The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-16
Is The METHOD RIGHT !?
NaturaIlzed Foreigners Apparently
Not Conforming to the Law.
WHAT Mr.. BLODGETT SAYS.
Chapter 735 Demands Proofs of Natural
Lation Before the Names Are Placed
ON the Voting Lists by the Various
Canvass Boards. Completed Records.

The full result of the work OF United
States Chief Supervisor of Elections
Blodgett, which attracted some comment
during the last Congressional election,
when nobody was elected, is not yet ap
parent, although it may be at some fu-
| ture time.
Mr.. Blodgett now has seven young
women at work on the records of registry
voters in Providence and Pawtucket. In
these two cities there is total vote
amounting to nearly $4,000, and Mr..
Blodgett's clerks are making "a complete
report from the reports OF the supervisors
which shows the name OF every voter in
the two cities on the registry list,
and whether or not he voted, whether he
was challenged, ETC. This report when
completed will be bound and kept for
reference. Mr.. Blodsett says that when
the United States House OF Representa-
tives meets, III there is any contest IN the
Congressional election, the records will
be ready for reference by the House,
which Is the judge OF the election and
qualification or its members.
The records of registration are only
kept in Providence and Pawtucket be
cause only in those cities were there petit
lions for supervision OF registration.
There is matter Of interest i'm relation
TO the voting OF naturaliZed citizens. In
Chapter 135 Of the Pablo Laws of 1889
there is a clause which reads as follows:
That before any persons name shall be
placed upon the voting list il such person
shall be of foreign birth he shall file proof at
least five days before any meeting of the
board of canvassers with the town clerk that
he is citizen OF the United States, and such
proof shall he subject 10 the board OF canvass
ers OF the Town or ward wherein such person
shall claim the right TO vote.
In regard to the above section Mr..
Blodgett remarked that he was of the
opinion that neither in Providence nor
Pawtucket was the law complied with
by the canvass boards. He thought all
names coming from the clerks officers
were put on the list without regard to
whether there were proofs.
Investigation seems to show that many
naturallzed citizens get their names on
the list without proof and that some
names of persons who are not naturalized
get on. "A man goes To the city clerks
oihce and registers. He says he was
naturalized at such a time and place.
Ine clerk is not expected to look 1t up,
nor does the law state that the clerk shall
compel the men TO present proof 1t
simply say, they shall do SO before their
names are placed on the voting list by the
canvass boards. The CITY clerk does not
make up the voting lists.
III the same methods are carried out
al over Jne State there are no doubt a
good many unnaturaliZed foreigners on
the lists. Mr.. Blodgett is Interested in
this as chief supervisor. as the voting of
unnaturalized foreigners is violation OF
the United States laws.
In regard TO the returns at the time of
the Congressional vote by the
General Assembly Mr.. Blodgett says he
viii be on hand with his own returns to
them with these sent in by the
SLHle ele2ClDn OfficIAiS The work pf las
fall will help the United States super
visor when the second election for con-
gressmen comes up in the spring oD
whatever date the General Assembly
fixes it.
" understand that the Democrats are
going TO do away with the United States
supervisors of elections" said the re-
porter to Mr.. Blodgett.
Yes, guess they are" said he, "but
they can't do 1t before the next congres-
sional election in Rhode Island unless
they holi a special session in March"