The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-07
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
Foreign-Born Citizens Continue
to Kick for IL.
THE REGISTRATION cATEcn,sM.


Registration Of voters Is progressing at
the city hall - fast a. City Clerk Stone
man and his four deputies can put each
spplican: through the formula Of answer
ing the series of questions prescribed by
the amended registration act passed by
the last legislature. The work Is progress
ing fast enough to keep the crowd around
the city hall about the same all day long:
in other words, they are being registered
about as fast a. they come, always leaving
fairly long line Of applicants in the
clerks Office.
The hardship being worked on foreign
born American citizens by reason of the
new Law which eompels them to show
naturalization papers is daily becoming
more apparent, and the comments made
by the many legal voters 20 barred il, in
many instances more forcibls than choice,
and decidedly uncomplimentary 70 the
gentlemen of the last Legislature who al
lowed the bill to become . Law. Said enc
of these disappointed voters on being re-
fused registration at the city clerks office
yesterday:
my case is similar to many that have
already been cited in the Posr-IsrnLI-
eEScER. have been fifteen years in Sc
attic; was born in Germany and brought
to this country when quite young by my
parents, who settled in Pennsylvania,
where my father became nasuralized and
voted up to the time of his death. nearly
twenty years ago. 1t is impossible for
me 10 secure his naturalization papers, be-
cause the family is all scattered and have
no doubt they have long since been de-
stroyed / own about $40 900 worth of
property in Seattle; have voted right
along. and now by this blankety blank
law find myself barred from voting and
taking part in naming the men who shall
tax me, and virtually have charge of my
property. BY the way, what amir Ac-
cording 10 this law ! am not an Ameri-
can"
City Clerk Stoneman last evening said
that all the instances OF hardship worked
by the new law were covered by the one
question Of naturalization. either direct or
by the father. and that in either case
papers must be actually produced before
the applicant could proceed to register.
The new Law is being earnestly dis
cussed By members of the bar generally,
aud the opinion seems to be gaining
ground that the law cannot possibly stand
and will be declared unconstitutional by
both Judge Langley and the supreme
court of the gate.
A synopsis of the Law is given herewith,
With the sections bearing on the amend
ments published in full:
Chapter XIV. senate bill No. s. Of
the session laws of Washington, 1898:
Regulating the registration of votes.
An act 10 amend sections 8, I, g. IL and 10
Of an act entitled: An act to provide for
and 10 regulate the REGISTRATION of voters
In cities and towns and in precincts hav-
ing a voting population of $50 or more
approved March q, 1880. and repeating
section 10 thereof. and declaring an emer-
gsucy.
Section relates to poll books, which
for general and county elections shall be
closed twenty days before election: pub
LEGATION OF notices Of closing OF books ten
days preceding day Of closing.
Sec. 2. Section OF said act. of which
this act is amendatory, Is hereby amended
80 as to read as follows: Section z. The
poll books aforesaid shall be so arranged
as to admit the alphabetical classification
of the names of the voters. and ruled in
parallel columns with appropriate heads
as follows: Date of registration name, age,
occupation, place OF residence. place of
birth. time Of residence in the state,
county, ward and precinct, and II of for
eign birth. name and place OF court and
date of declaration of intention to become
. citizen of the United States, or date Of
naturalization, and with column for sigma
tEre and one for remarks. and one column
for checking the name OF the voter at the
time of voting. IL the voter registering is
OF foreign birth, he shall at the time Of
registering exhibit TO the registration off,
Ger a certificate of his declaration of inten-
ton, or naturalization, or IL such certifi-
cate be lost then . certified copy of the
same. Under head of place of residence
shall be noted the number of lot
and block or number and street
where the applicant resides. or some other
definite description sufficient TO locate the
residence, and the voter so registering as
provided In this section shall sign his
name on the registry opposite the entries
above required, IN the column headed.
signature and In case any voter shall not
he capable of writing his name he shall, on
the left hand margin of said column
make his mark by cross or such other
mark as is usual IN indicating his sigua-
ture, and some person who personally
knows said voter and is personally known
TO the registering officer, and who is capa-
bic OF writing his name, shall sign In said
column immediately opposite said mark.
as an identifying witness thereto.
Sec. 5. Section of said act Is hereby
amended to read IS follows: Sec. l. No
person shall be registered unless he ap-
pears IN person before the city or town
clerk or officer Of registration, at his Office,
during usual Office hours, and apply TO
De registered and give his name, age, occu-
patton, particular place Of residence, place
OF birth, time of residence IN the state,
county, ward or precinct. and If natural
lied, name of court. place where held. and
date of naturalization papers, and make
and subscribe 10 the following oath or
Affirmation:
STATE % wAsHIseTos,l a.
COUNTY OF .......
~. ......... 90 soisraaIy swear or affirm
that ala u male person over - years, II months
an9 10 days OF age; that am . native born OF
nst1Fastxcd citizen oil the nlted states, or Was
9 !egsl elector OF the Tertiary of Warrington st
tss unse OF the adoption OF the constitution OF
tae state OF Mssbinstons thai ! have been an
actual permanent resident OF Tue state OF
Washington for eleven months and ten days
last past, of the county OF ...... for seventy
days last past and OF the 900. Precinct Ter,
days last psss. and that have not ios. nay civil
ssgats hy reason OF icing convicted OF IA IN.
famous crime. "'S;gnsfure ..-...-...........
"sahscrined and sworn 10 before me this -.
~~S -
''sec. l. Duties OF clerk in administer
Ing esihs.