Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-17
THE FORCE BILL OF 1890.
Substance of Bill which Failed Then, but
Would BE Reyivei II Republicans Won.
New York SUM-


In answer TO many requests we reprint
the following from tho sun OF june ~
1890. IL gives the substance OF the Federal
election or force bill passed by the he
publican House in the Fifty-.frst Congress.
The bill as reported made seventy-six
printed pages.
The principal features OF the measure
are as follows: Chief supervisors OF cleo
lions in judicial districts are charged with
the execution of the lew, which Is TO apply
to Federal elections in cities OF 10000 IN
babitants and upward. and IN entire con-
pressional districts exclusive OF such cities
upon application TO the supervisor OF 100
voters. or in counties and parishes form
ing a part of q congressional district upon
application from fifty voters. The super
yisors are to guard. scrutinize, and super
wise registration and every act or Incident
conn ected with registration and plans Tor
ascertaining who are legal voters. upon
notice from the chief supervisors the
United States circuit courts are required
to open for the purpose OF transacting
registration and election matters.
The supervisors are TO be appointed by
the circuit courts-three in each election
district OF voting precinct, only two OF
whom are TO be of the same political parry.
These supervisors are to attend all regis
trations In their districts. challenge per-
sons. DeTSOuulll luSpFNb uAt WY hhc cAAp--
ipal observation-disclosures and papers, attend
elections, ana detect and expose the i'm
proper or wrongful manipulation of the
lists. In case of failure OF local cleo
ton officers to put the statutory
oath to challenged voter, and to
pass at once upon his qualifications,
then the Supervisors are to apply the test
and receive and deposit the vote, making
a list OF all such challenges. They are
\. oil sr hQI o.
fore elections, keep independent poll
lists, aud enclose rejected votes endorsed
with the name Of the voter in envelopes.
In addition TO these duties, the super
yisors are required to make-in towns OF
20. 600 people and upward-a thorough
house-to- house canvass before election, 20
inform voters upon inquiry where and IN
what box to deposit their ballots, and to
scrutinize naturalIzations.
TO govern, except: All ballots are TO be
counted by tens. first by an inspector of
election and second by O supervisor, the
local election officers and the supervisors
keeping separate tally-sheets. which are
to be compared aud the result publicly
announced. Ballots deposited IN the
wrong box are to be counted. Returns
are to be made by the supervisors IN du-
piicate to the clerks of the United
States circuit courts and TO the chief
supervisor who Is TO tabulate and refer
them to the United States Board OF Can
yassers of the congressional vote, which
Is TO be appointed by the United States
Circuit Court. and consisting Of three
citizens of the State and persons Of good
repute. not more than two of whom are to
be of the same political party. The board
| is to convene on November 18th each even
year and is TO declare and certify the re-
| suit of the election and send one return to
| the Clerk of the House of Representatives,
| one 70 the Governor of the State. and one
| to the proper chief supervisor OF cleo
tons The Clerk of the House is TO place
upon the roll OF members-elect the names
of the persons declared elected by the
United States canyassers, IN case there IS
difference in the result reached BY them
and by the State election officers. A
penalty of between ~, 900 and 5000 Is
provided in case the clerk neglects this
duty.
All ballot-boxes are to be clearly IN
scribed with their nature. aud boxes are
TO be kept in plain sight aud open to IN
spection. Bribery or attempted bribery
of voters or election officers is made pun
ishable by fine Of not more than 5000 or
imprisonment for not more than i've years
or both. Like severe penalties are pro-
vIded for false registration and voting re-
peafing. coercion of supervisors or voters.
improper conduct of election officers. false
canyassing, ballot box stuflings fraudulent
ballot distribution, resistance TO super
visor's lawful commands. breach of the
peace at registration or election, intimida-
ton. and almost every kind of election
frand.
Ii is not necessarily TO be supposed that
the Republican reyolutionists would IL
viye the force bill absolutely as 1t passed
the House in 1890. but certainly the main
and worst features of that bill would be in
their new bill, with additional sections
mere infamous vet, where the experience
OF two years disappointed malice might
show them to be needed to secure the per-
petuatiop of Republican misruie.