Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-12

without limit. % appoint special deputy
marshalS, all of the same political party,
to act both prior to and on the day OF
the election.
This would add 10 the number of Fed
cral officials hundreds OF thousands OF
active, reckless partiSauS. all under the
control of one political party.
The compensation 40 five dollars a
day of this increase of officials, Cinclud-
ing the board of canvaS>erS') If APP
pointed for an the precinctSo of the coun-
try. would amount TO over six millions
of dollars. which. with the compenSa-
zion 90 each chief supervisor of each
judicial district. for salary, printing.
records required 10 bc kept, and certili-
cations 10 Doe given. would run the
amount mp To- fully eight millions of
dollars. This would De an additional
tax upon the people, for the perform
aucc of the same duty for which they
are now taxed by the State authorities.
The Federal law. giving to- the Fed
cral inspectors supreme control over
elections held 40 the same time and
place as the elections for State and
county officers. and the character of the
men, that. under "a partisan administra-
ton. would Doe placed in these positions,
would necessarily produce friction, con-
fusion and disturbance between the
cauvassers representing the State and
inspectors representing the Federal Gov
eminent.
The returns of each precinct are re-
auirod 90 Doe certified 20 by the Federal
inspectors. duplicates forwarded TO the
chief supervisors, TO the Clerk of the
Circuit Court held within the district.
and these returns to Doe tabulatcd and
laid before the Board of CanvasScrS APP
pointed by Federal authority, whose
powers are not confined To the tabula-
ton and canyaSsing of the returns made
by the Federal inspectors, but they have
the authority under the bill 10 summon
witnesses before them and tOrcach con-
illusions as 20 the result, based upon eN-
traneous testimony. In other words,
the worst form of the returning-b boards
of 'carpct-bagging' days in the South
is t0 Doe approved and adopted as the
policy for elections for members of the
House. The Governors certificate OF
the election 0f member of Congress Is
90 Doe absolutely ignored, and the GER
Hfcate OF the returning-board is made
prima facic evidence Of the title of the
perSon declared elected, and the Clerk
of the House OF Representatives IS re-
quired TO place his name upon the roll
for the purpose of organization.
The 10000 Federal oflice-holdcrS OF
any administration would hold the bal
ance of power I'm this country; add to
this number the two or three hundred
Thousand active. energetic partSanS,
whose enthusiasm would be stimulated
bv the pay and reward following party
service. and we can realize the danger
that threatens representative govern
ment should this bin become law.
The principle upon which the bill
rests is, that every person or tribunal
even including the Federal courts. who.
I'm any manner participates in any act
that tends 90 qualify the elector, or to
preserve the purity OF the ballot Is cor
rupt and Enthusiastically, and that the
. only safety to the country Is TO have
/ their acts supervised by a class OF men
who are willing, for the compensation
/ OF five dollars a day to act the detective
and forward the party ends.
No name can be put on or dropped
from the registration list except in the
presence of these Federal agents: the
records of courts must be open TO their
criticism; the demeancr and conduct of
both Federal and State judges must be
observed by them personally. and TO
their critical ear and legal knowledge
must Doe submitted the evidence upon
which courts shall admit aliens To ma
turaliZation.
PaternaliSm and Capitalization find
their broadeSt illustration in the policy
sought to be fastened upon the Repub-
lie by the enactment into law OF this
bin.
The details OF the scheme inaugur-
atcd by il are cumbrouS, filled with
technicalities. overlooking with the
ideas of impractical doctrinarianiSm.
The act is SO framed that in the count
ing and the certiication OF election re-
suits. under its multitudinous errors
must necessarily occur, upon which a
willing and SubServicnt canvaSSing-
board could easily find the foundation
'upon which TO rest decision throwing
out sufficient precincts 10 return the
representation of the party in power.
In many of its provisions the Dill
changes. alters or rcpcalS the wiSes'
provisions found in the laws OF the
states regulating and controlling cleo
tions. and il claims supremacy, ana re-
guires the officers Of the State to conform
TO its provisions, although it is a well
known fact that in the elections held IN