New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-11
FAVORING THE NEW Bile
ELECTION OFFICIALS APPROVE SENATOR
RArNEss MEASURE.

| THEY THINK THE BILL WILL SIMPLIFY I'm
PREPARATION AND HANDLING OF BAILOrs
| AND MAKE LESS WORK FOR POLL.
| CLERKS ON ELECTION DAY
The members Of the Board OF Elections -
Brooklyn went to Albany last February 10 -.
Senator John Raines and suggest to him cp,.
| tain changes In the election law. They haA
been investigating the subject for some TINA
and decided that before the Raines measur.
be disposed Of their ideas to some needed
changes should be presented They were soma.
what doubtful as to the success with which
their efforts would be attended. and wer.
greatly surprised when the Senator from Canaa.
daigua not only received their suggestions. bu.
| told them that he would be glad T.. receive ann
further proposals for the simplifcation OF ths
| Ballot low that might occur to them.
Later, however. Mr.. Raines decided that he
best plan would be to frame an entirely nev
law for the State and to embody In Il the sue.
gest.cns OF the Brooklyn Board OF Election
The bill was introduced into the Senate a fsv
weeks ago. the rule was temporarily suspended
and the bill was placed on the order OF thru
reading and referred to the judiciary Com
mittee. The bill had hearing before that
committee on Wednesday. the result OF which
has not as yet been made public.
A Tribune reporter called at the Board q
Elections yesterday. and both President Georse
E. Moulton and Treasurer Jacob w. ErreeeR
expressed their views on the new bill. Com.
missioner Moulton said that the new bill was Q
great improvement over the old one and b
hoped II might become a law. He continued:
We found the election law badly in need Of certain
improvements. and thought II good plan to have
them embodied in the new law and we suggested
nhcro f changes
Senator Ranes Is to make the law UNIFORM through.
as far back az 1872 some wholly and others partly
The law will be practically a substitute for ~
existing laws throushout the state
voting easier. and the canvassing OF the votes
simpler. At present when voter wants 10 mark
and cast a split ticket. he may put cross mark
In the circle at the head OF the ticket and then
name or names on other tickets which he prefers
to corresponding names on the llcke, above which
only straight ticket be marked by putting :
cross the circle In other cases where the ticket
placed TO the left of every name voted for. This
would prevent the putting OF cross marx 10 the
another cross plark-perhaps a faint one-In front
OF a name away OF In another corner OF the ballot
thus confusing the count. I believe that the sys.
TEN prevailing has had the effect OF lettering
who wants 70 scratch name or SO on ms pasrv
making his ballot invalid. This probably prevented
some Independent voting. We think that the new
The previous method was somewhat complex and
the new law will confne the marking OF ballots %
two ways only. so that the possibility OF a MISTAKE
Will be practically removed.
Another important change Is me question OF can
vassins the votes. That. by the proposed law, IL
systematized In such manner that the duties Of the
canvassers Will be greatly smpliied The Oh
cult for the canvassers to understand. in many
Instances. who II was Intended 10 vote for but
according TO the new law all this difficulty viii 30
Another clause in the new law and one that
will be welcomed by every election official. pro:
vldes that all election officials will be exempted
from Jury duty FOR one year from the date OF az.
pontnent. Formerly only the canvsssers came
officers we're at any time likely TO be called upon
to serve as jurymen Hereafter they can n rest easy
this score. Then the number OF election ON"
reduced to eight Formerly twelve men DID did, n: n:
as registrars during the four days OF registration
previous to Election Day and on Election Day
viii be increased thresSOd. Last year We had two
spec,ors VIM do ths work Of all eight; a..
ballot bill is to repeal that portion Of the prayioS.
law which permitted an oral count Of the yotes@
It might be demanded By any of the election ON
Gals watcher thereby unnecessarily ons'rass
tons oral counts will be permitted 49,.
That disagreeable feature OF the old Law xhea
registration to be made by the registrars Will b
eliminated from the new law. The old law re:
uuirei that an entry De maze IN tne Fekissefs OF
the height weight, color Of hair visible marks on
face. peculiarItes Of voice and other dls,lnsusnns
dofornitiss OF any kind" That feature OF the law
had a tendency TO deter sensitive men from being
registered and the law was found 10 be practically
useless since the returns showed that the registrars
had been unable TO accurately describe the features
OF those who applied for registration. except n
few instances.
Much credit and praise IL due to Senator Ranee
for working honestly 10 make gooi law IN
place OF the one We have at present. which Is ex:
ceeiingly ambiguous in It's language and full OF
flaws. II the Rainos bill becomes a Law and
hope Il will. there will he much for rejoicing
among the election officials and voters throughout
the State. II shows the result OF careful study and
is written in plain language. so that there can b
no mistake TO Its meaning. II certainly receives
our hearty Endorsement.
There is another little provision In the law which,
although not an Important one. Is certainly COM
mendable II requires that the polls shall open
at o'clock In the morning and close at ) In the
afternoon. This will give people who are obliged
to go to their work early chance 10 vote For.
merly the polls opened at sunrise and closed q