Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-13
A TEST DECLARED OFF.
The Baker Ballot Law Will Not Go
to the Supreme Court.
ATTORNEY SANDERSON TALKS.
Chairmen of Both Political Tarties Should
Unite in the Case.
INTERESTING POLITICAL G0sSl

1t has been finally decided that no at
tempt will be made by local politicians to
have the Supreme Court pass judgment on
the Baker ballot law before election day.
Attorneys SandersonM Mckee and Lyon were
seen at the office of the firm yesterday and
they stated that those who had been talking
of such step had been dissuaded from pro-
ceeding any further.
eff the two County Chairmen would make
the move" said Mr.. Sanderson, cor the
two State Chairmen, representing that the
law would work damage to the people of
both parties. the Supreme Court might take
cognizance of the matter and prepare de-
cision before election day. But have no
idea that, having already passed upon the
constitutionality of the law, they would
take any action upon the question now if
presented as had been advised. It is my
opinion the court would simply let the
matter rest until after the election, and we
would not know in the meantime whether
to expect decision or not. -
'The fact is" said Mr.. Mckee, who ap-
proved all his partner had said, ''there has
been too much sitting around and letting
things go without trying to settle this ques-
tion at the proper time to think of getting
decision at this late day. Too much expense
has been incurred, and it would cost too
much money to make change in the situa-
tion now. Those interested have had
months in which they might have tested
this matter, but they have sat idly by and
allowed things to proceed too far to get a
decision to affect the coming election. The
Supreme Court is q non-partisan body
which can't be hurried. Moreover, there
seems to be no real necessity for decision.
The law will hurt no one. If it is found
defective in practice there will be time and
opportunity to 60 to the Supreme Court
after the election"
A Ballot Decided Upon.
The county commissioners yesterday
finally decided that the ballots for this
county will be 19x25 inches in size. Bids
will be advertised for the printing this
morning, and proposals will be received
until o'clock this afternoon for the con-
tract. 1t is probable the contract will be
let at once, though the form of advertising
may make it necessary to hold the matter
over until tomorrow. Instead of bidding
on the job for the whole county as was done
the first time, printers may either bid on
the work by legislative districts or on the
whole county. Proposals will be for $40,
900 official and specimen ballots, and 21O,-
900 cards of instruction. A sample of the
ballot is on exhibition at the commission
ers' otice. 1t has six columns, one each for
the Republican, Democratic, Prohibition,
Socialist, Labor and Peoples Party candi-
dates, and one blank column.
At conference with number of print
ers yesterday, the change in the size of the
ticket was decided upon. By adopting that
duced. A regulation size of paper is 25x38
inches, which cut in half will make two
tickets. 1t is believed that there is enough
paper of that size in stock in the city now
to print all the tickets required. If not, it
can be easily secured. A representative of
paper factory at West Newton informed
the Commissioners yesterday that his COM
ranv could furnish all the paper required,
of any size, on four days notice. Another
point in favor of the 19x25 ticket is that
there are plenty of presses in this city in
which two forms of that size can be printed
at once, thus saving considerable in time
and labor.
The County Commissioners are unit in
the decision to change the size of the ballot
but they are also of one minu that accord
ing to a strict Interpretation of the Baker
law the tickets should be at least 80 inches
in length and only four columns wide.
A Common Sense View.
s'We have decided to take a common
sense view Of it," said Commissioner
Mercer, "because the courts will take that
view of it. The courts won't question our
action when we show that we have arranged
the ballots with fairness and tor the ac-
commodstion of all parties. AS the law
reads, the candidates of the Prohibition,
Socialist-Labor and Peoples partie should
be in one long collmn, arranged in alpha
betical order without regard to party classi-
fcation. Our arrangement gives each
party column with appropriate headings
SO there can be no confusion. There is no
doubt in our minds but that the court will
sustain our position"
The Commissioners say that while they
have adopted this size for the coming cleo
tion it would not answer for local elections
In a city election tor instance, if this form
were carried cut, every independent candi-
date for Councils would have a separate col
umn and the ballot might spread out to sew
eral times the present width. 1t is the
opinion of the Commissioners that until
there is an authoritative decision on what
form must be followed, the tickets will be
arranged according to the circumstances at
each election.
Owing to the publicity the ballot ques-
ton has received, the advertisement for
bids will only be published to-day, and the
contract let as soon as possible i'll order to
ni ua the nrinterS nlentu of time to get the