Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-08
THE ELECTIONS BILL.
Provisions OF the Measure "a Reported
by the Senate.

The federal elections bill was reported 10
the Senate yesterday evening by the Senate
committee on privileges and elections. In
committee the democrats were solidly opposed
70 reporting the measure and on the repubi-
can side MIR. Teller reserved the right to offer
amendments on the floor OF the Senate. The
Dill has been materially changed by the sena-
torial committee. 1t has been abbreviated
seventeen pages and in general way has been
carefully amended to suit the more conservative
ideas OF Senators. In committee all reference
to that section Of the Revised Statutes which. It
was claimed, provides for the presence Of troops
at the polls was stricken out, 80 that there Is
no change from the present law in that respect
The house-to-house canvas provided for in
the House bill was stricken out The pro-
vision for drawing juries by COM
missioners was omitted. leaving the law as at
present on the books. The penal offenses were
simplifed. and we're made misdemeanors in
stead of felonies The punishments were modi-
ned the highest punishment imposed being
three years imprisonment and fine Of 81 ,00O
as against imprisonment for five years and a
fine Of $1,000 in the House bill. The judge Of
the circuit court before whom application is
made Tor the appointment Of supervisors is
authorized to appoint as supervisors any per-
sons be may see fit, not being confined in bis
supervisor Provision is made for careful
control and specification Of fees that
may be charged by the supervisors.
which are less in the substitute than
those named in the House bill.
In cases where ballots are cast in the wrong box
they are not to be counted unless the tally
sheet shows that the votes for Congressman do
not equal the number OF names on the poll
list then enough of the votes so wrongly cast
shall be added to the tally sheet to make the
al Il
shown to be cast. Where the election officers
refuse to administer oaths to voters applying
therefor it is provided in the bill that the su-
pervisors shall administer the oath and keep
record thereof. But no effort shall be made to
have the vote thus refused cast, the object
being merely to preserve the testimony of the
application and refusal.
Senator Hoar, who is responsible for most Of
the amendatory work, makes a very clear state
ment Of the bill. The substance of the pro-
posed law" said he. lis this: Whenever appli-
cation Is made to judge Of circuit court for
town OF Il, 600 inhabitants or upward, or OF ny
county, township. parish or precinct, officers
may be appointed for that purpose, three in
each precinct, of whom not more than two
shall be o. one political party. 1t is made their
duty to supervise, inspect and witness the cleo
ton. but the registration and the election and
the certfication of the result thereof are left
in the hands of the local authorities. When
inspection is provided for a Wi ole congressional
district. however, there shall be three state
mmissioners appointed by tn, court,
not more than two of whom shall
be OF one political party, who shall
issue certificate of the result Of the
election in that district The certificate thus
made shall be used by the clerk of the House
in making up his roll of members. Any person
who shall make under oath IA statement that he
believes he is entitled to a certificate OF cleo
ton may have the case examined by the Judge
OF circuit court. If that judge find that the
certificate of the commissioners is not correct
he shall issue certificate, and that certificate
shall be final until the case is acted on by the
House of Representatives. II shall be prima
facie evidence of the right Of the person named
therein to a seat in the House. The rest of the
provisions are merely an extension of the law
which has been enforced in New York state for
a number of years.