The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1895-01-18
and recommend that you make proper legisla-
tion for the purpose.
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The Election In wss

can De done only In obedience to the law which
was made and intended to prevail In every part
and section of the state. That the law ie NOT
favored by one or many individuals Is no en-
cnse for its violation. The individual has no
election but 20 obey. His right to vote depends
upon his observance OF the law, and IL ne votes
In violation OF it he is guilty OF criminal offense
and should be punished. The officers
holding elections who violate the statutes are
guilty OF perjury and should be punished for the
crime. The law for furnishing viOlaters is
ample, but not enforced. Communities that re-
solve to violate also resolve not TO punish.
These conditions can be met only by further
restrictions in the manner of conducting elec-
uons. More supervision and guarding are needed
at the polls. Several Of the States have adopted
such policy. 1t will be well to provide more
safeguards at the polls, such as requiring the
judges to indorse the ballot with their names or
Initials and with number of ballot, and at the
same time have a clerk, or clerks, whose sworn
duty it shall be to record such number with
names of the elector or voter, and also making
IL the duty of the officers OF election to carefully
preserve every ballot for at least twelve months
after the election. Each officer ofelectiOn should
be required TO be present when the ballots are
counted and filed for preservation, and make
| sworn certificate TO the fact that none but
ballots legally poIed are included, OF his
presence and witnessing such counting and
fling, and deposit i'm a secure box, which shall
be sealed and placed in some safe place, to be
Kept twelve months, or until called for by such
authority as the law may direct. Instead OF
making returns Of the general results. the sherifs
should be required to return the full vote OF
each civil district, together with tally-sheets
and poll books. The law should be so amended
as to require registration of voters only once in
two years. but providing for registration in the
meantime Of such as may become of age or move
Into the cities or civil districts and those who
have failed to register for good cause and should
apply to every civil district in the State. The
certificate of registration to be issued with
sufficient number of coupons, one to be taken
of for each election, or else to be stamped show
ing when and at what election or elections used.
There should be some legislation requiring per-
sons claiming to be EXEMPT from the payment
of poll tax By reason of age or in6rmity to show
by satisfactory evidence they are exempt. In
case Of inflrmity the record of the court or a
proper copy should be exhibited. In case of age
the aflidavits of the party might be required.
State Board of Health.
The Department of Public Health, organized
first in 1877, with limited means and powers and
in 1879 furnished with authority and means for
efficient work because OF the pressing want felt
for such an organization during the epidemic of
yellow fever in 1873, has continually grown in
public favor, since which time its usefulness has
time and again been exemplifed by the skillful
management Of smallpox and other communi-
cable diseases. The dreaded pestilence, small
pox, has, during that time, caused great alarm
and heavy losses in several States widely apars,
as in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Wisconsin.
During the winter of 1884 it appeared at diff
ferent times in three divisions in Tennessee. In
variably IL was met with promptness. There
was no alarm and no epidemic, but there was
the utmost vigilance. The successful manage
ment of the threatened invasion of smallpox
tested fully the value and efficiency of the sys-
tenn which connects the county and municipal
boards Of health with state cooperation. The
remotest and most inaccessible neighbOrhoOd
in Tennessee is thus brought into direct COM
munication with the capital and when necessary
receives such help as at once places it on par
with the large cities, where fully equipped local
provision for such cases is maintained. Thus,
at a comparatively small cost to the State, heavy
losses both of life and commerce are prevented
and all the people provided with safeguards
against epidemic invasiOns. The last General
Assembly enacted two laws which greatly en-
large the usefulness and labors of this depart
ment. The one is an act to prevent the spread
of communicable diseases, and the other an act
to prevent the spread of communicable diseases
among animals.
No Money Appropriated.
The latter provided for the appointment of a
State veterinary surgeon, and intelligent super
vision by the State Board of Health of all COM
municable diseases occurring among domestic
animals in Tennessee. This is a measure Of
great practical value and wisdom, but no APP
preparation was made by which its ample pro-
visions could be properly executed. 1t is but
right and just to the enormous live stock in
terestS in the State that sufficient appropria
tion should be made to carry out the law TO its
full extent. BY means of the extensive distri-
button of circulars giving information as to
communicable diseases both of man and beast
and indicating means of prevention and the sys-
tematie circulation of the monthly bulletin of
the State Board of Health, the Tennessee public
have been kept well informed and much interest
awakened.
Altar, Cradle and Grave.
What is now imperatively needed is a system
of registering all marriages, births and deaths
in Tennessee. This is the foundation of all in
telIigent civil administration, as well as sani-
tary progress, and should receive our careful
attention. Many calls are made on the State
Board of Health for the inspection and chemical
analysis of manufactured and mixed foods and
drinks, including water supplies for municipal
and domestic uses. Hence the board should be
provided with ample facilities to enable them to
establish properly eqipped laboratory in which
this work can be carefully and reliably done.
State Librarian.
Chapter 90, acts of 1s93 makes it the duty of
the Governor to appoint a librarian to be in |
charge of the State library. 1t has been the |
custom of the Legislature, before the passage of
this act, to elect a librarian, and for number |
of years women have been chosen. l am of the |
opinion the appointing power of the Governor is |
not authorized to appoint woman, but must, |
il he exercises the power at all under the statute
appoint man. The library is more especially |
under the control and supervision of the Su- |
preme Court than any other department 1
therefore recommend that the authority to ap- |
point be conferred on the Supreme Court, with |
librarian, as may appear best in its judgment.
State TFeasurer's Report.
1 submit with this message the reports OF the |
comptroller and treasurer, which show the |
State TO be in good financial condition, as COM
pared to the previous years since the late war. |
This condition can be greatly improved by |
judciOus legislation. While / commend the |
entire reports for their careful and satisfactory
statements, call your particular notice to the |
items of cost for criminal prosecutions. As the |
efficient treasurer expresses it: 'These amounts i
are enormous; they are steadily increasing" |
They present strong reasons for decided modi- |
fication of the Criminal Code.
University of Tennessee.
1 submit the Report of the Board Of Trus-
tees OF the University of Tennessee and in
vite attention to the accompanying letter of |
President Dabney, suggesting further legisla-
tion. suggest the appointment of joint com
mittee from the two houses TO inquire and re-
port as to the matters suggested.
Department of Agriculture.
direct careful attention to the report of