The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1890-08-02
THE FORCE BILL.
An Analysis of the Measure as II Passed
the House.

Besides the constitutional OBJ
iections to the Federal election
bill there are some practical OBJ
iectiuns which are striking and
command alteAtion. Under the
power gwen to Congress to add to
Of alter the regulations OF a
State, which prescribe the times,
places and manner of holding
elections tor members of Con-
grpss can do, so long as It uses
The machinery of the State, is
to appoint officers 20 supervise o.
watch, over the conduct of the
election and note any irregularl-
ties or obi ctlons. Congress may
impose new duties on the election
officers or new penalties tor
breach of duty or perpetIation CT
fraud, or provide for the attend
ance Of Federal officers to pre-
vent frauds and see that the eIcc
tons arc legally and fairly con-
Quoted. That was the extent of
the decision of the Supreme Court
of the United STATES in Slebold's
case under the existing law.
But Congress cannot do more
than tins that is provide for the
oversight of Congressional cleo
tions held under State laws and
punish frauds committed at the
same. Congress has no right or
power to confscatc the State $
election machinery, such as the
list of taxabes, registration lists,
election booths and ballot boxes,
and provide for the appointment
of officers to conduct the election
nnder State laws. If Congress
desires that the election shall be
held under a Federal law 1t must
provide its own machinery; 1t the
manner of conducting the cleo
ton IS left to the State the officers
Of the State must be permitted to
condIct 1t without interference by
the Federal supervisors.
In Pennsylvania there IS no reg
istry of voters. Here the voters
are the male taxable citizens
They are assessed IN order TO en-
able them to pay their poll taxes
or taxes on the person. The lis
is a tax list and peculiarly State
affair. Yet the Federal clectlor
bill authorizes the United State
supervisors to require the asses
sor "to mark the name Of per
son challenged on that list
CT allenged Tor what:
Supervisors are authorized t.
hold under strict scrutiny all reg
lstry books, check lists, tallles
returns and all other papers con
nected with the registration 0
election, and to afiix their sigma
lures to them whenever they Sc
fit TO do SO. These returns relat
to State officers, as Governor
Assemblymen, judges sheritfs an
Others. The Federal governmen
has no right to meddle with tn
election of these officers: at leas
none has been asserted until now
Supervisors are to pass on Tn
qualifications of voters, and wEc
votes are rejected by the State Of
ticers the supervisors may reclev
them and put them into the ga
lot box. This is "superFlslng
with a vepgence. The partle
change places now: the superv
sors become judges aud Inspector
of elections, aud judges and II
speeIors will be tolerated
lookers.on. The votes are to =
counted by both the supervisor
and the election officers. III
latter are again tolerated.
Then they are to make, certii
aud forward all certificates an
returns! And this of a State Gle
tion, by State officers, with sta
property THE tadpole IS COW
frog; he supervisor first deye
oped into an Inspector to recie'