New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-23
FOR HONEST ELECTIONS.

FOR HONEST ELECTIONS.
The Police Board yesterday began work upon
one Of the most important of all the duties that
lie before it, That is. the reformation OF the
Rureau Of Elections. II is trtc to say there IS
crv;nr need of such reform. The appalling DIS
closures of 1Sa39l are still fresh in mind. ana
ora enough to damn the old regime beyond re-
dountion For wears the election officers had
noon appointed nomnay by the Police Board,
INT really by the party bosses The bosses made
ont lists of nance for inspectors and clerks. ana
,hc Commissioners accepted and appointed them
Wholesale The result was that the men WHO
conducted the elections in this city were largely
or the genus known as 'hcclers. Many OF lh'lh
were uli,crate Many were VIGOROUSLY dishon-
est. Not few had actually been convicted "a
nonal offences against the Election laws. AS IA
r,lle they were selected not because OF their III
moss 70 be public servants. but because thcy
would look out for the interests OF their parry VI
Of some particular candidate. Had the ''S"''
been any other than it was. namely ueplu'"'"
bollot-box and a dishonest election 1t would nave
been a matter Of surprise.
So strong was the popular revulsloh asalnS'
This system last year that there has been ihucn
talk OF separating the Bureau Of Elections from
the Police Department altogether Ihat mas
heen done in Brooklyn. with various results
F,vervthinr of course. depends upon the 'oiliiHiS
sioners of Election. Such men as Mayor Schicr'h
Amounted on Tuesday may be depehaeI upo"
10 give the city honest elections. 80 mere III u'
pends upon the Police Commissioners anu II -
certainly as easy to get four Ponce 'oinlh'SS''n
ers who will do right as to get four romeo 'o'n-
mssioners and four Commissioners OF Eiec'lohs
who will do right. There have Deeh men Oh '"'
Police Board who would not have gwen Us non
est elections had they been INDEPENDENT 'oIh
mjssioners Of Elections any more IMAM Inc! u'u
rs chiefs Of the mismanaged ana corrupt Toh'e
Department The present Police commissioners
may be trusted to do their utmost 10 insure HUH
est elections just as much as though they were
Of the head Of an independent department 1or
that sole purpose.
What the Police Board proposes to do, as eX-
plained Yesterday by President Roosevelt IL Sill
ple enough 1t is merely 10 comply WIN Inc IT,
ouirements OF the law and of comlnohS'h"e.
The election officers must. as heretofore DC Sc
lected from the two chief political parncs nail
Of them from each. But the Board Will not, as
former Boards have DONE bndy accept ana
oppoint the nominees Of the party bosses. or as
trict leaders, wholesale. 1t will not regard such
nomination as conclusive and absolute assurance
of the mems fitness. 1t WILL instead examine
the candidates. individually. so as 10 ascertain
their intellectual and moral qualifications for the
placcs they are to fill If any men Of bad char
meter are found upon the lists, or any who can
not uderstandngy read and write the English
language they will be rejected, no matter what
district leader they are followers Of. True, the
election officers serve the public for only Few
DAYS Rut they serve in n most important ca.
nocity: pcrhaps the most important OF all In
those few days they may make or mar the work
OF wears II Is only rational, then. that The III
most care should be exercised In selecting them.
inst as much as though they were TO serve for
life.
This we understand from Mr.. Rooscyell's re-
marks Is what the Police Board means TO do.
II will not altogether please the bosses BIZ ana
LITTLE. But then, ministering TO the pleasure of
the bosses is not after all, the ehicf object OF
government. And 1t will entail much work upon
the Commissioners Of Police; more, perhaps than
they imagine, though not more than they are
willing and able 10 undertake. nor more tlih
in lust fulflment Of their duty. they should per
FORM II Is entirely proper, however, Tor 'he
Commissioners TO invite AS they do, the co-opcra
tO' ~ the general puDilc III 'hIs "''"' '''' "'
hope that invitation will be widely responded
TO. All good citizens recognize the importance
Of watching the polls. and challenging unqualified
or suspicious voters. More Important stu Is II
to watch the recruiting Of the official army thai
Is TO have charge Of the registry and polling ana
to make sure there are no traitors in It's ranks
1t is great undertaking. this fight for homes
elections, and there is none that may more proht
ably engage the best attention, not only OF Tho
Police Commissioners but Of every friend OF
good government.