New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-16
a NATIONAL ELECTION LAW.
PROVISIONS OF A BILL INTRODUCED Bi
REPRESENTATIVE LODGE.

UwEyrY-oxE CAREFULLY DRAWN SECTIONS
SAFEGUARDS SIMILAR TO THOSE ABOUT
THE AUSTRALIAN SYSTEM
OF VOTING.
Washington March 15.-Representatvc Henry
Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts,, chairman of the
House Committee on the Election OF President ana
Vice President and Representatives III Congress- 'oOaS
introduced bill to regulate elections OF Representa-
tives in Congress- Mr.. Lodge says the bill Is care
fully drawn after consultation with many persons 1t
is voluminous bill of twentyonc sections. 1t pro
vdes that whenever 500 persons, voters and residents
in any Congressional District Of the United states
not less than two months prior to the next election of
Representatives petition the Judge OF the District
Court to place the next Congressional election IN sau
district under the provisions o! this act it shall be
the duty of such Judge to announce at once that the
next Congressional election in sad district viii be held
under the provisions of this act The Judge shall then
appoint such officers OF election a.5 registration and
make such other provision for the conduct Of the
Congressional election as are hereinafter provided
There are TO be two registrars OF voters for each
voting precinct one of whom shalt be a member OF
tho party which at the next preceding Presidential eeo
ton polled the highest number of votes, and one
member Of the party which pocd the next highest
number of votes. These registrars are TO prepare
preliminary list of the voters of their
precinct, Which shall be posted public
", and give notice that they will meet at
specified times and places to register voters Within
three days after the posting Of the preliminary lists
the registrars shall begin to hold meetings which SHAH
be public register all duly qualified voters who may
comc before them who not already registered
Registration shall not less than ten days before
election. The second list of voters shall then be
published the shall be added after the close
of registration, and no names shall be stricken on
except proof of death removal from the Congress
sional District Ii shall be the duty of the registrars
on election day to be present at the polling place ana
furnish one copy Of the amended list to the inspectors
for at the baotbox. They shall also bing
another list upon which they shall check off the name
Of each voter who seeks admance within the rail- IN
order to vote and shall be admitted within the
rail 10 vote unless his name appears on the regis
tered list, nor until his name has been called and
checked of the list by the registrars
II is further provided that all ballots cast at an
election for Representative in Congress held under
the provisions Of this act after the first day of Novem-
Der, 1890, shall be printed ana distributed at public
expense Every ballot thus printed shall contain the
names The residence. ard the party political dec
ignaon Of all candidates whose nomina-
tions have been duly made and
not withdrawn. and shall contain no
other names. The names OF candidates shall be ar
ranged under the designation of the Office in alpha
betical order There shall be LEFT at the end OF the
list Of candidates blank space in which the voter
may insert the of any person not printed on the
ballot for whom he desires u vote The ballots snail
be printed TO give to each voter clear oppo'-
tuny 10 designate by cross mark OK III Sufficient
margin at the right of the name OF each candidate, bis
choice of candidates. The ballot shall be Of white
paper, the weight ordinarily used in printing and
not than eight nor less than six inches wide nor
more than ten nor less than eight inches long ana
before distribution the ballots Shall be 80 folded III
marked that their width and length when
folded shall be one-han the width aud length herein
be printed Official Ballot for Representative in Con
gres" followed by the designation Of the polling place
and fac smie of the signature OF the clerk Of the
district, who has caused the ballot to be printed
All ballots, when printed shall be folded as here
nheforc provided. and fastened together in such man
ner that each ballot may be detached and removed
and furnished 10 each polling place snail be Kept by tIs
for each voting place three sets Of such ballots each
OF not less than 100 for every fifty and fraction OF
nifty registered male voters therein; anu it shall be
the duty Of the registrars Of in each precinct
to certify TO the clerk OF the District Court fourteen
days previous 10 suen c yn e U1
is also made for the printing ana distribution o. ~
ballots, manner OF marking them. ETC.
As to the manner Of voting il Is provided that the
inspectors provision for which is made and registrars
in each voting precinct shall designate and appoint
land they fail TO. at least tive days before the cleo
nate and appoint polling place therein at COZ
venicnt place and shall cause 70 be provided Il sufi
Gent number Of voting shelves or compartmeni, at Or
in which voters may conveniently mark their ballots
SO that in the marking they may be screened from
the observation Of Others and guardral hsll be
constructed and placed only such persons a. are
inside Of can approach within twenty feet Of The
ballotboxes, and Of such shelves or compartments
The arrangements shall be such that neither the bal
loboXes nor the voting shelves or compartments stall
be hidden from view OF those OUTSIDE me ran. me
number of such shelves or compartments shall
rot 10 less than for every seventy five voters
and hot less than three in any precinct. Any per
IN Gc-lrng to vote shall give his and. if re
qucs,ed. hs residence to .onc of the ressirars who
and If such hc found upon the check list BY tho
registrar he shall Immediately report it and the voter
shall De allowed TO enter the space inc.Dsed by the
rail- BE shall be furnished with but one ballot and
his name then checked Off. Besdes the election
officers. no voters in excess Of the number Of voting
shelves compartments provided shall be allowed
in said nclosed space al one time On receipt Of MS
ballot the voter shall forthwith ana without leaving
the inclOsed spare retire alone 70 one Of the voting
shelves or compartments. aud Pr pare his ballot by
(X) opposite the name Of the candidate Of his choice
for Congressman or BY filing in the name Of he can
marking OK opposite thereto Before lcavn
the voting shelf Or compartment the voter shall fold
the same way it was folded when received by him.
and he ,ha keep the same so folded until he has
name 10 ,ilc INSPECTOR and having checked The
: space and list s Si'' qp sG" is sol
@ unner%Es %t sau ,oar e and Snno
his ballot without undue delay. and shall quit the in,
already occupied BY another nor to eman within
said ncloscd space for moro than six minutes, nor to
five Minutes In all q such shelves or compart-
ments in use and other voters are waiting to oc-
cupy them. No person shall take remove any bal
lot from the polling place before the close o. the polls
Other sections provide in substance As follows:
Thnt where there Is constitutional educational
qualification. voters who cannot read ser may
receive the assistance Of the inspectors In marking Their
ballots. voter who purDoselv allows one n
know how he is about 10 vote. by showing his marked
ballot. any person who endeavors TO induce a voter
10 show his married. ballot shall be subject 10 fine :"
from $50 10 $500. and larger fines and penacT are u
be imposed for destruction Of election posters or sup
plies. filing false certificates Of nominations.
for failure Of election officers in their duties. Cha
1enccs not to be entertained for the purpose OF
DELAYING voting Tho returns Of elections To be made
N duplicate to Tire clerk Of the District Court who
with the Judge OF the court, Is to commute tho vote
IN each Congressional district and certify the result
as az present TO the Clerk Of tho House of Pcpro
scntativeS. who Is 20 place the roll The name
Of the persons certified.
The marshal Of the court is required 10 furns'
deputies 10 preserve order under the direction OF ln'
e,ncti.r oGicec. and % a. oil A.l.. .i.M .L