The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-09-30
The Cascade County Commissioners
Fail b" Comply With the
Actual Requirements.
Prominent Attorneys Hold the Opinion
That a Woman Cannot Act
as Registry Agent.
The Form of Oath Does Not Give
the Requisite Time of
Residence.

The TRIBUNE yesterday directed atten-
ton to the fact that the commissioners.
in filling the vacancy in the office Of reg
istry agent in this city caused by the res
ignation of Mr.. Carter. had not complied
with the law, which requires that a resi-
dent freebooter shall fill the position,
they having appointed a man whose
name does not appear IN the assessors
books as a property owner. Another VIC
lation of the registry law has been
brought to light. In District No. II, at
Stickney. a woman has been appointed
to the position of registry agent. The
TRIBUNE has no war to make on women.
but it has a desire to see that the laws
are complied with. Relative to the ap-
pointment of Miss Stickney the follow
ing is quoted from the act to provide for
the registration of the names of electors:
"All registry agents shall be competent
persons and shall be appointed by the
board OF county commissioners. They
shall be resident freeholders and
qualified voters in the several election
districts for which they are appointed"
A prominent attorney of the city was
seen last evening, and gave as his opinion
that in making the appointment OF reg
istry agent at Stickney the law has not
been complied with by the commission
ers. This is a matter which should be
settled Immediately. The county com
missioners may not have willfully vio-
lated the law, but they can at least, now
that a doubt has arisen as to the legality
of their appointments. see that the Office
of registry agent is filled by one pos
sessing the required qualifications.
In this connection those interested
in such matters are directed to another
violation of law by the registry agent at
Stickney. 1t is due to her to say that in
so violating the law she is but following
the instructions of the officer whose duty
it is to provide her with blanks. When
occasion requires the administration of
an oath the applicant is handed the fol
lowing blank form:
Territory of Montana, County of go.
ss.-1 do solemnly swear Tor affirm that
! am a citizen of the United States Tor
that | have declared my intention to be-
come a citizen of the United States;
that | am of the age of twenty-one years,
and will have actually, and not con-
structively, been a bona fide resident in
Montana sir months and in the coun-
ty thirty days next preceding the day
of the next ensuing election, and that /
am not registered elsewhere in Montana
for this electoral year, so help me God
or under the pains and penalties of
perjury.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
........ day of .......A ID. IS.
.............. Registry Agent.
Election District No. ........ County,
Montana.
This form is filled out by the applicant
and signed by him and sworn to. But
unfortunately for the person taking it. it
does not comply with the law. For the
benefit of the county officer who sent
out the form known to be in use at
Stickney, and possibly in other places,
the following quotations will be interest
ing:
Section > of Article IN of the consti.
tuition of the state Of Montana provides:
livery male person Of the age of u
years or over possessing the following
qualifications shall be entitled 10 vote at
all general elections " " "
Il Second. He shall have resided in
this state n year Immediately proceed
ing the election AZ which he offers to
vote. and IN the town. county or precinct
such time az may l." prescribed 10y law;
Provided. second. that Iothirg herein
contained shall be construed to deprive
any person Of the right Ia vote who has
such right al the time of the adoption Of
this constitution: " "
The act of Feb. 3. ls>1. provided that
electors shall have resided in the terri
tory six months. and lr the county whore
they may offer To vote thirty days LeNt
preceding the day of election" By sec
ton > of Article IN. above quoted, the
six months residence clause is REPEALED.
and one year substituted. No change
has been made as to the thirty days resi-
dence IN the county prior to the day on
which the election may be held. There
fore. n years residence in the state ami
thirty days in the county before he CIcr-
ton mot before registration is requi-
site. Those who will have lived such pc.
RODS of time in the state and county.
respectively, by Nov. ), ls.c. are entitled
to register, being citiz MS, or entitled 10
vote at the time Of the adoption of the
constitution. October, lSSt.
1t will be seen by IA comparison Of the
oath used at Stickney and sent there 10y
the county officer. that there is a vari.
ance which may materially affect the re
suit Of the vote in places. The legal
residence required is one year and per
sons residing in Montana six months
will mo- he entitled To vote al the cleo
tion in November. Ii may he that the
.~..~. all l,, ,a,, ll.,. ..,...al ...l
the forms Of oath which the law pro.
scribes shall I've used. and in such event
he should hasten 10 procure them and
see that each registry agent in this
form in use al Stickuey does not meet
the requirements of the law.
MARRIED.