The San Francisco call., 1896-07-29
TROUBLESOME
ELECTION LAWS,
Registrar w. M. Hinton's
Version of Their OPP
Grafton.
THE PEOPLE CONFUSED.
There Is Comparatively Little
of Intentional Fraud
He Thinks.
INCREASE OF REGISTRATION.
Course Taken With All Applicants
for Appointment as Election
Officers.
INCREASE OF REGISTRATION

"Under the present new election law"
said Registrar William Nj. Hinton, 'there
exists general confusion of thought,
but comparatively little intention al
fraud. For instance, a man came
here the other day and within fif-
teen minutes had registered himself
from two distinct precincts. When
my attenti on was called to it sent for the
man, and after carefully cross-examining
him came to the conclusion that he was
entirely innocent of any intentional fraud.
He was simply excited and confused.
Under given conditions, you know, such
things are sure to occur.
GA higher moral tone, think, prevails
this year among the representatives of
both the Republican and Democratic par
ties than at the election two years ago.
have more time for the printing and puri-
fication of the register than formerly and
the results are sure to be beneficial.
"There are cases of men who apply for
appointments as election officers who,
upon investigation, are found not to be resi-
dents of the precincts rom where they
make applications. All such names are
promptly rejected, also all applicants who
served upon boards of election in which
there was proved to have been any fraudu-
lenl registration.
"All applicants for appointment are re-
ported upon originally by the accredited
representatives of their respective political
parties and then subjected to an investiga-
ton by my deputies. My report is filed
with the Board of Election Commissioners
and its final decision is based upon the
ascertained facts, the parties, when neces-
sary, being cited to appear before the Com
missioners. As a rule, when men find
that they have made mistake as to the
precinct IN which they reside they with
draw their application without any
contest.
1.-THE changes in the boundaries and
numbers of the several election precincts
have naturally been productive of a great
deal of confusion among electors, but /
think there is less fraud now than there
was two years ago. The daily newspapers
make many sensational and unauthorized
statements, which are calculated to excite
and misIead the people.
$50 far only half dozen men have been
cited to appear before the Board of Elec-
tion Commissioners TO show cause why
their names should not be stricken from
the register. Two OF them were convicted
of false swearing as to their places of resi-
dence and three were disqualified because
they could not read the English language.
"The total registration at the City Hall
IN 1894 was AZ, 24s, while this year the reg
istration to date is 4S,030, with six more
days to run. Unless ii is STAYED by an or
der of the Supreme Court, there will be
precinct registration this year, beginning
Monday, August 3, at 8 A. NJ, and ending
Monday, August 10, at 10 P. NJ. This will
give every qualified elector fair chance to
get registered. Of course, whenever l find
any cases of seemingly fraudulent registra-
ton / report them to the Grand Jury. and
in the administration of the business of
my Office | take all possible precautions
to prevent fraud and to secure an honest
registration of voters, irrespective of the
political party to which they may belong"