New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-19
FOR BALLOT REFORM.
SENATOR SAXTON INTRODUCES HIS SUB
STITUTE BILL.
A MEASURE WHICH 1T is BELIEVED GOVERNOR
HILL WILL sIGN-ABsTRACT OF ITS
PROVISIONS.

PROVISIONS.
rypoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUvE
Albany April 17-Exer since Governor Hill
vetoed Mr. Saxtons Ballot Reform bill. the frlends
of the reform have been working like beavers to
peri measure to which he can take no possible
exception. The substitute bill which Mr. Sax
ton brought forward weeks ago has been
carefully gone over by himself. Professor Collns
of Cornell University, and Horace +. Demlng.
of the Ballot Reform League. and the result was
made known this morning. when the old bill came
up on the order of third reading. Professor Col
lin who is Governor Hills law assistant IT is
believed, has consulted Governor Hill in drawing
I'D the substitute bill. and has framed bill. in
combination with Senator SaXton and Mr.. Deming
which Governor Hill will sign. Senator Saxton
is earnestly in favor of the compromise measure.
Some politicians who want to preserve po.
litical ISSUE" he said this afternoon, may
oppose the bill. but l think no real friend OF
Ballot Reform will
Senator Saxton thus explained the bill to the
Senate: Il have a copy Of the measure. with
number of amendments which have been made to
it. In general terms, may say that these consist
principally of n change in the form OF the balloo
There is nothing in them that affects the question
Of an exclusively official ballot or the system
Of distributing ballots at the polling place. and
there only election day. The only change OF
any consequence is to the form of the ballot.
1t splits up the blanket ballot into the several
ballots indicated the official slip; that is. they
are to be the same as they were under the former
bill. excepting that they are to be divided into
as many ballots there were tickets upon the
blanket ballot ask that this bill be substituted
in its present form and printed SO that l may
bring it up as a special order for final passage on
Monday evening"
Mr. Cantor for the Democrats. said he had no
objection to this arrangement, which was accord
ingly ordered. Following is careful abstract
Of this important measure:
First-Ihe constitutional point raised by the Governor
az to the validity OF the method OF choosing ballot clerks
clearly obvated by provisions under which every eectof
entitled vote for all the election inspectors and
ballot clerks
seondThe constitutional objections raised by the Gov
ernor to the exclusively official ballot are obVated by the
following provision ANY voter may take with him Into
the voting compartment printed ballot OF his
own selection PREPARATION to be known as the pa'ter
ballot containing the OF all the Offices TO be hiea
and therefor for whom he desires 10 Vote
which paser ballot may be gunmed on the back thereof
and the voter may paste whole OF such paser ballot on
any OF the official ballots below the stub. ANY names 30
pasted upon the ballot shall be deemed IND
choice Of the voter Notwithstanding the name OF another
candidate office may be upon the original
ballot being erased covered or concealed by the
writing paster"
Thrd-The Governors constitutional point that every
entitled, If he desires, to vote ballot which con'
ans only the OF candidates for whom he desires
to vote is Oh, BY the abandonment Of the bankes
ballot former bills. Ia place thereof the dlerene
columns OF tickets which TO be upon such blanket
ballot have separated into different ballots, so thae
will receive many separate tcksts a. here
would have been upon blanlet ballot including
the blank which Has to appear last upon the
blanket ballot containing only the Of offices and no
names OF candidates. Each voter VIII now receive as
| ftaL.f fhera
columns upon the blanket ballot. The paster ballot may
be pasted upon blank ballot upon any other ballot
Governors constitutional objection that the
previous would operate disfranchise the ierats
is obyated by the provision for the pa'ter oao'
referred BY this provision the iterate or any
other voter may provided with complete Iaster baos
before ne polling place within the railing, and
can mistake in pastng the upon any one Of
the ballots furnished him. Ihis method also renders 10
possible for the eate voter to prepare his ballot alone
without the assistance OF any other person N
the booth with nm nsures the secrecy Of his
ballot
| Elfth-The fraud known as tie "Tssmanian dodge"
which was possible all bills heretofore vetoed by the
Governor possible under the strict Australian sys'
TEN everywhere efectuay barred out By an n'
genous system printed numbers upon the stub OF eaen
ballot entry Of the number by the pocerks AZ the
time OF the delivery OF the ballots to the voter
The remaining features OF the bill are substantially
such as have been always agreed between the Gov
erno Legislature. They Include the private oooo
or compartment system, space about the polling place
incos,d by railing. the prohibition OF eiecuoheefins
within $50 feet Of the polling place the printing OF CON-
pee set OF ballots public expense nominations oy oon
party organizations and by independent combinations OF
les. 600 for State officers 700 Tor onicers
IN district less than the State and greater thah county
100 for county officers and fifty for town and village
ncorand the compulsory allowance by employers OF tive
hours 10 all employees upon election day without any deduc
tion OF wages by reason thereof