Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-03-14
Registration Law.

Registra tion Law.
The proposed new registration Law
passed the Senate during the past wee K
an1 will in all probability pass ibe House
b. become a law. There Is no real nc-
cc>sity for any change in the prcsen. reg
isfration law. il is fair, aud improvements
are unnecessary. But the dominant par
n Of the State, upon niisr presentations
made By local bosses hays determined to
Rsain tinker with this portion Of the vec-
ton machinery SO as t" prevent. It posi-
he large number Of eftizens Of South
ern Maryland from exercising the right
If suffrage guaranteed them und the
g institution Tie new law might b.
t,rned the dsfranchscment act whcsh-
er i viii serve the purpose Of She de-
si,ners remains to be seen The main
Failure Of the proposed law as originally
drafted provided for wWd registration,
instead Of precinct registration as now,
in Baltimore city; board Of election
supervisors Of tie counties; n require
ment that any person desiring to remove
fenm the Slate, however temporarily.
shall make afadavit t. the fact Of his in-
tantion to rcriru before the Clerk Of the
County Court to be by ain recorded
and shall actually return to the county to
reside six months before the election to
,n'itle him to vote rhercat, and thut all
appeals from Registration Officers shall
h. taken within one week from he Octo.
Der sitting.
The professional reforner, (l) voted
with the Republicans in the Senate and
defeated the clause providing for ward
registration in Baltimore city, but all the
other Objectionable TEXTURES Of the bill
were allowed to stand Therefore, if
ths bill passes, every citizen of the coun-
tv who may desire to remove from il on
h visit, on business, or for any purpose
whatever even, though, fully intending
tn return in short time, must put upon
record his intention to return and must
get back even though he be in Europe,
and ,etually reside IN the county six
IAonths before the election to be entitled
to woe. The wanton hardship of the
provision is manifest 10 every thinking
mind Even member Of Congress or
Is United States Senator is not excepted.
They, too, must carry the evidence of
citizenship in their pockets aud re-
turn from their place of abode to the
State and reside therein six months be-
fore each election. Such a law may
stand judicial test in the State, but it is
clearly in violation Of the Consti 'uion Of
thc United States, and our Republican
Alt Is intended to disflan.
E7Iise sh0uld t0sV u at the coming eIet
tion. Let the FIRST voter who is caugl
under the act 60 before the Grand Jur
of the Federal Court in Bal imore cit
and have the Registration Officer VIII
strikes off his name indicted and tried
The clause allowing only week frol
the October sitting is another iniquit,
Sufficient notice Of the action Of the Re.
istratioa officer is not given The 0ctc
her sitting closes on Friday and on tt
following Saturday the Registratio
Officers are required to post the motto,
If changes, aud before the foll3win
Friday the appeal must be taken or Il
right is lost Under the law every ma
whose rights are inten 'ed to be aifectc
is entitled to ample notice, but til
scheme is intended for contrary pu
pose. How can any man out Of Il
county get notice that his name has bee
stricken off and back again ia time
take an appeal? 1t will be impossib
and that the trainers of the law We
know
We are opposed upon general prime
pies to any man voting III this count
who has no pecuniary interest therein {
who has no personal interes: in,its n, t,
rial prosperity, and We ale likewise o.
posed to auy legislation that will ha,
the effect of embarrassing the properl
qualified voter. colored or Shite /
attempt TO attain party success a. the e,
pcnse Of the political rights of others
say the least. is petty and narrow min,
Ell. and is game that will not succce
If party to succeed must perpetra
crime, for TO rob voter of his vote is
crime of the gravess character. it h;
letter disintegrate for sooner or later, Il
people a'ways forbeari & but wh'
aroused will assert their power, W
,rise in their majesty and drive it out
existence.
\ careful study of the situation in III
sunny will show TINT the bulk Of Il
nonresident voter is Democratic and Il
nemoera ic party the inventors of Il
!, proposed new registration viii be ms
to suffer from scheme devised to bril-
ruin upon the heads of It's formidat