The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-22
REGISTRARS READY FOR WORK.
THE REGISTRATION LISTS TURNED
OVER TO THEM.


VIII PrOceed-Attorney General
TerreIPs Opinion on Severne Inn
pOrtant POints-BOth Factions
Ready with Complaints.
The new board of registrars for Chat
ham county will begin it's work in the
grand jury room of the superior court at 10
o'clock this morning. The board consists
Of Mr. r. NJ. Hitch. for the Citizens Club;
Mr. E. S. Elliott, for the Liberal Club, and
Mr., w. b. Stubs for the populists and
prohlbitionists.
The board met yesterday afternoon at
the office of Mr.. Elliott. AT o'clock the
members called at the office of Tax Col
lector j. ]. MCGOWAN and received from
him the lists of registered voters, the list
of disqualified voters who have failed to
pay taxes due by them since the adoption
of the constitution of 1877, as made up
from his books, the list of persons dis
qualified by reason of convictions for fell
ony during the same time, furnished by
the clerk of the superior court, and the
list of convictions for lunacy since 1877,
furnished by the ordinary.
is 6,621, there are fully that many names
on the disqualified tax list, most of whom,
no doubt, are dead or removed from this
county. About 800 on the felons' list and
about $50 on the lunacy list. 1t will be no
small task for the registrars to verify
each of the 5000, and odd names on the
registry list especially when 1t is known
| that each of the local parties is prepared
| to hand in this morning complaints
| against 800 to 400 voters each, the removal
| of whose names will be asked on various
| grounds. The registrars have only thir-
teen days in which to do this work, and
| 1t is very likely that they will be kept
busy up to the eve of election.
The registrars prepared the following
statement at their meeting.
"Inasmuch as our time is limited, we
| suggest that all parties at interest present
to us at the earliest possible date, and in
any event not later than Thursday, Sept.
| "a, the names of such persons as are
claimed to be illegally registered, specify
ing distinctly the alleged cause Of such
I Illegal registration, together with such
| proof as they may have in support of the
charge. One days notice of the time and
place of hearing will be given to all par
ties on whom the board of registration
| are to pass Judgment.
| The qualifications of a voter we under
| stand to be as follows:
l. He must be a citizen of the United
| States.
2 He must be at least q years of age on
CT before the date Of the election.
g. He must have resided in this state
| one year and in this county six months
next preceding the date of the election.
4. He must have paid all taxes required
of him since the adoption of the constttu-
| ton of 1877.
5. He must not be disqualified by con-
viction of any crime, as set forth In the
| constitution and laws of Georgia.
| 6. He must not be disqualified for any
| other reason set forth In the constitution
or laws of Georgia.
we further suggest that each name
| given to the registrars for judgment should
be accompanied by a statement in sub
stance as follows:
|. Name and address, and race, of
voter complained of, and district in which
he is registered.
2. Statement of cause of disqualification
as specified in one or more OF the SIX
classes named above.
g. Names and addresses of witnesses to
be sworn, and description OF documents
to be produced in support of the accusa-
ton.
l. Oath of person making accusation tc
truth of same.
The registrars we're furnished last nigh;
plies to inquiries made by him of
the attorney general and the controller
general. Mr.. Lawrence made these ill-
quiries for his own information while a
member of the board of registrars. The
statements made therein are Important as
they bear especially upon the main feat
ures of the purging of the registration.
The letters are as follows:
| Col Alexander A. Lawrence, Savannah
Ca: Dear Sir-Yours Of the 14th instant
asking me eight questions as to the gen.
eraI registration law has been received
and take pleasure In submitting the fol
lowing in reply:
l. Where a persons name appears upon
the voters books and upon the list Of dis
qualified voters, / think the burden is
upon the voter to show TO the satisfaction
Of the registrars that the disqualification
has been removed or does not exist
| 2. Where a persons name appears upon
the voters books and does not appear
upon the list of disqualified voters, the
burden is upon those attacking his right
to vote to show his disqualification.
3. Where a persons name appears upon
the voters books and also upon the list OF
disqualified voters, he may remove the
disqualification at any time before the reg
strars have passed upon his name, or
completed the list of registered voters.
a. / seriously doubt the propriety of reg
istrars, considering evidence by affidavits
| Iney snOulu CeTldlnly not 10 50 except
In very extreme cases. Where the testi-
mony of person is to be introduced such
person ought to appear in person or by
interrogatores 80 as to give the opposite
party the right of ton.
5. I think the term competent writ
ten evidence" as used in section eight of
the law means receipts, pardons, certn-
Gates, etc. It most certainly does not
mean affidavits.
g. The law should be construed liber-
ally In behalf of the right to vote.
Z. Where a reasonable doubt arising
from the evidence or want of evidence
exists in the minds OF the registrars, !
think II would be proper for them to give
the voter the benefit of same.
s. Tax collectors are authorized to col
lect only the taxes due from their re-
spective counties. and the controller gem
eral cannot authorize the tax collector
OF one county to collect the taxes due
another county.
trust that the above fully answers the
questions submitted, but would have you
remember that have no authority TO Or
hcally determine same, hence you mus.