New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-15
AMENDING ELECTION LA VS..
SUMMARY OF THE IMPORTANT FEATURES
or SENATOR SAXTON'S new MEASURES.
THREE BILLS AMESDAToRY OF THE BALLOT
LAw-THE CORRUPT Practices ACT AND


LAw-THE CORRUPT Practices ACT AND
THE REGISTRY LAW ALSO AFFECTED.
Albany. Jan. 13.-Mr. saxton introduced in the Sen
ate on the first day OF the session, several DIS
which relate more less directly TO public electohs
The following is summary OF their more l"po' 'i"'
features
Practices act in the following particulars:
Fir-t-E recurring that statements filed by candl
dates ,hil include the expenses OF hom''uo" a.
wei ." ' nv ircriIinE ono, - Of political commit e..
and all other persons, 10 make detailed statements oi
~,-die,,., mi, i, new section, and i substan-
,iaiv line one recommended by the Governor last
Ihiri-By making it unlawful for candidates TO ex-
mend any money for any campaign or erection pui-
new, .crtI0n The present Law. defining what may
lie expended lcgtmacly for election purposes Is eA-
Cecdu,ly loose ana incomplete
There are three different bills amcndat0ry OF the
Ballot law.
fir,t-One OF thes, proposes to suspend the opera
Gou Of the Ballot act. far a. 1t relates to town
meetings ard village elections, until January !, l70-
The section relating 10 this subject Is not very Gear
be,idc, there is "a difficulty to be met. and the best
WAY Of meeting it il be subject OF some DISCUSSION
Tie law a. it stands contempatcs that all the voters
Of the town shall vote in one place. Bat some towhN
have from 800 to 1000 voters. and it is question
whether the votes can all be taken at one poll under
the now systen ON the other hand, there must be
Town meeting. when all town business Is considered
and transacted. hi, IS nOw held on the same day
on which officer, voted for. The dIiculty Is t.
pr,yId, method without TOO great expense. by which
tb ucoplc can vote for officer, by districts and also
meet together in body at one place to consider town
affair, AID hear the reports Of town omccIs'
.o,oud-Anothcr amendment has reference to the
.,.cti,p officers, Last year the number OF Inspectors
in each election district. outside oil NcW-l"'A ana
Broollyn was increased from three to hvc THIS waS
done IN order that OF the number might Ice o'lo-
gated 70 perform the duc, Of ballot CLERKS Oh election
d.y The new Registry law provided, however. that
Ioa-l NJ ipspe,tos should constitute the boards "
,cr.,try. The result was that there we're FIVE men.
be.idcs a clerk on each registry board Throughout
the state, when the work could easily nave "'h doho
by three The extra cost TO the STATE "a' pr"haOF
$50 cO. The amendments upon this point reduce
te number of Inspector, from five To three. and then
provide that the ballot clerks shall be appointed Oh
election day the poll clerks now are
These proposed amendments were presented III
separate bills because they ought. for obvious reasons
70 become laws before the spring election takes place
and should therefore not be connected with moe dc
batsLle amendments.
Thid-Auotncr bill propose various amendments I"
the Ballot law in matters OF deta but doe not seek
to change any essential features Of the law. Ih'
mo.t importtut Of the amendments are A. follows:
Tn, number Of signatures required for Independent
nominations i increased; o.,.
The time within which ceitlh'ile' must Ue H'I w
r. g proy.lou, requiring list, OF candidates to lee pub
l-hcd aud posted repealed. The "tIcct "i lhe'o
provisions under the bill that was vetoed li,i winter
10 present 70 the pubic exact 'pP'' "' w, 1iIi
ia he voted 20 that the lo alton on the ticket oil each
caudldate could hc observed hi, b. not required bN
the law A. il stands, and the publication ie"tiro
Zach ballot /, to be headed with the party ol
political name designated in the certificate Of nomina
ton. t.,, H. .,,.s =
The number Of ballots to be furnished for voters Is
The blank ballot i, abolished
The proper method VI folding ballots i, more clearly
defined, and ballot clerks permitted to Illustrate
The election officers are required deposit tho
ballot Of the n the bllotboX before the uHN"ted
no exchange Of the ballot Icy accident or otherwise
The ballot CLERKS are not TO place their ini'!'i' Oh
the stub. thoy are now required to ~"
The provision against placing marks or any o,her
u-hng feainrs upon ballot ar maze "ioc
\ bin will also lie Introduced eliminating the paste
ballot and providing IN it, stead the aid Of device
or symbol similar t. that prescribed by the Indiana
law for ignorant voters, and stll another hll Will be
brought forward providing for the adoption Of the
blanket ballot. The blanket ballot, T. well known.
is opposed by the Governor upon constitutional ground.
\ bill has been Introduced to procure speedy decision
by the court, upon tai, constitutional question.
There was another bill introduced. to amend the
registry law Of lt year. by providing that there shall
be only day, Of registration IN country districts.
instead OF three. ana that there ShdII nor ' dIJ
registry in district 10 pant of which j, ia cts.
or incorporated village 81 more than 1000 inha 'ans.
or adjoining same without request Of such csl'-
tgatiOn by ten more voter, Of the District
The code of Civil Procedure now permit, the At
torney General to begin action IA the nature Of
quo Warl,into against person unlawfuly holding an
Office. Another the bills presented make, II unid"-
fuI for person to Office who ha, violated certain
PROV sOns Corrupt Practices act and provide
That IN such a case the Attorney General may begin
and prosecute action In the manner prescribed bN
the code. \ Judgment against The defendant III
qualiie, him for holding any Office in tha state for
five years thereafter.
The Constitution Of the state makes each house
If The cg-laur. the ,olc nudge Of The election re
turns and qualification, OF it, members. y concurrent
resolution va, introduced. prov ding that The Lcgi,
laturc laws 10 submit the determination OF
such qQc-tio, to the courts where fair Judicial Ia,
| vcstlgatiou may he had
There D., ono bill. aiming to regulate caucu-c>
and primary elections Idle oi ctcs. There j,
| adequate Primary Election law upon NcN iorl.
statute hoo>. except the one applying 90 elite, ONLY
! The bill referred 10 require notices of such meeting.
10 be given in certain WAY. prescribe that voting
hall be by ballot aud that poll list, shall bee kept.
define, the qualification, Of voters. and prohibits iutimi
| dalton and vote buying.