The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-31

the free fishing ground Of the state at the
present time, except from the Iawtucket
river. from which stream large quantities are
annually taken. frequently large sets OK oys-
tiers are found ON these free grounds ana de-
stroyed before they become large enough for
table use, and the commissioners believe IT
should be loft 10 their discretion whether or
not tho public shall DC privileged 10 take such
oysters.
At present there are forty-three lease hold
ers OF oyster grounds covering US acres ana
yielding a revenue Of $40 per acre 10 the state.
There Is not, however, SO much land held now
az there was IA year ago, on account OF the
abandonment Of the ground near Fields
Point known as Great Bed. That land was
once considered one OF the most desirable
places for the planting aud p~ropagating OF
oysters, but its adjacency 10 the cJy mas been
unfayorable TO It's further use.
or land covered by water to "A depth OF more
than twelve feet, there Is "A little less than lc
acres hired AT an annual rent of 81 per acre.
Complaints have been made or the rayages OF
star fish among the oyster beds, and unless
some measure Is devised of Kidding the bay OF
this pest tho result will DO disastrous to this
class of fishery.
The taking OF scollops from the bay has now
become an important industry, employing a
large number of men. Three seasons ago IL
was estimated that 10000 bushels Of this shell
fish were taken from our waters. The follow
ing season the yield was very small, but our
ing the season just closed IL probably amounted
TO l25.OO bushels. The prospects for "a large
yield next season are very favorable. The
commissioners desire n complete revision OF
the scollop law, the present one being defective
in many particulars.
Commissioned of Dams and Reservoirs.
The small amount OF rainfall during the past
year and the consequent reduction of water
has enabled the commissioner of Jams and
reservoirs 10 observe the interior of reservoirs
that have heretofore been submerged. lie re-
ports that there are very few. IL any, artificial
dams carrying water through The superstruc-
ture; the perculations are almost invariably
through the natural qualification below.
The only casualty among the AL dams in the
state during the last year, was "A rupture In
the slack reservoir dam in Smithfeld, flow
ing an area OF l3 acres. The breakage has
been repaired aud the reservoir rehlled.
Election Laws.
All legislation in regard 10 the conduct OF
elections should hc considered ia an impartial
spirit and in the light Of experience, TO the end
that we may obtain what all good citizens de-
sire, an electoral system that will enable every
voter 70 exercise his franchise with the great
est freedom and independence, and will secure
an honest ballot, "A fair count, and a true re-
turn OF the will Of the people. The system of
voting adopted at the January session. 1889.
has had a fair trial in our national, state and
municipal elections and in general il has been
ucive TO "a secret and independent express
sion of opinion. Certain results, however, of
its oper alton in recent elections have brought
il under the keen scrutiny of the public, and
from many citizens there has come an EN-
phatic demand for Its repeal. To wipe the
present law from our statute book would in
my opinion IL a retrograde step,and one which
in time would be regretted by those who are
now advocating such action.
Unfavorable criticism of our present cleo
ton loNr l. duo urfnrfpa11y IN tho larDa -
Der OF defective and blank ballots cast under
its operation, and, while in many instances
they are the result Of ignorance and careless
ness, they may also be attributed 10 the ar
rangement of our ballot, which is needlessly
confusing. | refer TO the method of placing
the names of candidates in alphabetical
order, without regard to the party or principle
they represent. Ii may be said that the pres
ent arrangement facilitates independent vot-
ing, but the m ajority of voters who consider
the party endorsement a sufficient guarantee
of the candidates, are bewilde red by a mass
of ma mes classified only by their first
letters. An examination of the votes cast
in recent elections shows that the voters
either dc dot understand the ballo Z or will
not take the time and trouble TO make a cross
mark for a candidate for each Office, and the
result Il, that the aggregate vote cast for on
GERS whose names are placed at the head OF
the ballot is greater than that given for those
whose names appear lower in the list OF off,
GERS and candidates. At the last state cleo
ton thee were over 1000 more votes cast for
the candidates for governor than for the can
didates for general treasurer, and at the last
November election there was a large falling
off in the vote cast for congressman and the
constitutional amendments as compared with
the vote for presidential electors. While we
cannot prevent ignorant and careless people
from throwing away their votes, any law that
makes it difficult for them TO exercise their
franchise after they are legally qualified is
contrary TO the spirit OF our constitution.
These undesirable features OF our present sys-
TEN Of voting will be, l believe, to a great ex-
tent removed IL the candidates are arranged
upon the ballot according 10 the party or paper
by which they are nominated. The Republican
candidates for the several offices would then
be placed in one column, and the Democratic
candidate placed in another column, and the
candidates or otner parties arranged In asiIn1'
lar manner; a column being devoted to eaoh
party or nomination paper. Attic top or eacf
column should be placed q space where thu
voter may signify by one mark his intention Of
voting the whole party ticket, while a space
underneath each name could be used by thost
who desired To express an independent choice
l would not. however, advocate any change
that in the last degree destroys the protection
now given to those who want TO mark and cas-
their ballots secretly and independently.
hOurl law and the ruling of the supreme court
ulhks III the uulS OF the returning bOdIu u
throw out any ballot that is marked in a man
ner liable TO lead 10 the identiticaton of the
person by whom il was cast. Under his rule
a ballot marked with n colored crayon or pen,
when the other ballots iiIhe package from
which IL is taken indicate the general use of a
black lead pencil, is considered a defective
vote on account of the designating character
of the mark. For n like reason a ballot
whereon the mark is not a plain cross, is re.
!ected, although the intention of the voter
may be apparent. There may be no desire or
the part OF the person casting the ballot TO he
identified by its peculiar marking, but the re-
turning board cannot discuss that point.
The law should prescribe the means 10 bt
used for marking the ballot and should in
crease the discretionary power of the returns
ing board, so that votes may be counted fol
the person for whom they are intended, so fal
as such intent can be ascertained from thu
ballot itself. Ii is possible while pen or pencil
is used TO place a designating mark upon tn,
ballot In spite OF legal precautions. This
greatest protection against designation would
be found in the use of a simple, inexpensive
rubber stamp. which the state might suppl!
for every polling booth in the first instance
the towns and cities 70 bear the expense Of re
placements.
In connection with the revision OF the sta