The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-11-21

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of doubt, and the Democrats need not look
toward him for any help or sympathy.
THAT the present existing election law
can be improved by amendment is con-
coded by all, and the next Legislature will
be called upon to make some important
changes, but there will have to be some
deep study before decisive action is taken.
The clause relative to closing the polls
will undoubtedly be considered with
view of reinstating the sunset" law by
which the polls were closed at sunset in
stead of at seven o'clock. There are many
persons, however, who think the present
hour for closing is about right and that
nothing will be gained by going back to
the other system. The last election GER
tainly proves that there is no necessity,
where the people are awakened, for early
closing of the polls.
There is one important amendment that
should be enacted and that is with refer
ence to the distribution of official tickets
Not ticket should be allowed outside of
the polls before or on election day, and
any person found with an official ballot in
his hand should be subject to heavy pen
atty. If any voter, through inability to
read or write, desired assistance, there
should be provision made whereby he
might be accompanied into the booth by
two election officers. each of different po-
lltical faith, who should be instructed to
and if either of the men assisting him
should solicit him to vote as they suggest
ed they should be fined or imprisoned.
Being of different politics would act as a
safeguard as one would watch the other.
With no tickets outside to be handled
by the poll workers, there would be no
chance whatever for attempts to purchase
votes, there would be no need of poll COM
mittees and every man would vote as he
felt inclined, or he would not vote at ALL In
the minds of many the solution of the
problem how to abolish bribery lies en-
tirely in the exclusion of tickets anywhere
except inside the polling places.
The question of holding constitution
al convention, to revise the state consti-
tuition, is being urged by many prominent
men in New Jersey. All sorts of views
are expressed as to probable changes, but
the one agreed upon by all, and which
all people of the state will hail with de-
light, is that change should be made in
the construction of the judicial system,
which at present is too complex and pro-
ductive of too much vexation and delay
to the sutton, and too expensive to the
public
Vice Chancellor Bird presents a plan
for the judiciary that seems to meet with
approval. His idea is that there should
be court of Errors and Appeals, and
such number of Circuit courts as would
warrant the fair and speedy admlnistra-
tion of the law. The circuits should be
presided over by able lawyers, who
should hear all cases, both civil and GRIM
inal, and who should consider both the
equity and the law in their considera-
tions.
The Vice Chancellor would abolish the
inferior courts, but retain justices of the
peace, extending, however, to defendants
the right to have causes removed to the
proposed Circuit court. There should be
but two opportunities for hearing given
a sutton. First trial before the Circuit
court or the court and jury, and second,
the right of appeal to the proposed court
of Errors and Appeals. This system the
Vice Chancellor would apply to the whole
state alike. The dispensing of equity
and law by the same judge, he thought
would be benefit in the matter of dis
patch and with equally good results in
the matter of proper conclusions as un
der the present double system. In proof
of this, he called attention to the fact
that under the present system, appeals
from Chancery court decisions are passed
upon by judges who do not themselves
sit originally in equity cases.
The question of selecting more state
officers by the people is also being agitat-
ed. and the election of senators and as
semblymen on a basis of population
Upon these questions there will be
great deal of difference Of opinion, but
the judiciary change the people will.
quite likely, be heartily in favor Of