The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-01-12


amount of capital represented in this form
OF investment. The paid in capital Of the
corporations OF the Commonwealth now is
81 200, 600 600. With such a system adopted
all other forms Of property would be left to
the several counties for the purposes of
equalizing their taxation. Such system
would also do away with the present
method OF having the counties collect the
State tax. pay the same over 20 the State
Treasurer and the State Treasurer pay most
Of II back 10 the county treasurers.
The Governor then recommends the
abolishment of the office of Mercantile
Appraiser, holding that the mercantile tax
can be levied and collected as other taxes
are
Passing on. the Governor renews his
recommendation relating to the enforce.
ment Of articles XVI. and XVII. Of the
Constitution, touching the watering OF
stocks and Of discrimination by common
carriers denounces the anthracite coal
com bine. reviews the Bardsley case and the
work of the Board Of pardons.
THE BsErR BALLOT LAW.
The first practical test of the act Of June
~. 1871, properly known as the Ballot Re-
iorm law, was made at the state and local
elections on November 5. 1892. The law has
met with very general popular approval. Its
two essential features. an official ballot and
the private booth provision for tie voter to
mark b y ticket are great advances in our
Electoral system, and are undoubtedly well
rxed iu popular confidence. No modification
nor amendment of the law that would in
icrfpre with these features should be- count
euanced. Befor any more serious difficulties
occur over the construct on Of the disputed
and doubtful provisions of the law | rec
ommend that careful inquiry be made by
the General Assembly as to the respects in
VIII ich its more palpahle defects may be
r"medied, The meaning and effect OF the
wur disability, rs used in section %, as
the condition which shall permit voter to
hav" assistance IA the preparation OF his
ballot, ought to he clearly and distinctly de-
fined Experience IN ail the counties of the
Commonwealth mas shown that the proyis-
ion os law for extra tickets is greatly in eI-
Ceeg nc any popular need. and the number
ri such surplus tickets might he materially
reduced in the interest Of economy, as wei
a. the number ot booths serious difficulties
embarrassins the Secretary of tie Common.
wealth and difficult of satisfactory deter
minut.on in the courts, are liable TO arise
under the provisions of section . whereby
any convention OF delegates or primary
meeting of electors OF caucus, held under
90 q rules of polt cal party, or of any
board authorized TO certify nominations
representing the political pauv.h etc, is
permitted 20 nominate candidates. but what
jurisdiction or authority is TO determine
whether or not such convention, meeting OF
board is the authorized organ Of a regular
political party il not set forth with precision
or certainty IN the law. Under section 8 il is
provided that the number Of siguers to
nomination paper shall be three per centum
ui the largest entire vote for any CORES.
pondng officer at the las, preceding election,
but by what jurisdiction or au ihority this
shall be inquired into and determined is not
stated with sufficient distinctucss in the
law.
The period Of 30 DAYS. provided In the
first clause of section or objections 10
certificates and papers, deigned for noni.
nations for the state az large has been found
in practical experi snce TO be unnecessarily
long and recommend an abbreyiation of
that period g. 10 days. Uncertainty and
variance of opinion prevails rs to the dis.
Nnction between objections "as t. form nr
appWtbe conformity or non.conformity.
-r'M7icn 'n2fg''T~'Tt0.T -e9ov..A,, eotlsidREe9s
by the Secretary of the Common
wealth, the Auditor General and Attorne
General. and Objections as to validity @
certificates or papers which are to be file,
in and considered by the Court of Common
Pleas Of Dauphin county and recommen
for the consideration of the General Assem-
bly, a better definition Of these terms thai
~ present prescribed by the act.
Upon the Whole. the group system il
the present Ballot Reform law seems 10 Civ
more general satisfaction than the alpha
bethical arrangement of the names OF tn
candidates az prescribed in the election Law
OF some OF the other Commonwealths whicl
have adopted what is known as the Austria
lian system. by a liberal construction q
The act the tickets al the last election wer
printed according TO an arrangement Of th
candidates of each of the several poitica
parties in its own group or column. regard
less OF whether or not all of these partie
had at the last election pC,ied such per cen
| tum OF the total vote as 10 give them the dis
/ unctiOn OF a seperate political organization
~ contemplated by the act The l4th Section
relating TO this subject Is susceptible of re
vision to secure clearer statement of 1t
real intent and meaning. A simpler form
| than that presented bv our law. of markinj
the. exception to group of candidates il
. which the party voter desires to cut one o
more Of the candidates on his stragh ticket
| prevails IN some other States and ma,
/ probably hc onsiuered with view Il
amending the law OF 1891 m this respect
In many minor details the act undou btedly
might be- properly made the subject of re
/ molding and revision.
In view Of the gradual increase in tn,
/ number oi polling places in the State. anC
| tn reduction of the number of voters a
I each poll, Il will be well for the Legislator,
/ ,olnqmre into the expcdiency Of chanrin,
/ the hours between which the pods remain
/ open. In II states nj present polls are clos
/ ed at sunset or earlier aud with two excep
| ton, the hours for keeping the polls opeT
nre longer IN Pennsylvania than II
/ any other state.
Tho Governor next declares in favor OF
/ the Michigan system Of choosing Presiden
/ TIL electors by congressional districts. Con
( !inuing be says:
THF TUBLlC SCHOOLS.
Experience has shown that whenever fre,
| scroul books and supplies are furnished
the attendance has increased the system
thus serving the good purposes of compul
sorry education and avoiding its objection
alb q features. recommend legislation tc
the end OF securing free textbooks every.
where. also recommend the consolidation
| pfiwo or more of the rural schools into one
strong institution, well equipped and with
compensation offered 10 teachers to secure
| the talent equal to town or city school.
The advantages OF our town and city schools
are admitted.
Your attention IS again called TO the basis
/, t.l, 4 A..I "a, i.,ss -