The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-24
Warrants for State Elec-
tiOn Are Posted.
Why the Hour of Sunset is
Included in City Notes.
Secretary of State Sends Out a
Letter of Instructions.

City Clerk Clarke has had the warrants
for the election posted in conspicuous
places about the city and some OF those
who take the trouble to read them are
asking why the city clerk should have ta-
ken the trouble to include in the warrant
the time of sunset on the day OF election.
Formerly, when the polls opened al
sunrise and closed at sunset, 1t was neces'
sary. of course, to state the time OF the
rising and setting OF the sun, but now
when the polls open at sunrise and close
at fixed hour, O'Clock, the stating OF
the sunset hour appears TO be matter ol
supererogation. Section 10 of Chapter
of the General Laws provides that the
ward meetings in the cities OF Providence,
Pawtucket, Woonsocket and Central
until o'clock in the evening, ana no
longer. From this one would judge that
the time of the setting of the sun need
not be stated in the election warrant. so
City Clerk Clarke,thought at first, but on
examining the election law he found that
section of Chspter provides that ward
meetings i'm cities "shall be named and
organized as Is or may be by laws, or the
charters of such cities porvided, and
shall be held at the times by law APP
pointed; and the city clerk OF the city oil
Providence shall in the warrant calling
such meetings state the time OF the rising
and setting of the sun on the days OF
such meetings."
Plainly this provision was unintention-
ally left in the statutes but the city clerk
didn't propose to take the responsibility
of doing what the Legislature had left
undone. he consulted the city solicitor,
who ruled that while the requirement OF
including the time OF the setting OF the
sun was absurd, it was still law and as
such would have to be complies with un-
til the General Assembly saw ft to repeal
1t. Acting on this opinion City Clerk
Clarke included the miniature almanac
required by section in the election war
rant.
Secretary OF State Bennett has sent to
the various city and town CLERKS the fol-
lowing letter of instructions concerning
the election to be held on the first day OF
the coming month:
In accordance with section 9, chapter
16 of the general laws, which requires the
Secretary of State to furnish each town
and ward clerk with printed forms of re-
turns, and certain information relative to
the election of general officers, 1 herewith
send the following:
1. A blank certificate OF the number OF
votes or ballots for each OF the several en-
didates for general officers, which are to
be signed by the moderator or warden,
and sent with the ballots inside Of the
package.
2. A wrapper with suitable address and
certificate TO be signed by the moderator
or warden and by the town, ward or dis
trjct clerk In which the ballots are to be
sealed up in open meeting.
3. Your special attention is called to
the fact that the portion OF the ballots
upon whicn are the names of the candi-
dates for general officers of the State is to
be separated, insopen town meeting, from
the portion of the ballot upon which are
the names of the candidates for Senator
and Representative in the General As
sembly.
a. The ballots upon which are the
names Cf the candidstes for general
officers latter being separated from the
counted by the moderator or warden,
and by the town, district, or ward clerk,
and sealed up in open town meeting
in the wrapper herewith provided for
that purpose and endorsed "Enclosed are
all the ballots for general officers"
8. The package OF votes for general
officers, sealed and certified by the
moderator and clerks of towns and dis
tircts, and the wardens and ward clerks
OF cities aud of the voting districts OF
wards in cities. (as prescribed in Section
IL OF Chapter 10 of the General Laws,
are to be delivered to the Secretary oI
State with in five days after election.
6. In the case of wards OF cities and
voting districts of towns or wards, be
particular to give the number of the
ward and the number of the voting dis
trict.
Z. The ballots upon which are the
names of the candidates for members OF
the General Assembly, latter being sep.
arated from that portion OF the ballot
upon which are the names of candidates
for general officers, are to be examined
by the moderators/ or wardens, and
town, ward, or district clerks, Woo are
forthwith thereafter to seal up and de
liver the same to the town or city clerk.
as prescribed In Chapter TO- Section 10 OF
the general laws, TO which section ex.
press attention is hereby called.
3. The supervisors are TO personally
supervise the opening of the ballot boxe !,
the distribution OF the ballots, and the
sorting, counting, certifying, sealing ur
and returning of the ballots: but thev are
in no case to touch or handle the ballots
except as authorized by law.
Q. For more particular directions as tc
your duties, as well as to insure correct
returns, your attention Is directed tc
Chapter 10 OF the General Laws "Of the
manner of conducting elections, ana tc
Chapter IL of the General Laws "Of e.ec.
tipnt W cfNitA
10. All ballots Will be furnished and
sent from this Office.
IL. All ballols not used and all ballot.
defaced by voters and not used must b,
carefully saved and returned TO the city
or town clerk.
Up to noon today all but fifteen OF the
132 supervisors appointed to serve at tn,
State election had qualified. Some o
those who have not yet done so hav,
notified the city clerk Of their intention
| OF dong so, and the time will tie giyer
the Others TO come in and he sworn e
the fai hful performance OF their duthes
| The law provides That persons who fail Il
notify the city clerk OF their aocoptanc,
or deoiination OF the Office of supervise
within forty-eight hours OF receiving
notice OF their appointment shall b,
| deemed to have declined TO serve, bu
there is no disposition 10 enforce TIN
| provision too rigorOusly so reasonable op
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