisors
are inordinate, unrepublican, and danger
Gus. What qualifications or fitness will
they possess to act as returning officers?
What check will there be upon their misuse
of their powers? What adequate remedy
to citizen, candidate, or public for cor
rupt, reckless, negligent, Or partisan exer-
else of official power? They are no5 chosen
by the people, and are not directly responsi-
Bile to them; for the grossest disregard or
violation of State laws it will be coutended
they are not amenable to punishment in
State courts or by State magistrates, and
against their punishment in Federal courts
admirable provision is made by this BILL
The juries that shall try them, whether in
district or circuit courts, are to be packed,
not to convict but to acquit them, as will be
shown. To these comparatively
ufh sials is given the power to
make decisive returns to the canvassing
boards of the districts provided for by the
bill.
n h.rtx ~ &c fbo
will appear obscure to the ordinary reader,
even after its amendment in committee
from it's still more imperfect original form.
But when its obscurity shall be penetrated
and the former acts referred to by it shall
be examined, it will appear to be a radical
change in the authority for selecting jurors
in the United States courts. These are
now selected by the clerk of the court and
by jury commissioner appointed by the
court, who by express law must belong to a
different political party from that of the
clerk. Thus juries in the United States
courts are, politically speaking, mired
iuries, and thereby it has been supposed
that Justice to the Government and to per-
sons accused in criminal cases is more GER
tainly secured.
This bill abolishes the Office of jury COM
m issioner ard commits the selection of
Jurors wholly to the clerks of the courts,
and those clerks, from the mode of their
are almost all of one political
party. 1t will be quite possible that the
iurymen summoned will agree politically
with the clerks who select them.
AS this amazing and Objectionable pro-
vision appears in an election bill with which
it has no apparent relation, the question
arises as to the purpose of it's insertion. Is
it intended TO insure az efficient execution
of the law against offenders, or is it in
tended to shield the party agents appointed
under this bill from Indictment or con-
viction for fraud Or outrage which they
may commit in the course of their employ
ment? If a district supervisor shall make
a willfully false return of an election in his
district, with the corrupt purpose of seat
ing defeated candidate, shall he have
furnished to him q packed jnry of his
political friends to investigate his offense?
And is it possible that to reach desired
object of party policy or advantage under
this bill that the entire plan of selecting
mixed juries in United States courts, in
which all the people are interested, shall
be swept away?
10. Tho final returns of elections, made
by the district boards of canvassers to the
Clerk of the House of Representatives, are
to constitute prima facie evidence of
election results, and the persons so re-
turned by the canvassers as elected are to
have their names placed upon the roll as
members of the House. The returns made
by governors of States are to be wholly
disregarded, although they may contradict
the returns so made and show that different
persons were elected. The Clerk of the
House must accept the canvasser's returns
and reject the others, or be subjected to
severe punishment by Imprisonment and
fine. But as the boards of canvassers act
upon the returns and statements furnished
to them by the district supervisors, and do
not receive or consider the official returns
made by the State officers, it results that
the district supervisors, with the aid of
their subordinate precinct supervisors, will
virtually dictate the returns upon which
members will be seated in this House.
II. By the fourth section of Article of
the Constitution it is provided
The times. places, and manner of holding
elections for Senators and Representatives
cIoI le,a ihad ir,o y, Cfpso