St. Paul daily globe., 1892-11-23

COUNTING TIE COST.
Judges and Clerks Of Elec-
tion May Whistle for
Adequate Pay.
A Provision Of the Bell Char
ter Cuts Them Or
With $15.
Thirty Of Uncle Sans Silver
Dollars Are Asked for by
the officials.
Too Close to Settle Election
Bets on $4,000 Plurality
for Nelson.

The members of the city council are
forcibly confronted by the abomina-
tions of the Keyes election act. While
is universally agreed that the Aus
tralian system of voting has many viz
tues, and that it is protection to the
voter from the domination OF the un-
scrupulous employer and from profes-
Sional political boSsiSm. the law in Min
nesota is in such a crude state that it
works hardshipS to the citizen. 1t is
complicated and clumsy. 1t cheats a
large per cent out of their votes. 1t al
most offers a premium for erroneous
returns to canvasSing boards for the
reason that it entails vast amount OF
unnecessary labor by the judges of
election and clerks. "a
All these things are brought home to
the councilmen in All unmistaksble man
ner. The joint committee Oh claims
is now undertaking the task of arriving
at an equitable settlement with the
Judges and clerks of st. Paul for their
services in the recent election, and it
woold appear that scarcely any two are
agreed upon the amount of the recon-
pense that should be allowed. 49,.
The Judges and clerks are compelled
to visit the city clerks office, under the
provisions of the election law, each day
first prior to registration days to get the
registration books, and then they are
Obliged to return the same to the clerk
each day following registration davs.
The night of election, in almost every
instance in the city, it required till a
long way into the day following election
for the judges and clerks to complete
the circuit. Still, the law in specific
terms declares that the clerks and
judges shall be allowed no pay for their
services save on registration and cleo
tion days, and for each of such days
they shall receive s. a man.
What does this mean?
Cannot the city council pay its en-
ployeS for extra services compelled by a
state law?
The Joint committee on claims under
took to solve these problems alta special
session held at O'Clock Yesterday, but
after a rather peculiar debate, i'll which
ali the members present participated
more or less, and voiced individual
ideas and sentiments. the committee
shirked the responsibility. They wisely
found the subject too rec0ndlte for
them to interpret and the matter was
referred to Corporation Attorney Law
Ter for his construction of the law. This
will be. submitted at an adjourned SeS-
sion to be held at 4 O'clock Saturday.
There are 800 names on the roll, COM
prSing the judges and clerks, and they
are all anxious to get their money at the
earliest possible movement, and, as W..
ovolaiInp1 "a thea commit pn :.
Most of them are poor men, and
they need their pay. They should hav,
had it ere this" pursued Mr.. Murray
''and | hope you will act upon ito
night. The men should have $40 each. J"
"Who are your particular ellie nts?'
asked MI. Liglltner with "a euizzlcal
smile.
Il appear for them ALL"
Il suppose we should pay them all
equally suggested Mr. Lightner, turn
ing to Mr.. Zimmerman.
,'0iI,l suppose sos but it scarcely
seems right he qualified after a mo
ment's thought. Il DON'T think the
men who only counted 100 votes should
receive as much pay as the men who
had to count 400. for Illustration. Still,
l scarcely know how we can equallZe
the compensation"
There were four days for registra-
ton and one for election,' interpoSed
Mr. Montgomery. "NoW what does
the law say?''
Mr.. Lightner read the section. 1t ap-
peared rather explicit. The Judges and
clerks shall be paid S3 a day, but they
shall be allowed ne pay except for ac-
tual services on regular registration and
election days.
That means five days at So day."
said Mr.. Montgomery. 1T looks as
though we can only pay them Sl5 each. :"
That is matter of legal cOnstruc-
tion," offered Mr. Warren. There is no
question about the fact that they worked
more than five days"
The city has fixed days labor at
eight hours" interpolated Aid. Frank
lin. ''Some registration days began at
8 9O'clock and ended at O'Clock at night.
Then they worked all day election day
and all night and most of the next day,
Are they not entitled to pay on the basis
of eight hours day?"
"Ihe city council has no right or
power" replied Mr.. Lightner, ito fix
eight hours as days work Oh election
day. The state law is statutory and
day with the state is twenty-four hours.
Inc council cannot Interfere by ordi-
nance with the provisions of a state
enactment"
So the discussion was continued in a
desultory way until six O'clock VIXEN
the whole matter was referred to the
corporation attorney to be reported
back at all adjourned meeting OF the
committee next Saturday at o clock.
Warm listers.