Evening journal., 1890-04-01
SAxTOh'S BILL VETOED.
The 3allot Reform Measure
Returned Unsigned.
wHATGOyERNOR MIL uAsTO SAY


a message 70 the senate vetoing tho Saxton
bill. The governor says, Senate bill No.
III, entitled An act to promote the inde-
pendence Of voters at public elections, en-
force ths secrecy Of the ballot and provide
for the printing and distribution ~ ballots
at public expense, is herewith returned
without approval The legislature has re-
fused 70 cooperate with tho effort Of the
executive TO obtain an immediate practical
determination Of the consttutionality Of
this bill. Such determination was desired
by the executive in order that the billmight
become a law, If declared in harmony with
the constitution Of the state, or that certain
features thereof might, II declared uncon-
stitutional, no longer occupy the time and
attention Of the lawmaking powers. The
same provisions which the executive has for
the past two years declared to be in his
Judgment unconstitutional are repeated in
this measure without substantial modlllcn.
tion.
Legislature and Executive AZ odds.
"The situation demonstrates that upon
the vital point Of constitntionality, there
exists an irreconcilable difference OF judg-
ment between the Legislature aud the execu.
tive, which no argument, and nothing short
OF an authoritative opinion can remove. II
the bill should DO allowed to so upon the
statute books and then be declared nncon.
stitutional, all elections hold Hereunder
would be vitinted, the title Of every elected
officer would be void or uncertain, and con
fusion, amounting possibly TO anarchy
NVqf4ia ia Ia ha Fsin NJ
ment. To test the constitutionality OF such
a measure by actual experiment and subse-
quent litigation, would be costly at best.
and il resulting adversely TO the bills con.
stitutionnlity, would be fatal 70 the peace
aud order Of the state The atti.
tude OF the legislature has left me no other
alternative than TO decline to approve the
measure. Upon the legislature must rest
the responsibility Of failure to secure fair
and honorable solution OF the problem Of
electoral reform
Against an Exclusively onioial Ballot.
The governor reiterates his objections L
tho exclusively official ballot provided foi
by the bill, alleging that il is unconstitu.
tionai. lie says. "Ibelieve that every vote,
should have the right 70 prepare his bnllo
AZ his own home or wherever no pleases
and TO bring Il with him 70 the polls ane
vote it IN secret | deny the constitutions
right Of the legislature TO compel an electo
20 accept ballot containing the names d
candidates other than his own-candidntei
Ia whose nomination he has had no part and
for whom be does not intend 10 yote--and
impose upon him the burden OF erasing nl
such names under penalty Of disfranchise
ment, and require him, If he votes at all. ts
write or paste the names Of his candidate,
upon such hotch potch document
The governor says that the provisions fol
an exclusively official ballot, as contained
in this bill are unconstitutional, among
others, for the following reasons:
First, they unreasonably hinder and i'm
pede the exercise Of the elective franchise
and discriminate against theindvidual elect
orr second, they impose upon the elector !
ballot not authorized or contemplated b.
the constitution. II was demonstrated h
my last annual message, by argument
never yet refuted, that the constitution anc
the statutes In existence when it was adopt
ed, when construed together, virtually de-
line and declare what shall be deemed 4
lawful ballot. Its essential elements a.
hereinbefore described can not be added to
or diminished otherwise than by a constitu
tional amendment
THE provisions for an exclusively official
ballot prevent an illiterate elector from
voting a secret ballot They absolutelv
compel him not only 20 publicly confess his
illiteracy, but also TO disclose the content,
OF his ballot TO two election officers. Such
provisions are plainly in violation Of the
constitution
The Australian System.
In the course OF his message he saws.
'lhe feature Of an exclusively official bal.
lot, derived from the Australian system. is
one not adapted to the political system Of
our state. 1t does not harmonize with our
rec institutions Under the Australian
system proper, an elector cannot write or
paste the name OF his candidate upon be-
ballot, bnt he is only permitted to vote for
candidate thereon who has been duly
nominated. That feature was contained Is
the original Saxton bill OF two years ago,
but it was rejected with great unanimity as
inappropriate to our system.
The provisions for an exclusively official
ballot are equally repugnant 20 our political
institutions, and they should be aspromptly
repudiated."
The Sort OF Bill He Would Approve.
The governor says: "It seems needless "a
indicate in this communication what has
been SO often outlined before, the essential
features Of an electoral reform measure
which / would cheerfully approve. They
may, however, be again summarized as fol-
lows: First, provisions for general regis
tration Of electors throughout the whole
state; second, the act TO extend to all cleo
tions Of public officers by ballot; third. the
secret booth or private compartment plan
each voter to be guaranteed absolute privacy
in examining or preparing his ballot. and
compelled TO remain an appreciable length "a
time in the booth, and secrecy In votino
made compulsory; fourth, the privilege ~
candidates by properly certified
petitions, as well as by party Conventions
hlfth, each distinct set of nominations ~
be printed on separate ballots: sixth M
permitted within a reason.
able distance from the polls; seventh. an.
cial and unofficial ballots to be used Thev
shall be exactly alike, the official ballot
being printed and furnished at nubIic az
pense and delivered to the voter AZ the nolI.
only by the election c&icers, ana unofficial
ballots TO be furnished by parties or candi- !
dates, and obtainable at the polls or else |
where, and may be prepared at home and |
brought to the polls and voted; eighth, ali /
ballots when voted TO be inclossd in exclu.
ssively official envelopes furnished by cleo
tion officers at the polls.
Connecticut and New Jersey Bills.
would not object to the substantial.
features Of the Connecticut reform system
whereby the state furnishes all the ballots
namely; Uniform blank official ballots,
duly stamped, upon which according tc
directions prescribed hy the secretary OF
state. r.1lifit g, ..tritfst r.. e ...; f Ir1s