The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-17
Az ELECTION COSTS MONEY!
A Few Facts Tor the g~Iis htesuest OF sus.
pleious Critics.

picfous Crittcs.
While tho Ming with the County Clerk within
ten days OF election OF sworn statements OF
their expenses by candidates for local office
does not appear to have served any wholesome
and reforming purpose. II has furnished a text
to good many shallow and ill-lnformed per-
sons for the declaration TINT candidates are
unduly taxed" for nominations. and that In
the case OF judicial aspirants this has como to
be gross abuse. The opinion seems to DO
entertained by 4 majority Of the critics who
dilato upon the present method Of party nomi-
nation. that no great expense is involved in
the support and election OF candidates for
public offico since the change in the law n
year and half ago rho exact contrary Of
this is the case.
What are the ordinary and legitimate en-
penses OF a canvass. such as was conducted
this year. by an organization desiring to get
for Its nominees all the votes possible. without
transgresslng the provisions Of law, and with
out recourse to illegitimate outlays2 In the
first place. more than two-thirds Of the voters
used ut the recent election "paster ballots"
The State does not furnish these. and they
must therefore be supplied by each organiza-
tion at its own expense. There wero SS7 cleo
tion districts in the city OF New York at the
recent election. with an average OF 800 voters
In each. To provide q sufficient num-
Der OF pastors for all contingencies.
not less than 500 are needed for
each district. bringing up the total in the
whole city to 443.5OO The law specifies
how. upon what sort Of paper. in what style OF
tyne. and In what manner these pastors must
DO printed. gummed. and prepared. and they
cost each organization using them at the last
election. the sum OF $4,000
1t has been for many years the custom OF all
tnA ttro1 tn
to send to each OF the registered voters just
before election. printed circular descriptive
Of the identity and qualifications OF the candI-
dates nominated. Prior to the election OF last
year full set OF tickets was enclosed: last
year and this single paster ballot was used
as substitute for tickets. There
were 2e1.OOO citizens registered at tho
late election. The item OF postage on
letters to these was $5.220. Circulars at Sc a
thousand were 1922 more. The cost OF tho
blanket pastors enclosed was $1,000. The
envelopes cost $3.50 more and the addressing
and folding $3.50. These items foot up SO. 1882.
and are all absolutely indispensable to the in
terests OF the candidate who expects from the
organization nominating him adequate sup
port 1t is very true that candidate might
remain in the field and figure somewhere in tho
official returns Though he would not figure
very high II the voters were kept in ignorance
Of his candidature. but his chances would in
deed DO poor and his prospects hlighted by
No Would ws sa tub ro RS
In every ELECTION district in New York where
trlbuted. and were demanded by the voters. 1t
was necessary to have some one 70, distribute
are long and tedious. the supply OF adept
and disinterested volunteers. actuated by fer
maintenance Of fhamGplyaa and tlI.. On ~
t5ust%orthy and desirable raster, ballot"
vices on election day. The State pays SIC Tor
similar work by election officers within doors.
election worker out OF doors Especially II the
to work. and do harder work. too, for 81 less.
iron and they must have assistants. A faithful
assistant, charges IS for, his services and is
alIot SIS additional for such incidental expenses
ass nerssfs is ga GSs each vsfSss
would be $l7.740 in the entire town. That Is
Of course the minimum allowance. as no or
successfully upheld will, but two men in each
The Average number so employed. and active.
Y employed. too. IS six. and In some districts
the total Is much larger on election day Tsach.
the very lowest possible computation the OK
pTsss for You'd foot up the figures al
been in Use p New YeSE They cost vs on .i t%s
enyelop three OF the sides. and the hammer
ton. are not furnished By the State State ~ fHey
represent a cost OF about Is cents additional
to s. distTIst: q sssi ~ r. Sheis sit SAs,
legitimate campaign expenses incurred by
any organization IN support Of its candidates.
Besides the blanket pastors referred to. each
candidate, expects to have a complete set Of
his in%diyid%ai pastors in each voting district
the organization. Still another item is the
carriage OF the election boxes. which amounts
to several hundred dollars additional. Then
played With sufficient conspicu cue in
meeting places saloons. and upon dead walls
and fences. The State does not pay the bill.
1t must be paid by the organization. This Is
an item Of 81 900. and at least as much more
for space in journals not published in the Eng
lish language. but read by the vast and varie-
gated cosmopolitan constituency of voters
garian. Spanish. Swedish. French. Dutch. or
Norwegian. To pursue this question OF cleo
ton expenses no further. this IL a summary OF
tho items given thus far:
Morksrs 1,4o
Printing biz posting advertising carriage. Dc. 800
These figures represent the purely mechan-
ical expenses OF an ordinary election by. each
figured at the lowest possible amount. As the
successful candidates IN an election are, the
chief beneficieries Of the voting done. 1t Is
natural enough that they and not private in |
having naFannnI IN