Nevada County picayune., 1890-07-02

tain power in the House of Repre- scntatives. It is not framed for the purpose of obtaining fair election. It puts Tn the hands of the party 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 appointed and paid out of the public Treasury is one of the chief objections to the bill. We may reasonably expect all deputy mar shals to be partisans of the Republi- can party. Hundreds or thousands of them will be appointed in each district. They may he employed eight days at s every day each, and they can and doubtless would be used to advance the interest, not of free election, but of the Repub- lican party. If generally enforced the cost of an election under this bill could not be less than 5000, = GOO or SIG, ,OOO .0OO. The number of Federal officers appointed under it could not be less than half million. There Is really no necessity for the passage of any such law. For more than 100 years States who prescribed the qualification of the voters have also prescribed the manner and place of the election. The sentiment of the people of each State on the question of elections is illustrated by their laws. In every Southern State, and l presume in every North ern State also, the statutes provide all that is necessary to enable the voter to deposit his ballot and pro- 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 Federal law be. There is no reason to suppose that an act of Congress will be any more re- spected and observed by the people of the State than an act of their own Legislature, with respect to the con duct of elections. Those who sup port this law necessarily reflect upon the honesty and integrity of the of- iicials of the State.
 "The returning board feature of this bill is most obnoxious. Three citizens are to be appointed to certi- fy the result. Not more than two of them shall be of the same politi- cal party, two to constitute majori- ty, whose certificate is conclusive. The individual holding that certiii- cate is entered upon the rolls of Rep rescntatives-clcct and participates in the organization of the House. Cor rupt and venal returning boards can, against the will of the people, return as elected Republican ma jority. We have had in this coun- try some experience with such boards, in Louisiana and Florida in 1876. Certificates which were un- true in facts were given. On these certificates Hayes was counted in as President, and the venal and corrupt members of these returning boards were awarded by the Repub- lican party by high and lucrative Federal appointments. With the power to appoint venal boards, with the patronage of the government to reward them for villianous conduct with an expressed design to do their own registration, counting and re- turning, if this bill becomes law the people may confidently expect a repetition of frauds of 1876.
 Under the methods and rules in vogue in the House, by the aid of caucus action, have no doubt the
 
 bill will pass. What it's fate in the Senate will he 1 cannot foretell. We can only hope that in a deliberative body. where the right of full and free discussion exists, no such bare faced attempt to betray the will of the people will receive the sanction of patriotic and fair minded men. " -[ St. Louis Republic.