Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-11-02
TO FEDERAL ELECTION OFFICERS.
Instructions from the Attorney-General.
Extraordinary Powers suggested.

by telegraph to the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, November 1.--Attorney-Generai
Miller to-day issued a circular TO Federal su-
pervtsors Of election. United states marshals,
and United States attorneys, In which he quotes
an order issued By Prostdcn; Cleveland 10 At
tOrney-G General Garland October ., 1886, IN
these words:
"Dear Sir,-You are hereby requested 10 t1ko
general charge and direction Of tho execution of
the statutes Of the United Sietes touching tho
appointment OF supervisors o. election and spe-
cisl deputy marshall, and the performance OF
their duties and their cOmpenGatlon, 20 tar rs
these fsbiects are 10y the Constitution ana laws
under the supervisor and control OF the eLecu-
tive branch % to- Gcvernmeny.'
This orGei, Accompaniment Miller says, Is
general, ard has never been revoked. He tnen
prOmulgates "a circular OF Instructions for the
guidance OF deputy mRrshals, and incidentally
OF supervisors, issued Oct0bsr Is. 1892 iby the
chief supervisor OF elections foi the northern dis-
trict Of new York, wutten as general con-truc-
tlOn Of tle law in reply 20 a letter asking II
special depu,y marshgs have ficht 10 be inside
the place OF registration during the progress OF
registration, ana whother they can De INSIDE me
polling places on elecdon-day outside OF the
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS.
The supervisor gives resume OF tho decision
Of tho United States supreme Court III the cases
of the Baltimore city election judges III 1875, IN
which the consiitutiCnanfy OF the Federal cleo
ton law WAS upheld, aud ADDS 70 that resume
these paragraphs:
"kectlOu w. requires lndt lne iudisuhl anu
his general aud special deputies shall preserve
order az places OF registration and at the polls,
support and protect tho supervisors OF election,
prevent fraudulent registration aud fraudulent
voting or fraudulent conduct on the part OF any
officer OF election. and Il must necessarily follow
that the marshal and hts general ana special
deputies have the right, and II IS Their duty 10
be ana remain in all places where hey can best
discharge their duties whether such p aces be
inside or outside the guard rail, Notwithstanding
the provisions Of section l0i, chaptef oeO, laws
OF the State Of New York. 1892 regulating the
number Of persons who are TO be admitted
within the glarc--all on election-daY.
"Ihe provisions Of the Federal election laws
are in force whenever representative III Con-
gress - vOtoG for; and whenever any OF the
provisions OF tue Federal Law are in conflict with
the state statute the Federal statutes must he
followed
SUGGESTIONS BY Mr.. MILLER.
Attorney-General Miller then proceeds TO say:
These instructions, IN my opinion, emuoJled
correct views Of the law.
"In addition TO the foregoing instrncIiohs'
add the following:
"In the language Of the Statutes 0; tne
United States (section 2OlJ) u is the duty ol
the supervisors IN their respective electlOn as
trlets or voting u ecincts 10 be present On t1e
day of registration and on eectlon-day, 70 tako,
oc,upy and roman in such position, from ttme
- time, whether before or behind INC Daliol-
loxes as will in their judgment DcSt
enable them 70 sec each person oher-
ing niugelt for registration or 0derlns 70 Vole,
manner in which the Iegistration or voths Il
being conducted, ana at the closing OF tue pOls
for the reception Of votes they arc reqtureu 20
place thelnse yes ia such position, IN relation 10
the balIot-hOxes, for the purpose OF engaging III
the WORK OF canyassing the ballots, as WIN en-
able them 70 iully perform the duties 10 ISspoce
- such canvass provided therein' ana shan theIo
remain until every duty IN ro,pecl 10 euch Oau-
vass certilca.es, returns, and statements haNo
been wholly cOuplctad'
~ section 2O22 the deputy mani shals are au-
thoriged 10 arrest, with or without process any
person who commits or attempts or ohers 10 com
NIT any Of the acts or offences pfohiUlted hereih
or who commits Any onence against lhe "a 10 O'
the United States; but no person nhal &c a.
rested without process for any ohence not cont
mitte8 Ia tho presence OF the marfhal, OF Cne "a
his general or special depulies' OF oilc ot -, Wy
huperyBors Of election Ana the supVt'aSOs1 p!,r,
have ike power % make arrests- any aitehP'
T. Interfere with the supervisors or deputy uiat-
shals ia toe proper discharge Of their duties 10
q violation Ot tho law and suDlecls the "io"s'
door 20 a severe penalty
NATIONAL Statutes PARAMOUNT.
"The duty and the authority OF Tue super
ysOrs and the deputy mar3nals ia th9 pIottnsVvS
are TOO plain % be misundersIo01 boalius az
mind always that thoy are oOcers OF lhe pescs'
as well orcers o. election, ana ngteI ,s. In
ting that where state statute c0nnlcts WIN
statute of the United states touching these eiec-
tlOns, tho national statute II pafan,,,Va,s ,,''ars
ana must De obeyed theoe Ca.e9te Ca5
yuould 20 forward QO1etly but resoiuteD,
iu inc discharge OF their duties Without Tear oi
favor, but win the firm determination, so iar as
In them lies under the law 20 sec thst tnS,o 70
oo honest Tree and fair election and q fair re-
turn and canvass of The votes. 30 dl;cnarsihs
their duties, II - certain that they %lH no. pe
resisted by any good citizen, and ~ 's i,,e"s IT,
neyed shat without the support OF gOou S'"N0'i'
slleh RESISTANCE VIII be made by any one. -,
"Of .ourse all officers viii be expo1teo 70 Keep
the expenses OF supervisors ana deputy ha, .,,,.
,roner discbarge of their duties. In no caso
can per diem be- allowed them Tor more thsh
zen aaSs, and In lnany-probaby most cases
this maxlmuin number OF days "ili 20 unuoVoS
saFVn