New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-29
ADVICE TO THE GOVERNOR.
THE UNION LEAGUE CLUBS PROTEST.
ABLE ARGUMENTS ABLY PRESENTED TO Mr..

FLOWER-Nllls THEY MOVE HIN
The following able argument against the Ubiquitous
Far1uhar bill has been forwarded 10 Governor Flower
by committee Of the Union League Club
Assembly bill 40. 1896
In the matter Of the Act 10 amend Chapter 40 OF the
laws Of l652. entitled "An Act 10 consolidate lh'o
one Act and to declare the special and local laws
affecting puddle interest. In the city OF New-fork'
with reference 70 the appointment OF inspectors Oh
election and their duties.
To His Excellency Roswell p. Flower, Governor Oh
the state Of New York
The undersigned. committee appointed oy Tue
Union League Club to oppose the passage OF the Ac'
entitled above. beg leave respectfully to submit inc
following for your consideration why the Dill
should not receive Executive approval
The law as 1t now stands passed In 1S12 ana
incorporated in the meditation Act In leo2' IL
has worked for twenty years with sub antal Saws
faction to both Of the leading political parties for
many years 1t has been the unwrtten law that the
Police Commissioners should be non-partlsan, t"o
Democrats and two Republican. At the present unle
the Police Board stands three Democrats and one hc
publican
BY the law rs il now stands the commissioner OF
commissioners OF the minority party In the board nus
or have. the sole power TO de'ignatc the TWO h''
spectors Of the same political faith with himself or
Themselves IL was thus intended not only to secure
a fair election but to make the people 'hclleve as
they did believe. that the machinery of election was
calculated to operate fairly and honestly as Dco"ee"
tho two parties. This has been an abiding ial'h sHo'
the passage Of the Act OF lo'2: r,r thrco nersons
are to be appointed inspectors Two VI ucee ., Tho
last preceding general election have cast the greatest
number Of in the city OF New YORK, ana inc tnrt
shall belong to the party which cast the next greatest
number Of votes 80 That the first effect Is TO glye
the Democratic party two inspectors and the RepuO
Another important change in the present law Is that
the Board Of Police Commissioners snail appoint an
inspectors. and no reference Is made to the COMMITS
Commissioners representing the political fmth
OF the minority. While it Is true that the chairman
OF that political party may present lists for inspectors
to tho Police Board The power remains with the Police
Board to designate from the lists so presented me PER
sons who shall be Inspectors. The law Is cunnlngy
framed apparently 10 preserve tile power III the
representatives Of the Republican party to designate
Inspector but IN fact all power to designate such
party. for the reason that the Republican Commits
party Is concerned. and the Board whole. in Sc
ioctlng from list, that are given to them f9r various
qualified and appoint those least able to guard tho
Interests Of the party they arr selected 20 Ecpese
The effect Of the law l. TO take from the ballot Don
the last and ouly safeguard That minority party
has that the election shall be fair and honest.
party should be willing to take to itself such power
even though 1t has Ismporarily acquired the ieGa
safety OF our institutions ana the fear already exists
that the pTopp,ed me'r VIII work ont en Eo sy ind
Outrage public sentiment by selling and holding all
IN sTcs city d ike the city of S When all
faith i lost In the integrity OF an election, then the
Even the semhancc OF faith In the integrity Of cleo
lions cannot be preserved In this city under such
system n Is proposed by the bill now before your Ex
cellcncy.
This is an occasion when all the instincts Of man.
Interest Of good faith toward the people. prompt
person in power to defeat this measure. No argument
person pointing out that the present law has
acted unlusty or harshly upon The majority who
ton Ras ever yc been made that the rights Of the
majority have been invaded under the law as IT now
tam mi fHl nj.
nority has had great difficulty under the present law
in securing rs rights at t,e polls 49, -.,.u,...
Mt the polls should BE- spurned and condemned BY
every honest Democrat a. an advantage he would
stupid to tho possibilities for fraud in the proposed
law not TO sec that 1t opens wide the door for
The cnacimcni . M, law will leave in the public
mind the firm conviction that elections viii not he
fiir. whatever may be the result. No party
Afford. BY acts q inlusuee and corruption at the
practical diriculty Of no small moment presents
Itself IN city like Ncw.York. where few Of the
electors known to the inspectors. These In
four days for registration one day for election In
spcctor To be on duty every moment OF that time.
There must bc portion OF the time when The
duties during those Eve days OF service Tho re
init will be that in each polling place, for some
portion Of the time there viii be present only two
Democratic inspectors. In common fairness and
common honesty. this IS not Just to the Republican
me method prego, TO tbs s bill sSyoT too 9oo %GSn
elections 10 be accepted calmly or without the most
violent protest from the people 81 inc N1 ,H ,d
whole state is defraUdcd. II is question that
rises above all party consideration. II IS vital and
far reaching 1t It's influence. -. g.. 49,. l..
II has sometimes lecn said that but three IN.
spcctors provided for In tho law for country
districts. While this Is trne 1t IS provision o.! the
The conditions in the country are very different
from the conditions In the city. In the COUNTY,
The inspectors an selected by the people. and are
not appointed by parli-an board dnc law pr% y
vldos that In snch election only two inspectors o Any
one political party can BE- elected II II sUaH ne Stu
that this even IS not fair TO tho minority IN fle
Unfair thng 10 the electors IN the city Of New York
II does not justify putting another bad act upon Hls
saving that there now exists such law applicable
TO the cogny Eyery Gne OF c %nay KNOWN that
the conditions Of those elections are vastly dhsren'
from tho conditions Of elections IN tnr ci'F ~ NV
fair in the country. should not make IL unHr III
the city, but an act should be 2ascn PrG Se a MANN AMY
inspectors the majority. Inc references 10 III,
country elections by all GoIf for wnT fg II as
means Of giving opportunities for enormous Ha"dS
]" The downward trend Of elections IS alrrndy alarm
Ing 10 all thoughtful persons OF all pohii,ai parcS
ccIeratc his tendency to the degradation Of the bal
lot box bu, should use all the power OF MS great
Office TO arrest the present ,nI hnsr @ Of berty
10 the position 1t held In the beliefs ana the hopcS
Of me founder Of the rT R%9SSS in the interest Of
patriotism and Of common honesty, to WITHHOLD your
spTrGvel from n H., G n. %na ' of such degree OF
corruption rs entirely 10 overthrow oar system OF
fnIon Ieacno club House, New York April q, 500
David Million, jr. CcphaS lirnnerd. e, W. lyon
George II. sheldon, H. H. lilnsdaic' oonl''eo 'n'o"
League Club.
EVIL. FEATURES OF THE NEW ENClSE BILL