The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-02
DEPUTIES INSTRUCTED.
ORDER oFrnEATroRNEr GENERAL
A. en- ,bs Duty Of the Federal Ofncers Mt
the Poll Mkt Tuesdsy-A
Scare From Alabama.

WASHINGTON, d. c.. Nov. 1.-Attor-
ney- General Miller has Issued circular
letter to all United States marshais and
district attorneys throughout the United
states clearly indicating the line OF pol
ley which the Department OF Justice VIII
pursue in the coming elections for Con-
gressmen, in regard to the appointment
OF United States supervisors OF elections
and special deputy marshals 10 watch the
polls. The Attorney-General quotes an
order issued by President Cleveland TO
Attorney-General Garland in 1856 in winch
that officer was reques.eA TO take general
charge and direction OF the execution OF
the statutes of the United States touching
the appointment OF supervisors OF election
and special deputy marshals, and the per-
Torrance of their duties and their COM
pensation so far as these SUBJECTS are
by the Constitution and laws under the
supervIsion and control OF the executive
branch of the Government The Attor-
ney-G General says the authority mus given
has never been evoked, and quotes lie
following:
In the language of the statute Of the
United States section 20l9, IL Is the duty
Of the supervisors in their respective cleo
ton districts or voting precincts. TO be
present on the day Of registration and on
election day, and Ito take. occupy and
remain i'm such position, from time to
time whether before or behind the ballot
boxes, as will in their judgment best
enable them to see each person onerlng
himself for registration or offering 10
vote. and as will best conduct their
scrutinizlng the manner In which the re-
gistration or voting is being conducted,
and at the closing of the polls for the
reception of votes, they are required 10
place themselves in such position In re-
lation to the ballot boxes for the purpose
of engaging in the work OF canVasslng the
ballots as will enable them to fully per-
form their duties In respect to such can
vass provided herein, and shall there re-
main until every duty in respect TO SUCH
canvass Of certified returns ana state
ments has been wholly completed"
By section 2i22 the Deputy marshals are
authorized TO arrest with, or without
process. any person who commits or at
tempts or offers TO commit any or the
acts or offenses prohibited herein. or VINO
commits any offense against the laws OF
the United States" But no person shall
be arrested without process for any OIL
Tense not committed in the presence or
the marshal or one OF his general or
special deputies OF OlN VI lHr FNENA fi''io
of election. And the supervisors have
. Ike mower to make arrests. Any at
tempt TO interfere with the supervisors
or deputy marshals In the proper dis
charge Of their duties is q violation OF
the law and subjects the wrong-doer TO
a severe penalty.
Late this afternoon after Attorney
General Miller had taken the train for
Indianapolis a dispatch from Mont
gomery, Ala was brought TO the atten-
ton Of the officials Of the Department
of Justice as having consider able bearing
upon the DEPARTMENTS circular. This dis
patch stated that Chairman Skelly, Of
the Alabama State Democratic campaign
committee had issued the following in
structons TO the party managers in the
different counties OF the State: The APP
pointment of deputy nlarshals for cleo
ton purposes outside Of Birmingham,
Mobile and Montgomery is Illegal, and
II appointments are made and the dep
uty marshals should appear at the polls
and get within thirty feet limit, as pro-
vided by the State laws, except 10 cast
their ballots, or If they interfere with
voters in any way. have them arrested
Have the sheriff appoint deputy sheriffs
enough to enforce the law at each pre-
cinct The committee will stand by you
Solicitor General Aldrich, who is now
acting Attorney General read this dis
patch with interest, and said he had not
yet been advised either by the United
States marshal or the district attorney OF
this circular but presumed he would nnd
full information on the subject In his
mornings mail. He could not, OF course
discuss a hypothetical case, but he would
venture to say that the provisions or
section POLL of the Revised Statutes as
to when supervisors could be legally ap-
pointed outside Of cities Of 10000 inhabi-
tants were very clear, and he did not
doubt that the United States courts in
Alabama had followed these provisions
closely. He did not anticipate any con-
! fict between the state and United States
| officials in this matter but If such con-
| fct did occur he felt quite sure the
| United States officials would come out
on top. This matter will undoubtedly en-
gage the attention of the Department OF
Justice early in the morning