Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-12-04
ISSUING ELECTION CERTIFICATES.


There is considerable complaint over
the delay IN Issuing certificates OF cleo
ton 10 those persons who, In Salt Lake
county, received majority OF votes
for various legislative and county
officers. This county seems to be the
ouly one where there 10 any diintory
tendency or whore there attaches any
suspicion Of working some scheme;
and there should be no occasion OF
complaint here. The law controlling
the matter is very clear, no question
having been raised as to its validity,
whatever may be thought OF nm
other stntute bearing on another
branch OF election work. The CANVASS
Of the returns has been made, the re-
suit haa been officially declared by
the county canvaasing board's de-
termination that certain persons have
been elected, and the certificates OF
election are now overdue. Any un-
necessary delay in their Issue is an
unlawful ae, upon the part OF min.
isterial nicer, punishable by a fine
OF not more than thousand dollars or
by Incarceration In the State prieon for
not more than five years, or both tine
and imprisonment. The matter OF
fixing bonds has nothing to do with
the issue OF certificates to the officers
elect; the certificates must fret
issue. and the giving Of bonds
is n condition.precedent to assum-
ing the duties Of office; the hx-
ing OF bonds belongs wholly to an
other department of cfficial procedure.
Under the law, the county commits.
tionsrs, asa canvassing board, "must
declare elected the persons having the
highest number Of votes given for each
office to be filled by the votes OF a single
county or subdivision thereof" In
Salt Lake county this has been done;
the officers thus affected being men,
beers OF the Legislature. county officials,
etc. The law then directs that 'the
county clerk must Immediately make
out and deliver to such persons GER
,ificate OF election signed by him and
authenticated with his SEAL" This Is
sue OF certificates follows nextupon
the declaration Of the result; there is
no intervening action, no question OF
bonds, no waiting for sup
posed prospective contest to material
ize, and DO chicanery or arrogant put.
ting of; nothing but a reasonable time
In which to make out and authenti.
cate the certificates OF election. In
this county those certificates should
have been Issued in one day, or at the
most two days, after the capvassing
board declared the result, the time be.
Ing ample, Now that considerably
more than that period has elapsed,
good cause exists for complaining Of
unnecessary, hence unlawful, delay.
The Inconsistency OF holding back
such certificates will be easily recog.
nized when it is remembered that
II the official on whom dev0lves
the duty OF issue had been favorable
to the ofiiceIs.elect, and there had
been probability OF contest, his
whole office force likely would
have been tumbling over itself 10
tho eagerness to get the certificates
ready. Such promptness in discharg.
ing al official duty is not TO be com.
planned Of, but no just Nicer will 20
to the other extreme when political
opponents are concerned. But since
delay lie complained OF, II au inciiua.
ton to hold back is discernible, 1t is In
order for the county commissioners to
take cognizance thereo', and TO zee
that their order in pursuance OF cub.
division 5, section 81, OF the law Of
April IA, the county government law,
is carried out In regard TO the iAsue Of
election certiacstss. Il. or the other
hand, there has hoen no un.
seAsonable neglect in this ra.tsr, the
speedy coming forth OF those cortiH.
Gates will be acceptable evidence that
the many complaints OF delay have
been made in undue haste.