Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-02
conflict with the State statutes the Federal
statutes must be followed.

conflict with the State statutes the Federal
statutes must be followed.
The Correct Views of the Law.
Thus runs the Dennison letter, and, after
quoting it as above, Attorney General Mil
Ter continues:
These instructions, in my opinion. embody
correct views of the law. In addition to the
foregoing instructions / add the following:
In the language of the statutes of the United
States. section 20l9 it is the duty of the SUI
triots or voting precincts, to be present on
the day OF lc:,tstration, and on election day,
"to take, occupy and lemain in such POSI-
tion, from time to time, whether before or
behind the ballot boxes, as will in their
Judgment best enable them to see each per-
son Offering himself for registration or offer
ing to vote, and as will best conduce to their
scrutinizing the manner in which the regis
tration OF voting is bcing conducted; and at
the closing of the polls for the reception OF
votes, they are required to place themselves
in such position, in relation to the ballot
boxes, for the purpose OF engaging IN the
work OF canyassing the ballots, as will en-
able them to fully perform the duties in re-
spect to such canvass provided herein, ana
shall remain there until every duty in re-
spect to such canvass, certificates, retu rms
and statements has been wholly completed
Duties of Officers Very Plain.
By section eo22 the deputy marshals are
authorized to arrest "with or without proc
ess any person who commits, or attempts or
offers to commit, any of tho acts or offenses
prohibited herein, or who commits any
offenses against The la,cs Of the Uaited States"
but no person shall DE arrested without
process Tor any offense not committed in the
presence Of the Marshal. or one Of his general or
special deputies or Of the supervisors Of cleo
tion- And the supervisors have ike power
TO make arrests.
ANY attempt to interfere with the super
visors or deputy marshals in the proper dis
charge of their duties Is violation OF the
law and subjects the wrongdoer to severe
penalty. The duty and the authority OF the
supervisors and the deputy marshals in tine
premises are too plain to lie misunderstood.
Bearing in mind always that they are OIL
GERS of the peace as we'll as officers OF the
election, and never forgetting that where
the State statute conflicts with the statute
of the United States touching these elec-
tions, the national statute is paramount
and must be obeyed, these officers should
go forward quietly, but resolutely, in the
discharge of their duties, without fear or
favor, but with the firm determination, so
far as in them lies under the law, to SEQ that
there is an honest, free and lair election, ana
q fair return and canvass of the votes So
discharging their duties, it is certain that
they will not be resisted by any good cltl-
gems; and it is not believed, that without the
support of good citizens. such resistance
will be made by anyone.
OF course all officers will be expected to
keep the expenses OF supervisors and
deputy marshals at the lowest point con-
sistent with the proper discharge of their
duties. In no case can a per diem wage
be allowed them for more than ten days,
and in many, probably most cases, this
maximum number OF days will be unneces-
sary. Respectfully,
W. II. II. MILLER, Attorney General.