New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-28

was man enough to decide for himself and for the
right.
The following protest comes from n committee Of
the Republican Club:
To His Excellency Roswell p. Flower. Governor of the
State OF New.York:
The undersigned committee OF the Republican Club
Of the City OF New.YOrk. availing ourselves OF the
privilege granted by you file briefs in opposition to
Assembly bill No. 12o6 reducing the number OF inspectors
election in the city OF New-York three vostng IN
the Board OF Police the sole power Of appointing sue"
inspectors and prescribing that two OF them sha De
appointed from the dominant party, hereby respectfully
submits the following why, in our opinion said
bill should not receive Executive approval
will be remembered that prior 70 the year 1877 oy
OF frauds having been committed In inc
exercise OF the elective franchise in the city OF New
York. and I'm the fraudulent manipulation OF the eiecuoh
returns the citizens, irrespective OF party eppomUa
committee called tho Committee Of Seventy ana sue
ceeded In driving from power those VINO had corruP''
abused the confidence Of the public
Samuel J. Tnden with other prominent citlzens rccos
MIXING this abuse and the corrupt use OF the eieNu,
system then in operation procured the enactment oil inc
law appointing inspectors OF election in each ciec"o
district from tho two political parties
This law has operated during the past twenty years
to the entire satisfaction OF the vdcs, ond no compah
he's been urged by the representatives OF any VI o
political organizations Of It's unfsirness IL has hou ao
effect of establishing in the minds OF the people 00""
dent belief in the purity Of the electoral system.
No demand been made IN the public press or IN any
representative body Of citizens for any chahse III '
proposed law which is now under consuefa
ton.
We desire call your attention 10 certain speeiu' oo
jectlons appearing the face OF the BILL
The bill provides "the charaan OF the Executive
Committee OF the General Committee OF each party may
file with the Board OF Police list OF pr'onS
qualified be such inspectors" etc.
IL the chairman should perform his duty WIN 'ho
utmost fidelity the partisan Board Of Police. being by
Implication the sole judges OF the qualifications OF Tie
persons named, set them aside on the hmSiest PIC
texts and then the said board becomes Ihe soe auo9
TO make such appointments
Clder this provision partisan ponce ooarI apPo"V0u
to register the OF majority party, may appoint
obscure Irresponsible persons members OF any party
to minority inspectors In districts remote IRON
their place residence and these persons VIII ma IL
casy 10 masquerade for day with perfect impulity IN
the simulated character OF members of the minority party
Tho same partisan board has the sole power TO prescribe
the form Of their certificates and the bill does not require
the residence OF the inspector to be specified IN the Ger
tincae from which fact it is evident that fraudulent
inspector much less danger OF exposure than
fraudulent voter.
shown in the provision depriyng party whlch poed as
many as 900 the last general election OF pos
sbe represen the boards of inspectors which fgh
IL enjoys under the prc,cnt law.
All these features bill and unnecessary
sgeravstio1s Of It's chief objection which deprves the
minority party equal representation on the boards OF IN
spectors. This objection has met with such general
criticism and condemnation in the organs OF all parties
as 10 require no additional argument from us
The board OF inspectors is quasi judicial body, ana
passes qualifications Of the voters and on the
reception or rejection ballot offered by the eeeor
at present constituted it is necessary to have one
OF the inspectors the minority party agree with the In
spector majority party in order to determine the
right OF the cast q ballot.
Under the provisions the proposed bill these qualhca
lions may passed upon and the vote accepted or re-
jected by the OF the majority party alone against
the objection Of the inspector the minority party.
We urge another objection to the bill, in that during
portion Of the prescribed by the law for the polls to
remain minority party cannot be represented by
its inspector at polls. The law requires tho inspectors
TO receive ballots for consecutive hours and it would
be physical mpOssibity for the minority insDee:or to
remain in the room discharge OF his duty for the
entire time during his necessary absence his party
would be without representation
The plea put forth in support Of this extraordinary
bill that it Will reduce election expenses and
uniformity in the operations OF the law in city and
try too spccous deceive any one Its one evident
design is put In the power OF an ambitious majority
trampe the right OF suffrage, to defeat the Will
people, override fraud popular majority In
the STATE majority Of majority
manufactured by partisan boards Of inspectors.
Any attempt to profit by the unfair advantages sought
10 be conferred this bill would necessarily be direct
assault the elective franchise. and If this bill becomes
. law we cannot look the future without alarm
The authors OF government by force and fraud must
DO blind indeed they imagine that the people Of this
and other will tamely submit 10 triumph Of fraud
over the franchise in Presidential election. If hcy
should submit 1t would be proof that the people Of
the great Republic not 1T for seh-government. II
the result should be otherwise and trouble should come
IL difficult fo where the blow would fall
All history proves the only safe method OF dealing
with tyranny strangle 1t in its cradle This bill Is
IN instrument Of tyranny and the opportunity is yours
10 strike it from the tyrants' hands.
EOsrI4SEMEfSc 9. xbDoMs' + 5oT K S s sdI4i,,
The Peoples Municipal League sent vigorous let
ter of protest TO Flower yesterday AS three
of tc four members OF the League who signed the docu
mcnt are Democrats the protest should weight.
The letter is dated April 81 and reads:
Tho Honorable Roswell p Flower Governor OF the State
Of Eew-York.
Tho Peoples Municipal League Of the city Of New.
York respectfully protest against the bill recently passed
BY the Legislature Of tha STATE entitled IAN Act u
amend Chapter 40 OF the Laws Of 1889. entitled An Act
to consolidate into and declare the special and
local affecting public interests In the city OF New
York." with reference the appointment OF inspectors Of
elections and their duties, and urge that the same be
not approved by your ExceNcncy.
The present law, contained in the New-York City
Consolidation Act Is copied with slight changes from
Chapter CTS the laws Of 1872 and provides for the
selection by the Commissioners Of four inspectors
OF election in district from each Of the
principal political parties This act is understood
prepared BY the late Governor Tilden and intended
to prevent The possibility Of such frauds charged
had been perpetrated in this city under the rule OF the
Tweed rpQor prevent the possibility OF the
belief in such Frauds 1t proposed substance
90 back force prior 1872 to adopt Tweeds
plan rather than rlden's.
1t is hardly necessary point that the first
tsI to Democratic government is that every citizen should
feel perfect confidence that his will fairly and
honestly counted and is therefore important in the
highest degree provide machinery which shall abso
Iutely secure such count and which shall appear 10
be absolutely impartial. The appearance OF impartlaty
is not less impertive than the reality. The people muse