New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-19
FOR PURER ELECTIONS.
SENATOR sAXTON OUTLINES HIS AMEND
MENTS TO THE BALLOT REFORM BILL
AIMING TO PREVENT THE Wholesale Use on
THE BLANKET PAsTER-wHY BALLOTS SHOULD
BE PREsERvED-PRoPosED CHANGES IN
THE REGISTRATION LAWS AND THE
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIB-yg.1
CORRUPT PRACTICES AZ

Albany. Feb Ex-senator Charles 7. Saxton
was at work all day yesterday preparing amend
ments to the Ballot Reform bill and also getting
into shape highly interesting bills amending the
registration laws and the Corrupt Practices act.
Speaking OF these various measures tonight, Mr..
Saxton said: "In my amendments to my Ballot
Reform bill I have made 1t conform 70 the bill
OF Assemblyman Sheffield which was amended
by a Joint Committee Ballot Reform Of both
houses OF the Legislature a few days ago. am
a member Of this Joint Committee. and its con-
clusions meet with my support. The bill In its
Senate and Assembly shape provides for
blanket ballot and prohibits the use of the
blanket paster We do. however, permit OF the
use Of the official individual paster by the Hitter
ate voter who swears upon some registration day
that he intends to vote for candidates for some
offices who have not been named by any political
party. This official paster must be prepared for
him at the polls by some friend. and then he
goes into booth and afixes L 10 the official
blanket ballot We thus do not abridge the right
Of the iiterate voter IN any respect, while at the
same time we prevent the wholesale use OF the
blanket paster."
did ex-Speaker Sulzer accept for the Demo
Gratis this obliterati ton of the blanket paster?"
mo he did not" answered Senator Saxton.
"and he will submit his bill preserving tho
blanket paster as substitute for ours. Mr.
Sulzer argues that it is discrimination against
the iliterate voter thus to require him 10 state
his illiteracy at place of registration ana
that, furthermore, it is unconstitutional. There
IS nothing in the constitutional point. since we
give the freedom TO the illiterate voter to cast
his ballot for whom he pleases. IL he so de-
sires he need not vote for single one OF the
official candidates, but can have new ticket
prepared which shall not contain the name
of a man for whom other people vote"
OTHER NEW FEATURES IN THE BALLOT ACT.
Are there any other new features to this
Ballot act?"
Yes. have an amendment providing for the
preservation of the ballots for at least year
after an election They must be sealed up In
n ballot-box and be deposited with the town
clerks and city clerks. and be subject 10 the
order Of court l never yet have why
the ballots should be destroyed. as they are at
present, and thus the people be deprived Of
chance to learn through the courts whether or
not the candidates for whom they voted have
been elected. Out in Buffalo recently the elec-
ton OF a candidate for Superintendent of Pub
lie Education was disclosed by the examination
Of the ballots which had been preserved through
the blunder Of some election inspectors. In
New-York last fall in several election districts
In the lid Assembly District, Patrick DIVERS
district the election inspectors reported that the
vote was unanimously Democratic; not a single
Republican Prohibition or Populist vote, &C.
cordng to these election inspectors. was polled.
Since Election Day several Republicans and
Populiss have made affidavit that they voted
for the Republican and Populist candidates. II
those ballots had been preserved the courts
would soon get at the truth Of the matter.
Then also provide in the Ballot act that the
rooms In which the ballots counted shall be
well lighted. Up IN Lansngburg the inspectors
of election at last springs election compelled
the watchers TO go outside of the guardrail In
the polling places, and then seated themselves
to count the ballots at table in the back part
of the room, some eight feet distant from the
watchers There was only candle to light
the room, and 1t is needless to say no could
tell whether the ballots were counted honestly or
not I also provide that when any inspector
shall demand oral count OF the ballots for
any special candidate. this must be granted
and that the count must be taken by the two
poll clerks
What is the special object Of that?'
ITO give a chance for the watchers Of any
political party to make a note of how many
ballots were cast for certain candidates. II VIII
be a great check upon the inspectors. for they
will understand that at any moment a standard
Of comparison of the votes for the various
candidates upon ticket can be secured"
AMENDING THE REGISTRATION LAW.
What amendments do you suggest to the
Registration law in your bill upon that sub
Ject?"
"I shove back the final day Of registration from
the second Saturday before Election Day to the
third Saturday before Election Day; instead OF
the final day of registration being ten days
before Election Day, 1t Will be seventeen days
before Election Day. That will give moro time