New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-24
ELECTION la W DANGERS.
JOHN SABINE SMITH POINTS OUT DE-
FEET
HE CALLS ATTENTION TO SECTION NO SO

HE CALGs ATTENTION TO SECTION no &c.
WHICH HE SAYS Is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
John Sabine Smith, the lawyer. OF No. IS Will
iam-st believes that in consequence OF the many
amendments to the Election law for this city. leaving
II In more less confused condition. II would be
possible TO deposit good many Illegal votes In
the ballot-box. and that the perpetrators OF the
fraud would have a good chance OF escaping pun
ishment. lie calls attention particularly to Sec
ton No &c. which provides for the registration Of
voter, after he has removed from one election
district TO another. In the district 10 which he
moves even after the registration books have been
closed.
The Election law provides OF course. for a reg
istration before every general election. Then the
law says that for every election other than the
general election In November each year there
shall be revision OF the general registration had.
which revision shall be made on the Friday and
Saturday Of the second week preceding the day
OF each and every such election"
Although the law says there shall be reeistra-
ton for "A general election and revision for
special election 1t does not specifically say that
there shall not be 'revsion' for general cleo
ton. Herein lies the danger. as Mr. Smith sees
It, In connection with Section No 80 OF the Election
law. II reads follows:
No pcrson who IL registered in one election district
shall Register himself to b" registered In another
election district while prior alton rcrn'hs I'M
erased In other manner than in this chapter pro-
vldcd but In the Of revision Of general
registration any portion the city AMI county Of New
York. person shall present himself before any board
= reg siraon for the purpose being registered
voter. onl shall app tna, tn OF such per
f. borne upon election district Other than that In which
c shall the time Of such revision make aspiration for
rcrstaon AMI that since tn day Of the preceding cc'
lion registration he has removed from the district In
which he then cgtcrd to TIE district IL wAi'h lie
shall the tine Of ssh revision apply FOR r"estra.
ton AID hall also appear that thri" Is M meeting OK
tho boud - nIcco' In the district IN which his maze
hall he borne upon the registry Tor III" purpose OF 20
us thcn and In su'h es'nt Tho ort Of removal may
b. made lcpfc mbrr Of ia ba'd OF in+pcctos Ia
any district to which hr shal have removed ana tho
Ierson arparIlg any slch revision Of REGISTRATION
ha re entitled to al tie rignt' AMI privileges to which
he would be- entitled worc the rcgi,t'lton general
icqlsra'lon AMI tie sail person making an original APP
pllca,ion FOR rcei-f alton.
This section evidently applies TO special elections
and tho Police Board has 50 construed it, sug-
"ies." replied Mr. Smith at docs: but there Is
nothing IN the law which prohibits a revision OF
IN" registration at general election' rue .,t me
Law docs not say that there may be one. neither
does It prohibit H. Now. you know two members
Of the registry board OF each district FORM luorn
To- transact business. There are two Democrats IN
each board. Now. suppose day or TWO D-i ,'S'
election this quorum decides to rysa o the - regis p1s
vhn corn before thcse two inspectors and ask 70
bc transfer-ed? they ar. registered twice then.
1t seems to me. nnl they have not V."!ated tns
law 30 far IS | can SEE. They can cast two votes
On election day Possibly some Of them might be
indicted aftrrwiri. but their votes nave BEEN
counted and you cannot overcome the eject or
that"
Nr Smith believes This section OF the law 70 b"
clrariy unconstitutional rs well. The 'on'titu-
ton provides IN Article No. the qualification Tor
voters. Among other things yoter az my lie scc.
ton must have lived in tn" election district thirty
DAYS before tn. election. This * broad "n"ush 10
cover special as well general ci,ctlons. Even
II the section Of tho Election law quot"l onC APP
piles 10 special elections. Mir Smith THINKS II ~
unconstitutional IL provides that man might
vote under certain con litlOns at special election
AZ an rate without having liveI In an election
district thirty days This h. SAYS. Is clearly IN
violation OF the fundamental law Of the state ana
tDd f.r that reason. II" thinks II well 10 c'ul
.,'or tn possible dangers % this section, be-
crtis. II Tamnlny discovered any great weakness
In particular district. no effort would be spared
f. cure fne y-,akn.ss Stretching law like this 70
acc.f,i,sh rs ends would b" rer" by play In COM
parson with III" general CORRUPT practices OF