Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-21

when made either by a party convention OF
by paper signed by a given number oi
voters.
Under this system all qualified voters
have equal facilities for voting, and all can
dloates have equal facilities for receiving
votes.
Wherever tried, the Australian ballot
system has completely changed the aspect
OF the elections. 1t secures the tranquility,
purity and freedom of choice, and there is
abundant testimony that it is the best, the
most rapid and iacile mode of obtaining the
unbiased wish and mind of the voters.
The Australian system has produced
effects far wider than the mere achievement
OF a single reform. When opportunity is
given to put honest and capable men in
public Office and keep them there then is
the standard of public service elevated and
made worthy of the honorable ambition of
our best men. Ballot reform offers not only
free and pure elections, but free nomina-
tions. 1t offers method of nomination that
is open to all, and frees us unmistakabIy
from the rule of political bosses. L will
heartily favor any well-considered legisla-
tion which will secure these or any portion
of these results.
A Constitutional Convention.
But it is manifest that the deep-reaching
ana effective ballot reform for which the
popular mind in Pennsylvania has been
fully prepared by recent discussions must
go beyond the present restrictions of the Con-
stltution. The complete advantages OF what
has so widely approved itself as the Austria
liam system cannot be realized while the bal
lot-numeering provision remains in the Con-
stitution. That provision requires each bal
lot to be numbered for Identification. 1t is
expressly designed for an exposure, in certain
contingencies, of the contents of the ballot,
while the Australian system is expressly
designed to prevent such exposure in any
contingency. The dependent voter Will
never feel the security to which he is en-
titled, and which the general welfare re-
quired be should have, while the danger of
exposure, even by judicial inquiry, hangs
over his head. But the numbering produces
other and far greater evils. 1t is done by
the election officer, who, therefore, must
handle the ballots and drop them in the box.
When, again, the ballots are counted a ref
erence to corresponding numbers on the list
of voters reveals to the election officer how
any and every citizen has voted.
The oath of secrecy has been found of
little avail. It is systematically violated.
The industrial and political boss almost in
varIably secures the information he desires
concerning the ballot of his victim. 1t Is
for this reason, because of their long and
disastrous experience under the numbering
system, that the people demand its aboli-
tion and the restoration to them of their
lost right to free and untimidated vote.
The reason for the existing constitutional
provision has in great measure ceased. Cor
ruption and brutal coercion have taken the
place of ballot-box stuffing in our elections.
tn raForpn tho hyco in
tional convention is necessary. There is no
reason why such a convention should not be
assembled at an early day, its deliberations
completed and the results submitted to the
people and approved or rejected within the
present year.
Another Very Necessary Change.
Additional warranty and necessity for
this are to be found in the demand for
system of compulsory personal registration.
Such a system cannot be secured without
an elimination from the Constitution of the
provision that "No elector shall be de-
prived of the privilege of voting by reason
of his name not being registered" Like the
numbered ballot clause, this provision was
inserted TO avoid an abuse which no longer
exists. While this provision remains it is an
obstruction to a reform now urgently
needed and popularity demanded. An act
of Assembly may establish in Pennsyl-
vania the official ballot, the booth secludlng
the voter. and the open count, all of which
are important reforms; but We cannot estab-
lish compulsory registration or give to the
people the one thing which they most want
and are determined to have-a secret ballot,
save by a constitutional convention.
OF scarcely less Importance is the equali-
cation of the burden of taxation. For
fhara hoo l. !
complaint against the insuffciency, the
inequality. the inefectiveness and the
partiality of the tax laws of the
State. The burdens OF the Government
should be equally shared, or at least as near
ly SO as human laws can contrive. Since our
legislative policy is to tax property rather
than persons, there can be no possible excuse
for selecting the houses and farms OF the
people to bear ten times as much of the pub
lie burdens as personal property.
All Taxation Should Be Equal,
Ii things, and net persons are to be taxed.
common equity would dictate that the aggre
gate OF a mans possessions, irrespective of
their kind. and simply according to their
value, should bear the infiction. What
delinquency has real estate been guilty of
that it should be thus unfairly Disseminated
dSdlusi! ~ - tHS uOst prOuuCllVe, Tue most
needful and the most stable form of prop
erty. 1t adds most to our wealth, remains
always with US, shelters and sustains ou.
people, and at once attracts, and, if Justly
treated, retains and multiplies population.
There is a baleful vice in the form OF gov
ernment that inf1icts penalty upon lands
and houses and makes their ownership diff
fcult and burdensome. The farmer and
has no right to any exemption
from his fair share OF the public expense,
but he has right to just and impartial
treatment that canoot be ignored, except at
a cost of social tranquility.
The inequality referred to is patent to
every eye. There is not citizen in the
paying a tax upon his home
or farm who cannot point to some neighbor
owning many times as much in personal
goods and idle capital who vet paws ar i'm
measurably less amount of tax. 1t is USE
less to answer such undeniable facts by any
intricate theory as to the ultimate distri-
button of all taxation. Such unjust dis
elimination is working untold evil to our
people; is exeInpting the rich; is day by day
unfortunate social distinctions
that are foreign to our principles of govern
ment, destructive OF the happiness and ener-
gies of men, and blasting the hopes that we
have all prayerfully entertained of our coun-
try becoming the home OF IA contented and
happy people.
The State tax on corporations fills all the
of a subject for taxation that
can be uniformly assessed upon established
standards of valuation, and which can be
cheaply collected. The machinery for its
is simple and the cost of Its col
lection is nominal. Corporate wealth is
purely creation of the State, and fitly
bears the burden of its expenses.
A Premium Upon Extravaganza.
But since this and the collateral inher-