The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-06-25
THE NATIONAL ELECTION BILL.
THE MEASURE PREPARED BY THE HOUSE
CAUCUs COMMITTEE SAID TO HAVE RE-
CEryED THE ENDORSEMENT OF A
NrNHER OF SENATORS.

WASHINGTON. June lG.-The National
Election bill. as framed by the House Re
publican caucus and introduced hy Repre-
sentative Lodge has just been printed. II
makes 76 printed pages and is asserted to be
a complete Federal Election bill, which has
received the informal sanction of number
Of Republican Senators.
The principal features of the measure,
compendiousy stated, are as follows;
Chief Supervisors of Elections in judicial
districts are charged with the execution Oi
the law, which is to apply to Federal cleo
tions in cities of 10 900 inhabitants and up
wards, and IN entire Congressional districts
exclusive of such cities upon application TO
the supervisor of 100 voters, or in counties
or parishes forming a part of Congressional
district upon application from 90 voters.
The Supervisors are to guard, scruunize and
supervise registration and every act or incl
dent connected with registration and plans
for ascertaining who are legal voters. Upon
notice from the Chief Supervisors the United
States Circuit Courts are required to open
for the purpose Of transactiOg registration
aud election matters. The supervisors are
to be appointed by the Circuit Courts-three
in each election district or voting precinct,
but two of whom are to be of the same polit-
ical party These supervisors are to attend
all registrations in their districts, challenge
persons, personally inspect and copy the
original registration books and papers, at
tend elections, and detect and expose the
improper or wrongful manipulation OF the
lists. in case of failure of local election
officer to put the statutory oath TO chal-
lenged voter and to pass at once upon his
qualifications. then the supervisors are TO
apply the test and to receive and deposit the
vote. making list of all challenges. They
are also personally to inspect ballot boxes
before elections, keep independent ballot
lists aud inclose rejected votes Endorsed
with the name Of the voter in envelopes.
In addition to these duties the supervisors
are REQUIRED to make-in towns of 10000
people and upwards thorough house-to-
house inspection, before election, 10 inform
voters upon where and in what box to de-
posit their ballots, and to scrutinize natural
izat;ons. In canyassing the votes the stale
laws are to govern, except that all ballots
are to be counted by, first. an inspector of
election, and, second, by a supervisor, the
local election officers and the supervisors
keeping separate tally sheet, which are to be
compared and the result publicly announced
Ballots deposited in the wrong box are to
be counted. Returns are 10 be made by the
supervisors in duplicate to the Clerks of the
Circuit Court and to the Chief Supervisor
who is 10 tsbulate and refer them to the
United States Board of Canvassers of the
Congressional vote which is TO be appoint
ed By the United States Circuit Court, and
consisting Of three citizens OF the state, not
more than two Of whom are TO be of the
same political party The Board is 10 con-
vene on November 10 each even year and 10
declare and certify the result of the election,
and send one return to the Clerk of the
House Of Representatives. one TO the Gov
ernor of the state and one to the proper
Chief Supervisor Of Elections. The Clerk Of
the House is to place upon the roll of mem-
bers-elect the names of the persons declared
elected by the United States Canvassers, in
case there is a difference in the result reach
ed by them and by the state election officers.
A penalty Of between 1000 and 5000 is
provided in case the clerk neglects this duty.
Each ballot box is to be clearly inscribed
with its natsre, and boxes are TO be kept in
plain sight and open 10 inspection. Bribery
or attempted bribery of voters or election
officers is made punishable by n fine Ofnot
more than 5000, OF imprisonment for not
more than--years, or both. Like severe
penalties are provided for false registration
and voting, repeating, coercion of supervi-
sors, improper conduct of election officers,
false canvassing, ballot box stuffing, fraudu-
lent distribution resistance to supervisors
commands, breach Of peace at registration
of election, intimidation, and almost every
election fraud