The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-03
Facts That Show the Value Of the
Work Of the Supervisors.
KEEPING DEAD MEN ON THE LISTS,
And Resorting to Unlawful and Dis
honest Methods to Keep the Demo-
cratic Total Up to the Required Figure--
A shame and Disgrace to tho State
Carefully Read and Consider.

day of February, 1880 1t remained in
the hands of the judiciary committee un-
til March IA, 1889. when it was reported
back 70 the sena e AID its passage recon-
mended for the committee by Franklin
p. Owen, now chairman of the Demo-
cratic state central committee, and as
reported by him and passed by the SEN
ate iJ contained the provision that no
foreign-born person should even place
bis name upon the registry book until he
had exhibited to the town or city clerk
his papers of naturaliz ltion, had ,tisfied
that official of their genuineness and had
such satisfaction endorsed there on in the
form of certificate bearing the clerks
signature.
Oi April 20. 1889, tine law next appears
in the house, as it stands on the stat ute
book today, recommended for passage by
William Il. Sheffield. Jr., whose Repub
lcanism Is as pronounced as Mr.. Ovens
Democracy. giving the foreign bo rn citi-
zen until five days before the final can
vass to furnish proof" OF his natur aliza-
ton satisfactory TO the board OF cam
produce his pap rs to tue town or city
clerk before the 3lst day of the previous
Decem ber.
The law so amended finally passed on
the Goth day of April just two months
and five days after its Introduction.
First Applied by n Democrat.
That which called attention to the fact
that this provision OF the law was being
generally disrsgardei was the action of
John j. Heffernan.a Democratic alderman
OF Woonsocket, who, at the canvassers'
meeting just previous to the last mayor
atty election in that city, objected to the
placing upon the voting lists in that city
OF the names of some twenty foreig
boru citizens who were Republicans aud
who had not produced their naturaliza-
tion papers five days before the can
v4ssers' meeting, as required by law al
objection which was promptly sustained
anu which prevented those twenty from
participating in the election.
In the city OF Paatucket men have
been found whose names have been on
the voting list in previous years who
state that hey never rave been natural
ized. AID that they have voted without
that qualification, "under the Bourne
amena nent," as they put it. they are
but IA few Of many such, who have reg
iste-ed with the intention OF being sub
sequently naturalized. but who, finding
their names upon the voting list through
the carelessne, ,s of clerks aud cauvassers,
have concluded that naturalization was
an unnecessary Ceremony In this state,
aud have taken no further steps in that
direction. Under the law mau may
properly register befor. hs is citizen,
aud it Is TO prevent his getting upon tine
voting list improperly by virtue OF such
registration that proof Of citizenship is
required by statute ana should be as
rig .dly insisted upon by the boards of
canvassers AS any . her condition prece-
dent To votlug.
supervisors Work In Providence.
The work OF tn. supervisors to date
shows that in the city of Providence no
less that 40 persons have drawn upon
their imagination for their facts in Civ
lug the place and time of their naturaliz-
ton. as proven by a careful Sc Irch OF the
records man attempt AT verihcation.
Oh COG persons whJ certified, when reg
istering, hat tney were naturalized
in the court of common pleas, l97
were not so naturalized. That
there might be no chance that the per-
sons registering had mistaken the SUI
preme court for the Que named, the
records OF that court have also been
without success.
Nor does tnis indicate all the care
which has been taken to give every
voter the benefit of the doubt. II re gis-
tering he states tue year he was natural
! ized, aud OF 400 who were founi upon the
| common pleas court records nearly all
| stated the date from one 10 ten years out
| OF the way, aud were only found after
| careful ANA wearisoiue search.
In the city OF Providence also 523 per
| sons claimed to nave been made citiz .ns
| in the United States circuit and district
| courts, VINO cannot be found recorded AS
| natur ,lized In either court. Others
stated tnat they were naturalized at
| Putnam, Conn, aud at other places
| where no court sits which could make
| them citizens.
Keeping n Dead Man Voting.
In one ward in this city the name o.
| Henry Farr Of 9s Vandewater street, VIII,
died as shown by the city hall records OF
the 23d day of February. 1855, was there
after continuously carried upon the vot
| ing list as a qualified electOr until tb,
| canvass OF the voting lists for the elec
| tion OF Nov. 3, when it was striken off al
| the request of United States supervisor
| During four years OF this time the name
| OF this man's widow had been i'm the city
directory as Elizabeth Farr, widow OF
Henry" whicu shows the exceedi NJ z
thorOughness OF the investi CATION OF tha
board of canvassers into the qualifica
tions Of voters.
At the canvass OF the list for the may
orally election held about two weeks az
terwards, and when the matter mus
| have been fresh in the recollection O
every meniber OF the board. the name o.
| this man five years dead was placed bacl
upon the st as a qualified elector. aud 4
is there Low, although the list has beef
canvassed twice this yesr aud . certiii