The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-21
SEATTLE, MAY 20. 1873.

SAoy ~ 4PtS
To rAE EDITOR: Corporation Counsel Dom
worth insists that no registration is necessary,
although he admits that the laws authorizing u
vote to validate q part of the supposed indebted.
ness refers to registration books. but contends
tina. under the decision OF tho supreme court
in a Tacoma case. no registration 10 necessary
for voting bonds for water works. electric lights
and sewers. Tho opinion in that case was
made purely upon the lctte. OF section II Of the
registration act and OF the act providing for
voting for the purchase OF water works, etc.
The registration act OF March q, 1890, requires
q registration OF voters prior 70 all general or
municipal elections. and while section II refers,
30 far rs the city is concerned. TO elections OF
municipal officers. that section mus: be con.
strued in accordance with the rule that "what
10 4 implied IN tho stature. pleading. contract or
letter is ~ much q part OF 1t as what 10 cx-
pressed"
United States vs. Babbitt. C. United States.
page 81
An election to validate indebtedness 10 . mu-
nicip pal election.
Section 6 Of article 8 requires the assent Of
three -ffths of the voters in n municipal corpo-
ration to authorize mourning an indebtedness
over IL per cent of the last assessment: for city
purposes
y ho are voters 10 to be determined by the
article or elections. Section | defines certain
qualifications. Section : provides an additional
QanAt \ y lC b[SiSaottt0 eAaA
enac. a registration law, and shall, require =
compliance with such law before any elector
shall be allowed to vote: provided. that this
provision Is not compulsory except as to cities
ant towns having q population OF over 500 in
habitants."
Section p OF article I provides: "The pro-
visions OF this constitution are mandatory un-
less by express words they are declared TO be
otherwise" Hence no municipal authorities
have any right to hold municipal elections Of
any character without requiring and providing
for the registration of voters.
The supreme court o! the United States has
held in Neal W Delaware, 100 United States,
page $50. that the fifteenth amendment OF the
constitution. OF itself aad without any action.
struck out of ;hs constitution aud statutes OF
Delaware the word white so that the cOlored
man could vote. The principle was affirmed in
the City OF Eat 81. Louis VS. United states. l0
United states. page go.
Tha; the constitutional provision requiring
the city to levy and collect u tax 10 pay ito in
deb,edness was written by the constitution in
every law passed thereafter by the legislature
allowing a debt 10 be incurred"
The mandatory prov sioas OF our constitution
are written into The registration law and are q
par; OF 1t
Article is of the city charter provides TO, gen.
eral and special elections. and in section eajopts
the requirements OF article & OF the constitution
az to the qualification OF voters This makes
registration a E~ecessity for every bend election.
Ii the proposed Indebtedness is 20 be validated
by a vote 81 the people there should be q iul
compliance with the registration law.
The only change ma ie by the acts authorizing
the valuation of the indebtedness is in refer
cnce 10 new registration books that may De re-
aaireG where a precinct Is divided hv the old
h5usearies of the city. The registration book
must be signed by ths eiector. Registration GER
tlacKtes are atoi shed. Every voter who has
any interest II having legal bonds issued or IN
having a 'air and h3aes. election upon their
issue, should see that lie Is registered. aud the
officers of the city should be governed ~ the
registration las. II tae bonds arc ye:cd. they
should oe like Casars wife. above suspicion"
W : EysH.