Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-03-09
SESSION CLOSED.
THE AUSTRALIAN BALLOT IS NOW
THE Law.

IiE "A US ITALIAN B1LLOI Is NOW
THE Law.
The legislature Of Virginia adjourned yes
terday, having extended the session two days
to close up business. The following are the
proceedings since last Thursday
THE WALTON AUSTRALIAN BALLOT BILL.
The object of the Election bill offered by
Senator Walton, and endorsed by a caucus
Of the Democratic members of the legislature
by vote OF Al to %, is simply the grating
of the Australian ballot system on the pres
ent Election law of the State. The salient
features of the bill are as follows:
Any person who intends to be a candidate
for any office, State or national, to be elected
by the electors of the State at large or Of a
congressional district, shall. at least thirty
days before such election, notify the Secreta-
~ of the Commonwealth in writing of such
intention, designating the Office for which he
is & candidate.
Any person WHO intends to be candidate
Tor any Office not embraced in the foregoing at
any election, shall give a similar notice
at least thirty days before such election
to the clerk OF clerks of the county OF
hustings courts OF the various county
OF counties or the city or cities whose
electors vote for the candidate for such Office.
HOW THEY SHALL VOTE.
Every elector qualified to vote at precinct
shall, when he so demands, be furnished with
an official ballotDy one of the judges of cleo
| ton selected for that duty by majority OF
tie judges present The said elector shall
20. |, ho1
said voting booth. He shall then draw a
line with pen OF pencil through the names
OF the candidates he does not wish to vote for
leaving the name or names of the candidate
OF candidates he does wish to vote for un
scratched. No name shall be considered
scratched unless the pen or pencil mark OK.
tend through three fourths of the length OF
SAID name; and no ballot save all official bal
lot above provided for shall be counted fol
any person. When, as to any Office more than
one maine remains unscratchad the ballet fol
that particular office snail be void. but The
ballot, as to any other Office for which Only
one name remains unscratched, shall be aid
He shall fold said ballot with the names OF
the candidates Oh the inside and hand the
same TO the judge Of election, who sI.a
place the same in the ballot box without any
inspection further than to assure himself that
said ballot is genuine ballot, for which pur-
pose he may, without looking at the printed
inside OF said ballot. inspect the official seal
upon the back thereof; provided that It slial b.
lawful for any voter 10 erase any or all names
printed upon said official ballot and substi
lutte therein in writing tie name Of any per
for q niT for inf hn
desire to vote.
The electoral boards shall appoint for each
precinct special constable, WHO shall be-
sworn to secrecy. and at the request of any
elector in the voting booth who may be phys
ically CT educationally unable to vote the
constable may render him assistance by read
inc the names and Offices, or otherwise aid
| him in preparing his ballot.
DEBATE on, AND PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
IN THE SENATE.
The election bill was taken up in the Sen
ate on Friday.
Mr. Echols offered an amendment exempt
ing Augusta and other counties from the opp-
rations of the bill. His amendment was d.
feated by % to II. which also defeated an
amendment offered 10y Mr.. Jones Of IIigh-
A few local bills were passed. and then Nj
Echols took the floor to speak to his notion
pending when the chair was vacated-to IL
consider the vote by which his amendment to
the bill eXemrting certain counties from Ill
operations was defeated.
Mfr Echols said there had been an under
standing from the start that if any senate;
was not satisfied with the bill he could have
his counties exempted. The Senator fru
Shenandoah (Mr. Haltoa), if lie did not
make such o statement himself heard ii made
q number OF times upon the cauc:ts ii.,.st
Mr. Walton Interrupted the speaker, and sAo
/ Mr. Echols had misunderstood him If h+
| thought he (Waiton) had made such Il Ia
! mark
| Mr.. Echols, continuing, said the eleciio,
| in bis district was absolutely fair. 1t wa:
| claimed that the proposed system would save
much money, but he thought it would req uir.
/ funds to carry on elections of any kind
whether the Austraian-5aiiot system wa,
adopted or not. Mr. Echois being interrupt
ed by Harrison. said that lie knew nothing
/ whatever about the Australian ballet, and III
did not ,l.ak the people knew anythinl
about it. This wa3 one OF the reasons why h,
| desired his county exempted. The Richmond
| Times. the speaker said, had made HlHch ref
| erence to G.aud in the elections in Virginia
| but the people did not seem to have bee.
i greatly exercised by ii. Gle amend. nents t.
the bill. he declared, were offered in goo;
! faith, and rot fer the purpose Of defeating it
! He asked that the Senate reconsider its &C
| ton upon these amendments 2nd adopt them
NC FRAUD IN HIGHLAND.
; Mr.. Jones, in fayoriag reconsideration, said
so far as his own section Of ti4G State Was con
cei ned, there had been no fraud lnaef the oD
Grafton OF the Anderson Mccormick law. Ii
did not believe that the fraud alleged to have
/ benn committed in elections under that Law
| had s,eeH Eefnetrated. The law was goot
one; and the Sepate was not ready to consid