Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-21
GOV. ALBEIT ON REFORM.
He Favors the Australian Ballot in
This Country.
REPORTS FROM THE SNOWY WEST.
MARYLAND CENTRAL ANNUAL MEETING
ALBEIT FOR VOTE REFORM.
He Goes Into a Thorough Disquisitioa
on the Australian Ballot.

TRENTON. NJ, Jan. 2L-Leon Albeit was
for the second time maugurated governor oi
New Jersey in the presence of an immense
throng of people in the opera house this after
noon. The Legislature adjourned early and re-
paired TO the opera house TO await the arrival
of the governor elect The procession formed
at IL o'clock and was composed Of 5000 demo-
Gratis from clubs and associations including
three democratic associations from Philadel-
phia. After short march the procession took
under escort near the capitol the governor
elect and state officers in carriages The in
augural exercises were opened by prayer by
the Rev. Samuel Studdeford II. ID. Chief Justice
Beasley administered the oath of Office and Gov.
ureen. IN handing over the seal of the state,
pald a tribute 10 the new governor : democratic
zeai and referred pleasantly TO his re-elec-
tiou- Goy. Albeit, IN response. said he hoped
ne could hand the seal over 10 his successor
clean and unsullied a. he received IL After be-
ing presented to the president of the senate
and members of the legislature Gov. Albeit
read his inaugural address,
THE INAUGURAL
Gov Albeit. in his inaugural address deyotes
considerable space to the question of ballot
reform and advocates the adoption of the Ans
trallan system IN all its essential features in
Guiding the exclusive of an official ballot
mus opposing the position taken by Coy Hill
OF New York. The governor declares tliet the
law on tins subject should embrace the follow
ing points; l. Universal registration. z A
secret compartment for the Use OF the voter
3 An official ballot. printed and distributed by
the state; the use of any other ballot being
promblted. L. Provision for the judicial set
ting aside OF an election and ordering of a new
one in any precinct for fraud, bribery. failure
OF any officer to carry out the law &c O. The
right of nomination by petition when asked
Tor by certain percentage of voters g. No
ticket TO contain names of candidates unless
they have signltied in writing that they accept
the nomination. Z. Provision for printing and
distributing of the official ballots by judicial
ofhcers when the proper officers have failed TO
act 8. Employers or others must not prevent
voters having time TO vote. 3. Limitation of
election expenses and yoiding Of the election
II the limit is exceeded. 10. Filing by candi-
dates after election of sworn itemiZed state
ment OF expenses. ii. Requirement that per-
SONS Offering or receiving a bribe must testify
IN regard thereto. but that their testimony
shall not be used against them in any criminal
or other proceeding The act should. so far as
Is constitutional, disfranchise any one who
violates 1T.
ILLITERATE VOTERS NOT DIsFRAScHIsEp.
The governor is satisfied that illiterate voters
VIII have no difficulty in marking using the
official ballot unaided. He is favorably in
cllned to the provision in the Indiana law
where different devices denote the groups of
party candidates. and the illiterate voter nav
II he desires. vote the straight ticket by mark
ing or punching the device. IL he wishes TO
select particular candidates he can do 80 by
copying from an imitation or duplicate ballot
which friends may have aided him in marking
before going to the poll. The governor be-
lleves that to allow election officers to aid the
ilhterate voter in marking the ballot would be
dangerous. 1t would not ouly destroy the
secrecy of such ballots. but would make it
possible for brIbers TO induce the bribed voter
10 call for the assistance of the officers who
could then report TO the briber how the man
voted. The governor sees no danger in dis
tributing the official ballots before election so
that voters who desire to do SO can prepare
their ballots at home, but there must be no
distinguishing mark on the ballot when IL is
voted. and the voter must also receive another
official ballot at the poll and be required to
stay In the secret compartment long enough TO
use II If he desires instead of the one he pre-
pared beforehand The governor does not
insist on this point, however, knowing that
many friends of the reform regard such a pro-
vision as dangerous. and he will cheerfully WELD
to the opinion of the legislature as TO this
feature.
The governor does not imagine that the secur-
ing of secrecy IN the ballot will of itself prevent
bribery. There is enough honor" among
rogues TO ensure. in nine cases out of ten the
delivery of the purchased vote as promised
But the limitation of expenses. and the sworn
itemized statement thereof will prevent the
raising and use of large sums of money for cor
rrfl flsaNa