The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-09
NO Change IN POLLING place.
Improvements Must Be Made, How
ever, Where Voters of First Dis
trict Of Sixth Ward Cast Votes.

On Jan. 90 a mum Der Of voters OF the
First district Of the Sixth ward peti
toned the court to change the polling
place from the house of Patrick Golden,
alleging that the place was unSanitary.
Judge Archibald yesterday handed
down the following opinion in the mat
ter:
The polling place originally fixed for
this district was not exactly where 1t is
now, although substantially there, but in
the slight change which has been made
some things have been brought about
which certainly call for correction, if no
more. The original polling place was on
Fifth street, at or near the corner of Lu-
zerne. As so located the entrance to IL
was upon public street, and it was cor
respondngly accessible. The rooms
where elections have been recently held,
while practically upon the same property,
has been approached from Fifth street,
over the land Of the property owner, be.
tween the building then located and In
and about privy aud manure heap, to be
found in the rear. This state of things
we cannot approve Of. 1t may be that it
was thought necessary. nasmuch as the
original location Of the polling place was
on Fifth street, to preserve the approaches
to 1t from that side nfter the removal to
the present room. But even if this be 80,
we cannot allow the state of things which
this idea has brought about to continue.
The voters of the district cannot be re-
quired to exercise the right Of suffrage
under these Disadvantages and constraints
They are entitled to at least clean and
public approach to the polls, and this it is
~ tn Va
not inclined at this time TO remove this
polling place from the locality where it
has been held, without suggestion of re-
moval for so many years. To do so in
the face of the coming election In the ward
would put the court in the pos1ble atti-
tnde Of taking sides between the respec.
tive candidates. II n change is desired
subsequently and Is opposed, it may be that
we shall desire also to take the sense OF
the voters and see what is The wish OF tho
majority upon that question. All we pro.
pose to do for the present is 10 meet the
temporary emergency
We will sanction the holding of the
polls in the room where they have been
held for the last few years and which tho
county commissioners report to he very
suitable for the purpose, but upon one
condition. The approach to them must
be- from the front on Railroad avenue aud
that In the rear from Fifth street must be-
entirely closed up. We therefore make
the following order:
Ordered, That the following place for
the first election district OF the Sixth ward
OF Scranton be fixed Mt the room Of the
hotel Of Patrick Golden, heretofore used
for that purpose on Railroad avenue near
the corner OF Luzerne street, and it ia
further ordered that the said room shall b,
so opened Ms to be approached by voter,
from tho front on said Railroad avenue
and that the approach from the rear on
Fifth street shall be kept wholly closed
and not used on election day. Tho cost oI
this proceeding to DO paid by tho county
Of Lackawanna.