The sun., 1894-02-01
wheeler ". Peckhsm Fnvor- the Bisuket
Ballot without the Faster.

| Ballot without the Faster.
ALBANY. Jau 31.-The Judiciary Com mittees
OF the Senate and Assembly gave Joint hear.
ing In the Assembly chamber on the election
| bills this afternoon. There were present on
behalf OF the citizens com mittee OF fifty oil
Albany. Matthew Hale. John ". McNamara,
Arthur l. Andrews and Eugene Burlingame
from New York city.
Z. b. Hlnsdale. representing the Union
League Club; Mortimer Adams and James W.
Hawes of the Republican Club. William NJ.
WINS OF the Reform Club Alfred r.. Conklin OF
the City Club. and Henry X. Beekman and
Wheeler II. Peckham. representing the con-
ference OF organizations calledat the instance
OF the City Club.
Mr. Beekmnn explained the provisions Of the
blanket ballot bill. which has been introduced
by Senator Saxton and Mr. Sheffield.
The bill. which represents the ideas OF the
various organizations Interested in ballot re-
form. provides for two blanket ballots in cities
OF over 100000. one containing the gem
eral and the other the local ticket. the
names being arranged in party columns
headed by the party symbol. Sample
ballots with eight columns, making a docu-
ment about twenty by sixteen inches. printed
in small type. were distributed to the commit
teo Mr.. Beekman discussed in detail the pro-
visions Of the bill. which permit the use Of
pastors and which provide assistance for illit-
crate voters.
There was some discussion OF the question
whether the ballot should be creased by the
printer. so that the voter would have no DIM
Guilty in folding. Mr. Beekman had n oblec-
tion to make to this. provided he ballots were
delivered open, IL was thought best to ON
election inspectors in separate bill. so that
the likelihood OF the Governors approval Of it
Mr. Barkh han fay IN bIanEat bsllnt
without the paster The ideal method Of vot-
ing. he said, was the viva voce method. 1t was
ton and the Voting OF persons who really
had no volition OF their own. but only voiced
s rotin9 % by Ballot ' had worted % @ g0p very well ii
at first but had been abused OF late years.
SoeK Sna rGg
70 70 individual opiniion. The retention o. the
tra;inE I q what he meant by naturalization. INF Mr.
day that senator in Congress had presented
petition from all the employees in a great
that the petition expressed the real opInion Of
the workmen." said Mr. Peckham. 1t was
either tor or against the tariff bill. forget
- it was against" said Mr.. Butts. one Of the
;Assembly. committee. There are no peti-
Mr.. Peckham approved the provisions OF the
bill which REQUIRE the declaration OF physical
mss. SS ire S i1to OF II hs Saa 6is R way st he
would abolish the party column and oblige
every voter to exercise personal volition in
regard to every name he marked but he sup
posed that this would not be accomplished
until the next general Convention.
Eugene Burlingame. after approving the |
general scheme OF the bill as explained by Mr.. |
Hickman introd uced Arthur l.. Andrews. who |
Committee Of Fifty OF Albany. He asked that |
: time be fixed for opening the, polls, in
towns and villages as in cities. The !
bi. partisan boards Of election officers, but it |
was strongly opposed to allowing tho Common
Council TO nominate them. There should be a |
penalty for failure to equip the booths prop
erly: any election officer should have power to
order arrests; the last day OF registration
should be further away from election day.
and Boards should meet on the Saturday
before election to make changes ordered By
The courts and to register recently nsturallzed
voters Mr.. Andrews urged the adoption OF
more stringent provisions in regard to regis
ration and the removal OF illegally registered
hem with the amendments which tho Com
nittee OF Fifty had agreed upon.
James w. Hawes opposed the blanket paster
IN the ground that II would furnish an oppor-
nee bill had been carefully drawn to be both
air and within the limits of the Constitution.
)ut OF forty -four States thirty five had adopted
'ailot reform in some shane or another. and
'nly one or two provided for the pastsE.
Mr.. T. Is, HinsdAle urged the Importance OF
'uttinR a stop TO the fraudulent practices |
which were undermining American institu- |
Ions He opposed the paster ballot as fruit
Mr.. WINS also protested against tho blanket
asteE.
The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday OF
be co%mittess desirs to % have ali m the @ smenda n
nents presented on that day so that the mat
er may be disposed OF.