The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-25
VOTE COUNTING
Shall it Be Done by Board
of CanvaSSerS?
Hearing On the Bill by House
Judiciary Committee.
An Amendment Submitted to In
crease Salaries to $2500.

There was an interesting hearing pe-
fore the judiciary committee Of the House
of Representatives this afternoon on the
merits of the returning board bill pre-
sented yesterday by Mr.. Studley.
Assistant city solicitor Baker, who drew
up the bill, was the first speaker In favor
OF its passage.
His listeners were chairman Blodgett
and Representatives StudIey, Covell and
Batchellor of the committee, City So
lcicItor Colwell, General Brayton, Hon.
II H. Wilson, registration commissioners
Stone, Smith and Blo1gett and Attorney
Hayes.
The principal objection to the bill,
which was published In full In yesterdays
News, as indicated by the questions put
to MIR. Baker. was in relation TO the Sec
tion providing for a right Of appeal from
the decisions of the hoard of registration
TO the Supreme Court.
Chairman Blodgett asked Mr.. Baker IL
he thought that, under the constitution,
they were authorized to impose on the
judicial department OF the state govern
ment, what might be called political
duties?
Mr.. Baker replied that there 10 nothing
in the constitution to forbid.
So far as the Judicial powers given TO
the proposed Board by section and 8,
Mr.. Baker claimed that, to arrive at the
best results, the members should have
the necessary authority to prevent fraud
and all other violations OF the election
laws. Ii would merely give them the d is
cretionary power exercised by all return.
ing boards.
Section 9, Mr.. Baker said, provided
for a new departure from the laws OF the
~,.I1 ol-<. ~
appellate division OF the Supreme Court
an appellate board of registration.
Mr.. Wilson asked IL there ever had been
a case in the State when there had been
such objection TO the action of any board
OF canvassers as TO make an appeal To
higher court necessary. MIR. Baker said
that he had never heard OF one but that
the section was put in in accordance with
the instructions of the City Council
| The main provision of Section q is that
O person aggrieved at hearing his name
removed may go TO court. There was con-
siderable opposition to this on the ground
that ii Is unnecessary, and would impose
upon the court duties that might be
avoided IL the individual voters would
attend to their own business.
Commissioner John T.. Blodgett stated
that he had submitted q copy OF the bill
to several OF the judges OF the Supreme
Court, and that they had objected to tbs
reason that they did not care to have the
Court brought into politics
Mr.. Blodgett, also explained that tho
clause in the Council resolution calling
Tor the act which provides Tor appeal
was not in the resolution asked for by
the Board of Registration, but was tackled
on as an amendement by Councilman
West.
Commissioners Blodge.t also referred To
the charges which have been brought
against the Board for removing names
and stated that the frauds had never
been in removing the names, but In put
ting on nam illegally by cid boards OF
canvgsstrs.
MIR. Blodge,t then suggested what he coz
sders to be necessary additions to the
bill, providing that the Board Of Regis-
tration shall have charge OF the norina-
tion papers aud the distribution OF the
ballots. With these additions. he said,
there would be distinct department OF
elections created, and all the work would
be logically under one head.
He submitted formal amendment to
the committee, providing for such addi-
tiors.
In conclusion 1t was stated By Mr..
Blodgett that should the bill pass, the du-
ties OF the Board would be greatly In
creased and that its members should re-
ceive larger salaries than these now paid
ty the city, $500 a year in addition 10
certain fees ollowed by state law. 10 COW
err this point he offered another amend
ment, fixing the ANIMAL compensation of
the commissioners, by State law, at 5000
apiece which shall be- received in place OF
the present salaries and the fees.
Chairman stone Of the registration
commission reviewed the work which
has been accomplished bv himself and
his two associates and argued hat they
should receive greater compensation.
City solicitor Colwell said that hc
wished 10 place himself on record rs be-
lieving in the beard aud in the efficiency
and faithfulness Of its members. But on
the other hand, Solicitor lolwsll said
that in his official capacity he could only
advocate what had teen asked for b. the
City Council and must oppose any legis-
latiou net germiane to the bill drawn "a
accordance with the Council resolution.
Therefore, he objected 10 the amendments
offered by Commissioner Blodgett, pai-
ticularly the one foi on increase OF ssla .
ries.
lie said that the matter Of compen'st-
ing city officers is matter for the city
to settle.
Commissioner Blodgett replied that the
mem bers of the loard are not. strictly
speaking, city officers, but members Of a
commission created by a special statute
and working for the good OF the state.
He then asked for fair living salary.
Assistant City solicitor Baker oppozed
the salary amendment and said that =,
increase Of over 100 rer cent wcs aased
for while the extra duties imposed by The
hill would not require more than two
weeks In any ordinary year.