New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-30

counties Of the state of NewIork OUTSIDE OF the CITY
would roll up majority ranging from 10000 TO To-
OOO for political party, that city with hrookIyh
| would wipe this out with returned majority from
10 COO to o5 900 whenever deemed advisable by pary
mangSers. Thousands would vote III NewJerscy 1T
the morning. and then crossing to New-iorK "ouiu
60 from precinct 10 precinct casting vote at each
place giving false addresses and assumed names Ihus
voting eary and often, these disrcputable and crim
nal persons would change the results Of elections In
the Congressional Senatorial and Assembly, districts
In the city frequently change the result In the state
and then fastening TO recrOss the river would sink
from sight, defy pursuit. evadc punishment only u
reappcar and repeat their operations Mt the next
Congressional or Presidential election. Fitting from
place to place, hardly seen before they were gone
Identification was almost impossible, ard thus all State
laws were set at defiance.
By the enactment OF the present United States
election laws and their prompt enforcement thousands
Of these reporters driven out Of business, and
IL matters not that they have ceased operations through
fear OF the law without waiting for taste OF Federal
iusticc The law and the efficient means provided
for its prompt enforcement have had the effect OF
preventing the commission OF offences against IT, The
prompt "spottng" and arrest Of would be offenders
those engaged the preliminary steps necessary TO be
taken In orier that they might vote illcgsly-have
not only Kept such persons from the actual commits
sion OF crime but have deferred thousands OF others
from even making the first move toward a violation
OF the law"
Another OF the reasons" given by the majority OF
the committee why the election laws should be re
peaJed Is Because they result In no convictions OF
Offenders and nre therefore useless to prevent and
punish crime
Upon this statement the minority comments as
follows: The reason given admits in Its very terms
the existence OF offenders against those laws, but the
complaint Is that there have been convictions and
that therefore the law Is useless The alleged reason
given II correct In Its assertion that the laws result
in no convictions. simply argues for more active
and efficient administration and enforcement OF tho
law not for its repeal II defective In such points as
TO make the conviction of offenders impossible or I'm
practicable let II be amended. but II should not be
repealed. II must be remembered that these election
laws embrace in their operation the people OF forty
four States aggrcgating G5,0OO.00O population with
about $4,000, 900 voters. II We look TO the history
Of our courts. high and low in tho various Safes we
shall find that offences against the honest exercise OF
the right OF suffrage OF common occurrence, es
peciay In the large cities and that many prosecutions
and convictions have been had under the United states
election laws, while there have been very many
under State laws
1t IS no argument 10 say that but few convictions
hive been had in single locality, or that those
charged with the execution OF the law In such locality
have proven inefficient dishonest. II Is written In
the Jurisprudence OF the Union that offences against
these laws have been frequently committed and
The minority points ont tho fact that the commit.
tee was not authorized 10 investigate ana ala NOT
laws outside OF the city OF Ncw.York. and REMARKS
that 1T is ridiculous to recommend fho rrneai ., %
their operation in a single city OF The Union, The
minority has also failed to nd particle OF Evidence
be used used only as part OF the machinery
OF party TO compensate voters who are friendly TO
II, and to frighten from the polls the voters OF the
opposing party y or that voters punished by
arrest and imprisonment for their political opinions
-, tha nrlty 1hn m
clares that the evidence fails TO show and the mn
jority Of the committee falls 10 point out single
case where the operation OF these laws has deprived
legal voter ID his frnnchise.'
Ine majority complained that 219 out Of s2G per
pot for whose prosecution he paid, could moi be
found By the committee. The minority does not regard
r peesr ieste is that seven are onnd
inr the names OF those proceeded against who III all
oSmpnsS 81 ~ ss sG 'sd
tempting to vote in the opinion Of ne minority; Ise
ais person; who could not be found wgre 9Toonay
who hide themselves concealed their identify a. soon
IS S to NO SGss ins . they
arrested and does not appear what disposition vas
aas y. Of Of nsns ss a fhe
expresses iir opinion that these men formed par, Of
that thIong Of iawbrsakers who ncst New i.rk and
especially offences against the elective franchise
means Of gaining li!0sr:ons living -,
election tire and their disappearance AT MI other timcs
S fact that appeals TO all law-sbldng citizens who
love their country. Its Institutions and fhe purity II
the DaIlot. n continued enforcement Of Federal
election laws. We make these statements In no
partisan spirit for It Is a weknown fact that this
class OF persons l. at the command OF the highest bid
der praerrng, however. 10 serve In the rnnks OF ih'
party pwer in the locality where they act assuming
That TO II they NAV look for and with II find protection
II the United States election laws have operated TO
fOri"ly prevent this class Of person, I'm voting at
ee 0ns, or have restrained any considerable number
~ them they have answered good purpose and proved
their utility"
Inc minority report also declares There Is not
the slightest evidence before the committee that the
election laws Of the United states have been used
for partisan ends purposes unless II shall be con.
tended That lawful EFFORTS 10 secure honest elections
serve partisan ends"
The minority report concludes as follows: "As
tho majority propose TO report blu for the repeal
~ these laws. we can here only express our cOnv1c
ton that repeal will work infinite harm, open wide
the doors fo the entrance 81 polii!csl deSpcradoes
who viii despoil the franchise and endangcr the
pence OF a now tranquil and prosperous Nation.
We IT the opnon and unhesitangly state that the
supervising and administration Of tho election laws
Of the United States within the city Of York
land to which place the jurisdiction Of tho committee
confined by the House, have been honest able
and efficient. and that the repeal OF snch laws
would make frauds at Congressional elections Of
common occurrence. their punishment Impossible. en-
aide dishonest parsons TO hwar the will Of the people
and constitute crime against the Republic,