Evening journal., 1891-03-31

CIR. an surprised TO learn that tn
slightest hesitancy should rep.ain in th
minds of the membsrs OF the Legislator
in regard to the duty and unquestionabl
expediency Of adopting the measures o
reform now pending before the tw,
houses at Dover
All these measures are OF the Eighes
exoeniency for the welfare Of the state
and first may be considered law FOR th
registration Of voters.
OF its constitutionality there can be
no doubt, for so far from impeding th,
rlgnt OF suffrage 1t facilitates IL and as.
slsls the lawful voter TO exercise Bill
privilege under the Constitution BY pre-
venting his vote from being rejected for
dlshonest reasons aud overcome by the
reception of unlawful votes.
The Law Sustained BY the Conrts.
It adds no new qualification 10 those
prescribed by the Constitution; that /.
simply regulation Of the mode Of exer
cising the privilege OF franchise in secur
ing the results Of honest election.
10 the case Of Frieslleben against the
Levy Court, Chief Justice Comegv
delivering the opinionof the court upheld
/ the constitutional power of the Legis
lature to regulate the exercise Of The
/ privilege ana franchise OF suffrage a. was
provided by the act Of 1873. and in tbe
course of this elaborate epin ion he gave
the history Of the act Of l847. under which
the names OF all persons returned as de-
ilnquents were dropped from the assess
ment list until Lew assessment was
made, and, as assessments were then
made every four years, the delinouant
taxable WAS liable to be kept off the list
Tor that term, instead Of q single yea~
as provided by tha present law Of 1s73
This law originated with Hon. Edward w
dilpin, afterwards chief Justice. and na
doubts as TO its constitutionality were
ever raised,
The object Of the Registration act is To
prevent such gross frauds as were prev
alent in the city of Wilmington last fan
In one case, as reported as many as sixty.
eight men were voted by the Republicans
as residents in a single house that can
tanned but two rooms or course. If the
registration law is adopted, the fictitious
namss tha. were dropped from the lists
for non payment of taxes will not appear
because registration will disclose the
residence Of each voter The ob
Ject Of the law OF 1878. droppinp
the name Of delinquent taxables from
the lists, was to prevent
such frauds because these lists
were padded with fictitious names
OF persons who neither had existence nor
residence in the state bnt who were per.
sonated by negroes ard repeaters fur
nished with fraudulent tax receipts whose
rights were secured BY Republican in
specsors regardless Of the protests Of the
Democratic judges.
The law Of 1913 wes designed TO pre-
vent fraud and not to disfrsnchise any
lawful voter. The Registration law.
following the examrle Of most of the
other states, proposes to effect more
completely the prevention OF unlawful
voting, end viii take the place Of the
law Of 1878.
The Commissioners Bill In New Castle
County
The bill as now presented appears to
be wise and careful measure. aud prom |
ises to be permanently retained on the
statute book no matter which party nav
prevail in 1892
The features that give rebate for
prompt payment Of taxes and penalties |
for delayed payments cannot fail TO bring |
money promptly into the treasury AN |
OF the PROVISIONS tend to more business
like methods and greater economy and
security both in the cole tion /
OF taxes and their expenditure.
It contains many valuable checks on
the different officials and much needed
safe guards for public money in the |
hands Of officials. The plan to secure /
representation is wise. and con- |
tains valuable principle, for no discre-
tionary body should be composed solidly |
Of one party only.
Reforms Were Promised.
As TO the Republican outcry agsinst a
change in the county officials and govern.
ment It is unreasonable and absurd !
Tor It is only necessary to remember /
that throughout the late canvass there
was promised reform and change by
both parties.
The Democrats are now only keeping
their promises made before the election
and making changes. to which the Re
were equally pledged, and
which, If New Castle had been carried
IS IN 1883, by the Democrats, and
Kent and Sussex by the Republicans, they
would undoubtedly have been carried
'ut just as the Democratic Legislature
low proposes. The measures Of reform
low proposed are Democratic measures,
md to give them fair trial 1t is essen
.lal that they shall be put in operation By
'tdcials friendly to their success.
Nothing but violent denunciation and
abuse Of these measures has been heard
rom the Republican side, and il would
'e idie 70 expect any assistance from the
MEMBERS 81 that party in carrying into
fleet the proposed reform
Reforms Must BE Made.
Therefore Democratic reforms must be
made practical by Democratic instru-
as we have the responsibility
We should have the power Nothing but
Instructions would follow the retention
n office Of Republican county officials and
therefore they must give way and await
he elections of 1892
AS Charles Sumner used to saw. So
hild should not be put TO nurse to one
hat cares not for it, and it would be
.bsurd TO trust the administration Of ,
Democratic measures to the hostile
lsnds of Republican partisans.
Newcastle county with much unanimity
las asked for change and reform ia its
ocal government and that is what the ,
should give, and will un
oUbtedly give, in compliance with
opular demand.
Ballot Reform J
las been found necessary in almost all
be states, and the best features Of the
ate laws can easily be adopted and
nacted here, in the protection Of the
ltizen from intimidation coercion and
orrupt solicitation n
Secrecy of the ballot should be secured,
nd the main feature of the Australian T.