New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-10
SOME ELECTION AFTERMATH.
HOW THE NEW METHOD OF VOTING
WORKED IN BROOKLYN.
WHAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
sAY-EAsY TO VOTE THE BLANKET BALLOT.
BUT NOT so EASY TO COUNT Ir-cHANGEs

The Commissioners OF Elections in Brooklyn are
congratuiating themselves on two things: first
'hat the hard work in connection with the election
is over and, second. that in spite Of difficulties and
drawbacks, they have been able to accomplish
what they had to do with so little friction and so
generally 10 the satisfaction Of the public They
came into office last spring confront the problems
due TO new election laws and new method OF vot-
Ing. Moreover, after two three months. one OF
the members. Mr.. Williams died. and with the be-
ginning OF September Commissioner Blair came into
the Board. under the necessity OF course OF IA
marizing himself with his a time
when It was essential that the work OF preparing
for the election should be In active progress Mr.
Blair proved to be an apt pupil
The Commissioners have worked together in alb
solute harmony notwithstanding their differences
of political faith for 1t is required by law that two
OF them should belong to one party and two to
other. In making his appointments last May. how
ever. Mayor Scheren did not deem 1t wise to
recognize the Ring Democrats but chose his two
Democratic Commissioners from the more
progressive element in that party Mr.. Mouton
and Mr.. Blair the Republican Commissioners,
and Mr. Edwards and Mr.. Erregger the Demo-
cratic representatives the Board.
1t recently shown in The Tribune that the
Commissioners had succeeded in reducing the
penses OF their department by about $4,000 and
mention was also made OF the fact that they had
required candidates for appointment election
a
test OF their fitness perform their duties. There
is requirement OF law that this should be done.
and the extra work thus imposed the Commits
sioners was a voluntary burden which they as
sumed. They all convinced that this method
is the correct one. and the plan will be
pursued next year
In talking of the matter a day or two ago. Presi-
dent Moulton said that in the of men who
had served this year acceptably another examina-
ton would rot be necessary next year. The pur-
pose of the examinations simply to determine
whether the men were competent 10 act as election
officers and the this year would Of course. be
sufficient for next year. No examinations
had in the case of ballot clerks whose duties
simple and require no writing TO be done. but all
registrars inspectors. canvassers and poll clerks
subjected to a written examination. in
the OF a very few who were personally known
to the Commissioners, and known be fit for APP
pointment.
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS SATISFIED.
The workings of the ballot law have been
closely observed by the Commissioners. and, on the
whole, they express themselves well satisfied with
IT, AS far as voting concerned, there seems 10
be no doubt that 1t was done easily and rapidly,
In the case of those who voted split tickets.
Where a straight ticket voted. the operation
of unfolding the ballot marking the necessary cross
in the proper circle and refoldng the ballot could
all be gone through in a quarter half minute.
in one column or in different columns, seem,
rule. to have been able to do rapidly and easily.
But the general testimony In Brooklyn is that the
mode Of voting has added largely 10 the work
OF the canvassers. and considerable number OF
them have already informed the Commissioners
that they will not be willing TO in that
pacity another year. 1t is the intention OF the
Commissioners to send circular all the
vassers asking for suggestions to changes In
the present law which this years experience has
suggested 10 their minds. II is hoped In this way
obtain practical information that will be OF
value 10 the Legislature when the work Of amend
ing the ballot law is taken UP. II is admitted
on ell hands that changes in 1t will be neces
sary and the plan Of getting the ideas OF those
who have had practical experience with the law
and can compare 1t with the old system Is clearly
The trouble in the canvassine entirely from
straight ballots was easy enough. 1t this cir
s TuSav Ssb6r the hat M 4on naa
elected Mayor. The first reports were favorable
from districts in Democratic wards, where nearly
all the voting had been done straight. and where
When the districts in which many split ballots had
been cast began to send in their returns the vote
a1though between il and iao o'clock the districts
heard from showed a plurality Of about 400 Tor
a. m. or soon after, and from that time Wurster's
plurality steadily increased For the hrst time the
showed that Grout was probably elected by loVr
AN ELECTION OFFICIALS OPINION.
A citizen of exceptional intelligence who has
acted as an election official in OF the districts
on the Hill for score OF years or more. was
asked for his opinion Of the new ballot law, on
the day after election We'll" he replied, Il
must say that IL gave us a great deal OF trouble
But there trouble with the straight tickets
We sorted those out and counted them quickly, and
II seemed as If were going to have an easier
lob that ever II they had all been straight tick
cts we could have got through our work had the
books all written UP and been ready to 60 nome by
about o'clock. But when we came TO handle the
split tickets there no end OF bother 1t was
40 o'clock In the morning before we were able to
get through with IT, whereas under the old system
ua were almost always able 20 finish up by II or
u o'clock
Gust how to simplify the work do not yet see
Something would be gained If the ballots could De
made somewhat smaller; II is, II is impossible
20 handle them with anything Ike ease on an ord-
nary table. They are too big 30, 90 hot see e me
ent columns and should say that this ought not TO
be permitted OF course, the noveity OF lhe ming
sume the dificuity Will be less another year Put
Of making the S %3T6 81 ESSs onf
,wo-Ns,hs OF the ballots In our distrlci were split;
those that were split IN the same ne b veTy
bic variety in the way some Of the ballots were
aTfsS and caused sSpR ehd oHs
There were only two ballots vitiated by wrong
ma outside OF the circle in which he should
49, nut IL and as the law Is specific on that
noint he ballot he'd to be thrown out. do not
recall the defect IL the other al TINS moment me
Ling In the district done promptly and with
sSsn There were only two spoiled ballots; that
.s mon made wrong marks. and as they Couldn't
IS ~ me. .hnm they had TO come back for another
eaiiot In one case a man had difficulty in folding
b,s ballot which would seem 20 be an easy oper-
ee-,ecia,lv as II is folded In advance OF being
daeIvysred hut this couldn't get II right anu
Yea 60 he sent back to do II over again. IL was
iau oonton OF the election officials after he had
s M p;it that he had been crookng his arm too
Sften during the day
THE HOURS FOR REGISTRATION.
r-,srs is one point which the Election Com
-,..,o,ers are agreed-namely, that the law should
on,.d 40 that the registration places can BE-
Le,t omen all day. Until three or four years ago
49, roe,sters we're accustomed to take vacation
~ ~ ach a q registration