The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-11
REGISTRATION IS EASIER.
The Important Changes Made in
the Law by the Last Leg
islature.
Soma Doubts Are Expressed a.
to the Act Being Con-
s%titutional.
II 1t Ia All Right 1t WAL Save Much
Travelling In the Backwoods
Districts.

Districts.
There il said to be some doubt "a to the
constitutionality of the act passed by the
legislature to amend the registration law.
The bill was drawn by a lawyer. Senator
O. +. Goddard. OF Yellowstone county,
and was intended. in q measure. to save
some of the trouble complained of by peo-
pie who have heretofore had to travel great
distances to reach q registration office. 1t
is to be hoped. in the interest OF those whom
it 10 intended to benefit, that the form in
which the amendments are drawn will DO
found all right. The only question is a. to
the 10. H.. Section twenty-five OF article
five of the constitution Of Montana
says: mo law shall be revised or
amended. or the provisions thereof ex-
tended. by reference to its title only. but
so much thereof az is revised,
amended or extended shall be re-
enacted and published at length" The
amendments of Senator Goddard are pro
posed in q bill of somewhat peculiar con-
struction. 1t starts ont by providing that
the provisions of the act of March 8, 1889.
shall be amended by striking out cesta,n
words in certain lines in each section that
it is proposed to change. and in some cases
substituting other words; and at the end OF
the changes proposed for each section, it
says: $50 that the SECTION shall read az
follows" Then follows the section as
amended. The usual plan is to provide
that q certain section of q certain act shall
be repealed and re-enacted SO as to read "a
follow" Tho fact that in tho Goddard
bill each altered section 10 given in full as
amended may be taken as complying with
the constitutional requirements.
Tho first important change made by tie
Goddard bill is that which allows ooun ty
commissioner to appoint thsoe or four
registry agents in cities Of more than 5000
population, instead Of limiting them to two
registry agents. The meat Of the new law.
however. il an addition to section four OF
tho registration law Of 1889. The addition
provides:
ut is hereby made the duty of each and
every registry agent TO designate, on or be-
fore the fist day upon which hs is required
to commence the registration Of voters
to publish in some newspaper within his
county a public notice that he will cit
within each and every precinct within his
election district, In such notice he shall
designate has home office. wherein he shall
sit, and be found, during the first three
days and the last three days that the regis
trntion shall be opened, and upon every
registration day when he is MOI sitting
ignate in his notice at least two, and not
more than three days in which he will sit
within each precinct within his district,
and be shall so arrange his sittings, if
practicable. rs to sit on one Saturday in
each and every precinct in his district. He
shall give notice of the exact place in each
precinct in which he will sit, and he shall
sit in no other place within such precinct,
unless it shall bscome impossible for him
to sit in the place designated, and if no can
not secure accommodations at the place
designated it shall be his duty
able place, and he shall Immediately post
notices at the place originally designated
that he is sitting elsewhere. and such no.
tices shall give the exact location Of where
be may be found. And it is hereby made
tho duty Of registry agents to attend at the
places designated and to register voters
thereat between the hours Of 10 in the morn
ing aud 10 at night, emitting. if they see fit.
the hour between II O'Clock noon. and one
O'Clock in the afternoon, ana six O'Clock
and seven O'Clock in the evening. In addi-
ton to the notice in the newspaper of the
schedule OF the registry agents appoint
ments he shall post, or cause TO bs posted,
within each precinct Of his election district
a copy of such published notice. so that the
voters within each precinct shall know the
exact date upon which the registry agent
may sit within their precincts. The regis
try agents. are hereby forbidden to register
any person or persons outside of their Of
fees. but any elector qualified to register
within the election district in which he re-
sides may register within any point within
his election district, whether within his
proper precinct or not, hut the registry
agent shall designate. as is required by this
act, the particular precinct whore such cleo
tor may reside and be entitled to vote"
Tn next change of importance is as to
the times of sittings of registers. The old
law requires them to be at their offices be-
tween two p. m. and eight p. IN. on all legal
m. and 10 D. m. from Oct. s to Oct. Is.
The new law requires them to be Fat their
respective Offices within ench and every
precinct OF their election district, between
the hours of 10 a. m. and 10 2. IN. on all
legal days from and after 10 o'clock a. m +.
I, Of the second Tuesday of October to and
including the Tuesday next preceding any
general election to be held in the state
The same section il amended to relieve reg
istratior officers from sitting on Sundays
and legal holidays. and to permit them an
hour for dinner and one for supper. though
they msy. il they see tit. sit during those
hours.
Another change OF some Importance is
that which requires tho registration officer
to prepare his list of voters within thte
days after the close OF his office, instead OF
allowing him seven days; and in tbs same
B line is that which allows them to receive
objections to the right Of any one to vote
up to six O'Clock Of the third day. instead
of the seventh day. before election. The
. part of the law regarding transfers by GER
. t~ericate is also changed. The old law al
lowed u voter who wanted to move aftel
registering to &c. a certificate from The
registration officer that would entitle him
, to register and vote in any county. Th.
now law makes tho certificate good only
D within in the county in which it is issued
The other alterations in the law are sucl
. as were necessitated by n change from ter
ritofial to state government.
FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
ponulisIk Hold Auntler AIeatinn-R. G