Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-18

san measure, anu tilt hSStItlOn tnaJ " IS 10
secure full and free elections is mere pre-
tence. How intensely partisan it is Is
shown by the fact that the bill provides
that it shall 90 into operation at the
coming fall election. The chief SUPER
visors are to be appointed for life. and,
as the electoral machinery is put into
their hands, ii will be for wears under the
control of Republican partisans no matter
what may be the character of the Admins
tration.
THE MOTIVE OF TIE BILL.
The motive Of the bill is therefore bad.
IL is intended TO control al Washington
the return of congressman. The business
of choosing their representatives is TO be
transferred from the people 10 the parti-
sans of the Administration. For hundreds
OF years all elections 10 Enplsh-spcaking
Parliaments have been conducted by the
officers of the locality where the voting
has taken place. In England the writ for
an election is received 10y the sheriff Of the
county, and the proceedings are in charge
of the returning officers of the counties
and borOughs. The statutes regulating
the procedure date back to the reign of
Henry VI.
So firmly fixed is the traditionary right
of the people Of the locality to conduct
their own elections, that only year ago
Mr.. Rowell. the Republican author Of the
worst features of the pending bill, CON-
planned bitterly iii the cOntested-election
case of Smalls and Elliott that the election
officers Of South Carolina are appointed
by the Governor. Now it is intended by
this man and his party that the power shall
come from q very much remOter source
from Washington. The change is 20 be
fastened. too. i'll order that il may be
made while Quay is at the head Of the par
ty. Therefore. in considering the bill, we
are forced to Judge it by what the master
of corruption may accomplish under ITS
provisions.
THE FOUNDATION OF THE BILL.
All congressional legislation must find its
warrant n the Constitution. There can be
no difference of opinion in the proposition
that the States alone have the right to de-
clare who shall be voters. The only limi-
tatlou upon this right is that suffrage shall
not be denied TO any one on the ground
that he isa negro or was a slave. No one
has right to vote for "a congress
man unless he is a voter Of the
State. The Constitution says that the
electors who shall vote tor repre-
sentatives in Congress in each State
shall have the qualifications requisite for
electors of the most numerous branch OF
the State Legislature" THIS means that
every one who is permitted by the laws of
the State of New York to vote for men,
bers of Assembly may vote for members
of Congress. As the voting Is done under
the laws of the State. state officers
have invariably conducted elections.
1t is now proposed that the State laws
shall toe administered by United States
officers. The clause of the Constitution
on which the makers of this new law de
pend is that which provides that Con-
gress may make or alter the regulations
which the States are directed TO prescribe
concerning the manner of holding
elections" This provision was. adopted
as precautionary measure, and IN order
TO guard against possible refusal OF
State to provide for the election Of con-
gressmen. The resolution adopted by the
State OF New York concerning this clause
on ratifying the Constitution shows what
was intended. New York's resolution was
As follows:
In full confidence that the Congress will not
make or alter any regulations In this State re-
specting the times, manner, and places OF hold
ing elections for Senators or Representatives,
unless the Legislature Of this State shall neglect
or refuse 30 make laws or regulations for The
purpose, or from any circumstance be Incapable
Of making the same, and that In those cases such
power Will duly be exorcisei until the Legisla-
ture OF this State shall mako provision In tho
premises.
II may be added that if the United States
officers have the power to take charge Of
elections for representatives they NAV also
enter the State Legislature and supervise
and superintond the choice Of senators, for
the Constitution also gives TO Congress the
right 10 make or alter the regulations con-
corning the manner Of holding elections
for senator's"
Ii having been. therefore. tho imme-
moral usage of the people of each locality
TO conduct their own elections. and 1t
being also the right of the States 10 inter-
pref their own laws, among them those
which determine who shall vote for con-
gressmen, lot us see how these immemorial
usaqes and these rights of the State are
affected by the Federal elections bill.
The officer who IL 10 be ia charge of
elections is called the chief supervisor OF
elections. There is to be one for each lu-
dicial district. New York would have
three-one in the city of New York. one in
Brooklyn. and one in the central or west
ern past OF the State. He is Judicial Off
Ger, for he is a United States commissioner.
He IL to have charge of the Federal officers
who are to be appointed to control cleo
tiOns. He is to examine voters under onth
and TO receive returns. He IS 10 have
charge of the deputy marshals appointed
to assist him. and wall have absolute power
TO order arrests.
BILL APPLIES TO STATE ELECTIONS.
The bill applies 10 State as well rs TO
Federal elections. Its language is: Flee
tions at which representatives or delegates
in Congress are voted for" As Is well
known congressman and State officers are
II s.. sla In Tins
State they are voted for on the same bal
lot, and under our reiormed-ballOt law
there is only one ballot-b0x at each poll
ipg-place. There are To be three supervi-
sors, subordinate 10 the Chief Supervisor.
two of whom shall be of the same political
party, and these supervisors are TO con-
duct the election:
partisan could appoint two sound Re
pubicans and one Democrat who was
cripple or too i'll to be at the polls. The
bill provides IN such q case that all the cu-
ties shall be performed by the two remain
ing supervisors. In other words, the two
Republican supervisors are 10 manage the
election.
All that these supervisors do must affect
the election for State and local officers as
well as of congressman.
WHEN SUPERVISORS ARE APPOINTED.
Supervisors NAV be appointed on the re-
quest to the Chief Supervisor of 100 persons
in any city or town having 10000 inhabi-
tants or upward. or In any entire congress
sional district, no part of which is within
any city or town of 900 inhabitants and
upward. or on the request of fifty persons
lin any one or more counties or parishes
in any congressional district"
In congressional district consisting of
half dozen counties, two Republican and
four Democratic, the polls III the two De-
mocratic counties could be manned by Re
publican SUPERVISORS, who need not be
residents of the counties, but might LIE
brought from distant parts OF the district.
In the other counties the machinery OF
elections would be IN the hands of local
officers. The bill. therefore, Is device hy
which the Republicans may manage all
elections, no matter what may be the
politics of community.
Arrangements are made in the bill where
by local party committees may name the
supervisors, so that the most servlceablc
party workers may be employed. This IS
effected by provision authorizing per-
sons to apply to the Chief Supervisor Tor
appointments.
Care is taken also that supervisors may
be appointed on the very eve OF an cleo
ton in order. doubtless, that If IT be