The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-19

been accomplished rapidly and thoroughly
In the Adjutant Generals office; Every
no man should be deprived justly OF his
claim, and, on the other hand, that the
State should not suffer from fraudulent
or mistaken appeals. OF the 100000 ap-
propiated to satisfy the claims consider
able balance will be returned.
magnitude OF the work OF preserving.
copying and perfecting the records of the
Rhode Island troops in the war and the
preparation of the material for revised
Adjutant Generals report OF 1853 This
work has been nominally in progress in
the Adjutant Generals department since
1888 though it was not actually begun
until 1889, when the system in nse in the
War Department was put in operation
under the especial instruction OF Major 4.
G.. Ainsworth, Chief of the Record and
Pension Department Of the War Depart
ment. The work is now nearing success
full completion. These records will prove
Of inestimable value to our State, TO every
veteran Of the war, to their descendants
and citizens at large; and Adjutant Gen.
Dyer, who has personally directed 1t, Is
worthy of the highest praise for the pains
taking work that has been so accurately y
accomplished. The record of our naval
veterans may be quickly completed at a
small additional cost, and the General AS
sembly should authorize the absolute COM
pletion of this work, by providing for the
record of Rhode Islands brave men who
were in the regular army in the war but
whose record is not preserved among their
comrades Of the volunteers.
The Worlds Fair.
The Worlds Columbian exposition to be
opened at Chicago in the spring OF 1888
has awakened in the people during the
year an extraordinary appreciation of its
real magnitude. The preliminary work
of arranging for Rhode Islands display
is being pushed as rapidly as may be by
the board of managers, and much OF the
detail is already outlined. Rhode Island
should be able to make an Incompatible
industrial and educational exhibit, and /
am condent that our manufacturers pro-
pose to be well represented at the exposi-
tion, and that our citizens generally will
endorse any action of the State govern
ment looking to the best possible showing
that Rhode Island can make. There will
be large educational exhibit at the fair,
and if Rhode Island is to be represented
il will have TO be at State expense. The
United States government and several OF
the States will make exhibits OF their
fisheries, and in this line also our State
could make a most interesting showing
Should the commission present to this
Assembly definite plans for such exhibits
am sure that a broad and liberal policy
In relation thereto will result in the
highest benefit TO our State
The Election Laws.
The prompt approval of the Australian
ballot system and the strong popular in
terest in IL give encouragement to every
effort to improve il. The opportunities
for intimidating voters have been greatly
reduced, but IL is still possible to make a
man prove how he voted by some distin-
gushing mark on the ballot. In fact, it
r., -.
corruptionists, through marks which can
be noted and counted as the votes are be-
ing counted. is able with positive proof to
show what he has accomplished. The in
dependence given man TO vote his choice
and not be subject to question or restraint
in the slightest, may thus be thwarted in
the greater opportunity afforded the man
who considers it a part Of his independence
to vote as he is paid. Our law Is defect
i've in that it only strives to punish the
voter who marks his ballot for identified
tion; his vote is counted. A remedy lies
wise than as provided by law, and the law
should leave nothing TO the discretion OF
those who count the ballots.
Our ballot law is rightly considered one
of the best on the statute book of any
State. but in another prominent respect
also does il seem to me to fail to accom-
plish the broad purposes on which it is
founded. i refer TO the absence of gene
raj provision for an earlier closing of the
polls in the cities OF the State. The law
was constructed TO comply with three con-
siderations of essential Importance,
namely, purity of elections, the freedom
of the individual to express his choice,
and organization of the election day work
TO the end of it's business like and expedi-
tious completion. The fact, however. that
the polls in the cities remain open from
twelve to fourteen hours and especially
that they are open alter dark, threatens
each and every one OF these main pur-
poses of the law. Now that sufficient
polling places are established, and more
may easily be provided If necessary, the
holding open of the polls from sunrise to
z o'clock is evidently unnecessary and
serves no good purpose; whereas the after
dark feature of IL is actually pernicious.
The election officers are required to re-
main on duty through an unnecessarily
long day, the count of the ballots is not
completed before the morning hours of
tie next day. and in no respect does the
present system seem to offer advantages,
but rather disadvantages.
The advantages of shorter hours, and
especially of an earlier closing, are evil
IDENTIFY in the line of the purposes of the
law. Many of the States already require
by statute an early closing in the cities,
and many more cities require it by ordi-
nance. In an appendix marked A, to
found list of fifty leading municipalities
of the United States-leading in point of
business, as shown by their clearing house
figures, as well as in population-repre
senting all sections of the country and
under both Republican and Democratic
administration, showing their hours Of
opening and closing the polls.
The controlling purpose for fixing the
hour for closing the polls in those states
and cities where the matter has had the
best consideration is to close in ample
time before sunset and dark. In the fall,
when great many State elections, the
national and congressional election, and
many city elections (as in Rhode Island)
are held, sunset falls between ana ,
o'clock; so that as general rule, o'clock
is the advisable hour for closing and 5
O'Clock should be the very latest.
The testimony, some of which is quoted
in Appendix A, of city and State officials
all over the country and representing both
political parties, is that or ) o'clock
closing hour gives eminently satisfactory
results and that in no instance is it found
to discriminate against any citizen. When
for the benefit of the working people,
more time is thought To he necessary. il
has under present legislation. been inva-