Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-21
Election-Laws.

A highly-intelligen gentleman in Mem
phis. Tenp.-a friend of ballot reform
writes us the following interesting letter.
Some of his statements are calculated to
surprise the public. For instance, the
statement that under the Australian system
as il WAS tried in Memphis tho purchase
lie vote is made more accessible and the
investment Of bribe-money IL made abso-
]utely sure":
MEMPHIS, TESN., jan. 1G, 1890.
To ne Editor of The Dispatch:
Dear Sir.-I see that you advise tho Elr-
Cinia Legislature to make haste slowly
in making any changes III your elecuOn-
laws, and rs We have held "A mWnlcll@l
election An Memphis under our now cleo
tiOn-law, modelled after the Australian
law" think it will 10 well TO give my
friends in Virginia the benefit Of our short
experience. Up TO 1879 Memphis has been
governed in the old-time way, by mayor
and aldermen. Up 10 that date millions 81
The city's revenue had been mlssappro-
priated. squAndered, or stolen, and the CITY
had nothing To show for the vast amounts
OF exorbitant taxes collected Not sewer,
not woll-paved street, but debt OF
S6 O00. 600. Rocking with filth, IL invited the
vellOw-feyer that devastated the city du,
ring the summers of 1873 and 1879. ana
caused depreciation IN real estate OF 20
mar cent. Something had to be done, and
that speedily. or Memphis was lost: Our
businessmen. both Republican and Demo
Gratis. describing politics, determining TO
establish n Don-partisan municipality
government, gave up their city charter,
and with the aid of the State Legislature
established the city government now now. IN n
force. known as "the taxing district"
which left the taxing power Ill the hands
If the Legislature, and the executive al
thoritv was vested in six commissioners
elected by the citizens. who elected one OF
their number president, who performed
tho duties usually assigned TO mayor.
During the ten years that this government
has been in operation the city debt has
been reduced almost 10 nothing, very,
many streets have been paved and lighted
by electricity. and we have n most extern
sive and perfect system OF sewerage;
For two terms. OF four years each, DAVID
y. MADDEN has been the president: ana
like the angel with n fiery sword mas
guarded the interests of Memphis against
corporations. combines, and trusts. We
have now four street railroad companies.
also two dummy lines" now iii full run
ming order, nnd one more being built, as
well as an electric railway that viii run ont
of the city, sweep round II through inc
thickly settled suburbs back TO the city,
distance of fifteen miles; and there are
seven railroads land more coming) entering
the city from all directions. Nearly all OF
the roads have been prevented by our
faithful president from usurping our
streets and obtaining city franchises aoih0"
paying JhA rd5ie for them; ana they were
anxious to get rid of the honest guardian
who barred thor way, so they combined
with the old ward politician who wished a
return of the good old rObbeY-days OF
mayor and aide, men, aud raised cry Tor
Democratic convention 70 nominate can
didatcs for the officers Of the non-partisan
taxing district government, though the
Democrats were largely in the majority
and the Republicans were unorganiZed
and Offering no opposition. A mass-iueet-
ing was called, and somehow two thirds OF
the party, comprising our best citizens,
were defeated by the other thirdparty, who
repeated III voting and voted boys ana
soilroad.hands aud many more VINO We're
not residents, all of whom were ineligible
~ voters. There being DO law to punish
frauds in mass meetings or primary cleo
tons nothing could be- done by the true
Democrats but TO withdraw and nominate
an independent ticket, causing split IN
the party and much bitterness, but IL VIII
amount 20 nothing when we como TO vote
ip State or national elections, tho only
proper field for political parties.
l have been forced 10 make the foregoing
explanations that you may more easily
comprehend what is 10 follow. The cleo
ton was held n week ago, ana despite a
good election-law, the railroad and anti
faxing-district party succeeded by re-
counts and otherwise To secure tho returns
for majority Of less than three hundred.
which the independent Democrats are con-
testing. Now for the practical working OF
the Australian law.
The Governor appoints one commits
eioner OF registration for each county, and
he appointed two registrars for each place
OF registration, which have TO be opened
for thirty days and to be closed ten days
before the day Of election. Each voter re-
ceived paper emitting him 10 vote in bis
ward and naming the number of his resi-
dence, which paper be would have 10 pre-
sent TO the ridges Of election before he
would be furnished with ballot. on which
the names Of all the candidates were
printed. With his ticket he went into q
stall. where there was pen, ink, and a blot
Ter. and In secret he made cross mark
opposite the names Of tho persons he
wished 70 vote for. II he made q mistake
fp marking or dofaced tho ticket, he could
return IL aud got another. The tickets are
furnished BY tho State and are Ia tablets.
Ike book OF bank-checks, with stub on
which tho number of the ticket aud the
name OF the voter Is written. When the
ballot u cast the clerks enter the name and
roeidence Of the voter IN their books. The
Judges are appointed by the Sheriff equally
1rorn both opposing parties. A railing or
Sopo Il placed fifty feet from the polls.
That no one but voter Is allowed 70 pass.
Wien the votes are counted they are
eoanpared with the number Of names On:
forod ~ tho clerks and the number OF
s1aha ~ ballots and the unused and de-