The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-11-04

remove or suspend any precinct super
visor or marshal. OF the three super
wilson's no more than two are TO he MP.
pointed from the same political party.
The ether member may DO taken from
any party or from no party, but rs the
two Republicans constitute quorum TO
act independently OF the minority mem
Ter, the latter Is simply cipher; beside.
II no should undertake 10 expose any
rascality practice by the other two, the
chief wonld suspend him without cause.
The chief supervisor is given author
ity to transfer subordinate supervisors
from one precinct 20 another throughout
a congressional district. This would en-
able him to send thugs from large cities
TO peaceful country precincts 10 intimid-
ate the voters. For instance an army Of
negroes from Indianapolis could DO
made TO invade Hancock county and
take possession Of the polling places
whenever an election was held at which
congressman was voted for. by a re-
cent decision by the United States SUI
preme court these supervisors and mar
shals would be exempt from prosecution
In the state court for any crime they
might commit under the color OF Office
or while assuming the discharge Of duties
thereof Ii one of the marshals or super
visors should kill citizen an indictment
by state court would not reach muir
der. He could only be tried IN United
States court and before the partisan
judge that commissioned him.
The Secrecy Of the Ballot Removed.
BY Section OF the bill the chief and
his subordiEhtes are invested with the
power TO revise and supervise the regis
tration of voters; to examine state ballot
boxes before elections begin, to keep
poll list and to number the voters; to
receive and count ballots rejected by
the state inspectors: 10 made statements
and returns to the chief supervisors in
whatever form. manner and to the ex-
tent the chief requires.
The Inquisition Revived.
In city Of 20, 900 inhabitants and up
ward the chief may require any Of the
supervisors and deputy marshals to
make a house and house canvass which
may begin i've weeks before and be con-
tinued on to the day Of election; inquir-
ing into the eligibility of voters; whether
they had ever been legally naturalized,
etc. As this provision does not require
that this Canvass shall be made by men
of different political views it was in
tended for the purpose Of placing Re-
publican ward workers on the govern
ment pay roll to do partisan work and
otherwise terrorize people. The force
bill does not limit the number OF super
visors and marshals to do this work. and
in Indiana, in the cities Of indianapolis,
Evansville, Fort Wayne. Terre Haute,
4 Now Albany and South Bend, thousands
Of ward heelers would be employed to
invade the homes Of honest people. In
their domic,.;ary capacity these modern
inquisitors are given absolute power, by
Al <bn of
citizens for the location Of supposed
illegal voters. There is no provision in
the bill limiting the jurisdiction Of these
canvassers to their own precinct or city.
There is nothing in it TO prevent the
! supervisor from sending 500 Indianapolis
4 negroes to make o house and house can
vass in the city Of Fort Wayne with
power to arrest any man or woman re-
fusing them access to any part Of the
house or for declining to answer any
question propounded.
The Infamous Returning Board.
The bill provides for the appointment
in each state, by the judge Of the
United States circuit, Of returning
board or board of canvassers who receive
the returns from the precincts In the
various counties to hear evidence, II
they think proper. Hero Is where the
Republicans would have q chance to do
their Town counting and certification,"
as Tom Reed would say. For this
board declares and certifies who Is
elected to congress and the individual SO
certified shall be placed. by the clerk Of
the house, on the roll Of members elect
ed and thus authorized to participate in
the organization Of the next house. A
severe penalty Is placed On the clerk OF
the house for failing 10 SO place on the
roll the persons certified to by the return
turning boards.
The board Of canvassers has autocratic
power far beyond the power Of the
Gar of Russia. It has the power to
make the house Of representatives OF the
United States, the greatest legislative
body in the world, whatever 1t please to
make it. Under the force bill it can
certify any candidate as duly elected a
member Of congress, no matter II he re-
ceiveI only 5000 votes while his OPP
ponent receives 10000, fer the board has
the right to throw ont votes, aud from
its action there is no appeal. The candi-
date so counted out could contest the
election of the house after it had been
organized by the members counted in by
the returning boards. But no sane man
would attempt such q contest before q
body made mp. largely, Of men not
elected by the people.
state Authority Wiped Out.
Under the existing system which has
prevailed from Washington TO the pres
ent time. certificates of the election to
congress are issued by the governor.
The state returning board can not 60
behind the returns. In Indiana, the
election boards chosen by the people re-
turn the number Of votes cast for each
candidate to the county board, which
board is composed Of ali the inspectors
Of the county. The vote OF each pre-
cinct is tabulated as reported and certi-
fed to the county clerk. The latter
certifies to the secretary Of the state the
number Of votes received In the county
by each candidate for congress. The
vote OF the congressional district Is tabu-
lated in the secretary OF states Office, by
counties. The secretary certifies to the
governor the result and a commission Is
issued. by the governor, TO the candidate
having received the highest number OF
votes upon the face Of the returns.
There is no going behind the returns.
and the man who bares the commission
Of the governor is placed on the roster OF
4. a. IL Al