The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-07

from district five OF the town OF Lin
coin, two ballots for Adm B. Capron:
from ward five of the city Of Pawtucket.
one defective ballot; from district two
ward three, of the city of Providence,
one blank ballot; from district two ward
five, OF the city OF Providence. two blank
ballots; from district one, ward SIX, OF
the city Of Providence, one blank balo.;
from district one OF the town of War
wick. one blank ballot; IA total of 1g5
blanks thirty detectives, three votes for
Adm H. Capron and one vote for Charles
H. Page.
Several instances were cited of mis-
takes made in marking OF ballots in the
making up of the packages when the Off
cials displayed great Ignorance of the
laws aud in the marking of challenged
ballots Continuing the committee re-
ported as follows:
All OF these mariS, upon the ballots are
in contravention of the statute and if IL
were strictly construed would have TO
be classed az defective for there was no
evidence TO show whether or not they
were made by the voter as distinguishing
marks
That ballots should be so handled by
the sworn officers entrusted with their
proper care is astonishing. The provisions
OF the statutes relative To. the return of
ballots are so diffuse and explicit that IL
seems almost useless to legislatd further
upon the subject, unless possibly by so
doing we can provide a higher degree of
intelligence for the election of officials.
Here we have valid ballots for presi-
Dental elec ors. congressman and con
stitutional amendments so returned that
they cannot be included i'm the official
count by any returning board, thus vir-
tually DISTINGUISHING the voters by whom
they were cast, nearly 300 in number
As matter OF fact in this case these in
formalities have made no difference in
the result OF the election OF congressman
or OF presidential electors, or i'm the |
adoption or rejection OF the two constitu.
tional amendments; but IL can be readily |
seen that the result in either of these |
matters might have hinged upon the
ballots that were improperly en- |
closed or withheld altogether from |
tue proper returning boards The |
seriousness of these informalities viii be |
more apparent when it is remem bered |
that the election of President of the |
United states has turned upon one cleo |
toral vote, and that the four electoral
votes OF this state at the last election
might have been cast by the party not
entitled TO them, as "A result or the failure
of the election officials To property return
all the ballots which were deposited I'm
the box, and that II might have been done
before the meeting of the General Assem-.
bly, and the discovery of the error.
Again, 10 is not the province of any
finally pass upon the valid or defective
character of ballot. That duty by the
and the law OF the stale de-
wolves upon certain named returning
boards, aud when such officials assume TO
return only such ballos as in their opin-
ion are plainly aud uuquestionably val id.
they are violating the law and defeating
the Intent OF the constitution by taxing |
from the returning boards the opportuu-
Ity OF exercising the judgment which it
was intended they aud they only should
use, and making the Office OF a returning
Doard mat oil clerk TO simply c0un,
good ballots. -
Ia the matter OF sealing the packages
d ballots, your committee recommend
hat 10 be provided that they shall be
sealed by the application OF large aihe-
i've labels bearing the signatures in ink
u at least Two election officials, and ap
)lied IN such manner that 10 will be i'm
possible % have access to the contents of
lac package without destroying tbs La
,els.
Your committee also recommend that
he various town and city clerks be di.
ected 20 provide suitables rubber stamps
or attiNug th5 form OF certific tiou re-.
Iuired 10 be made by supervisors when
ney assist voter in the preparation of
lis ballot. and that the secretary of state |
'e directed TO annually prepare, If
hauges IN the law require It, a manual
or the guidance OF ward ms, clerks ami
uperyisOrs In the performance of tbeir
uties aud to furnish the same To these
Ulcers
The other informalities which have
cen described are all contrary 10 the
lready existing law, aud the ouly recon-
lendation which ~ seems pertinent TO
lake n that An the future the UenaltieS
row led bY law be enforced IL the viola.
ion, are continued,
Your committee further report, that
uruR the count over three hundred bal.
DTS were submtted to a vote of the mil !
TO determine whether they
b. uld be counted as valid. aud that in
% instauce was the committee divided
q partisan lines, bat that an every case
here the Intent Il the voter could be de-.
ernii eel, the ballJt was counted an A..
Jrdance Herewith. unless 10 bore "A nal.
ably Intentional distinguishing marx.
Stiii Missing. 4
llI.FftN If..f. e. 1 1