Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-27
DECENTRALIZATION LAWS.
Their Dangcr-DnvenDoris Qusdrupls
Functions in CoIruptinG the Franchise.
by telegraph 20 the Dispatch

ny ttltefhpn 10 the DltphtcusI
WASHINGTON, y. c.. January 2G.-The
special committee of tie House Of Repre-
sentauves. of which Ashbel Fitch il chair
man, has concluded ITS report into the su-
pervislcn aud administration Of the Feie-
ral-eectiOn laws IN the Southern District
of New York. The evidence taken by the
committee relates entirely 10 the admins
tration and supervision of the Federal
election III New York city and county.
The committee. after carefully studying
the operations Of the Federal election laws,
expresses the opinion that all OF these
laws have entirely failed TO produce any
good results IN the direction of the purity
OF elections or the protection of the bal
lot box. aud have been productive OF such
serious and dangerous results that they
ought NJ once % he repealed: and the rea-
sons given for such repeal. AZ stated. are be.
cause they result III no conviction OF
offenders and are therefore useless TO pre-
vent or punish crime, are expensive,
and are fruitful of constant aud con-
tinuiug frauds upon the Treasury.
The committee devotes some space
10 a consideration of the above-meD-
toned points, refers To- the framing
OF the laws under which the chief
supervisor Of elections acted, and
V,Ekes the following declaration IN regard
To that official: ." lie holds his office by u
tenure which makes him practically lnde-
pendent Of any criticism or danger OF re-
moyal. He not only holds this Office Of
Chief Supervisor OF Elections, but he has
also had himself appointed United States
commissioner. so that he can SIT as an ex.
aiming magistrate. with the power or
the government behind him and with the
money OF the government 10 use ne mas
managed for years a detective bureau, by
means of which he has sought to get proof OF
the crimes which he has claimed existed
in the city of New York. When IN the
frat capacity as detective ne has ob-
tanned such proof as he wishes to use; be
has then, IN his second capacity as pub
lie prosecutor, issued warrants for the ar
rest of the alleged criminals. Sometimes
he has gwen these warrants to the United
States marshal 10 be executed, and some
times. in "A third capacity rs sheriff, he
seems TO have made the arrests OF the
accused parties through his own deputies.
Then, in his fourth capacity, a. United
States Commissioner sitting "a msgls-
trate. he has heard his own charges against
the prisoners. which he has presented 10
himself as Judge, by himself az prosecuting
attorney, and has decided himself upon
their guilt or innocence.
The report concludes: "These laws, in
stead Of constituting system for the pro-
lection of the franchise IN the hands OF
honest citizens. have been used. as Is
shown by the evidence, TO furnish ma
chinery for the corruption and forcible
robbery of the franchise, and they ought.
# for that reason alone, be promptly re-
pealed. The committee. therefore, pre-
sent 10 the House bill providing for the
repeal Of these laws. with favorable re-
commentator for It's passage Tho re-
port is signed 10y Ashbel 7. Fitch, j. A..
Geissenhainer. and Robert t. DeForest.