The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-03-29

guards not required in the smal. ! muni-
cipalitles. In the two great cities of this
state there exists an element of popula-
ktion of character almost unknown even
In cities of the second-class. They are
distributing points as we'll as the receive
ing points of immigration. They are the
temporary homes of those who live by
crime and the winter and early spring
asylums of the floating populations; in
them the ballot-box stuffer has more than
once worked his trade and the profess
Slonal voter has voted often and early. If
there is to be intimidation of voters or
the purchase of votes or fraudulent re-
turns of the votes cast made cities of
the first-ciass are selected. In the smaller
municipalities large percentage of the
taxpayers are property owners and tax
payers; in the large cities the property
owner and the taxpayer are almost the
exception.
I'm the smaller cities most of the voters
live near their place of business and can
find time to vote at charter elections; in
the great cities the workingman, is en-
gagged frequently from five to seven miles
from the place where he must cast his
vote In fact, the vote polled in Novem-
Der in Newark is about $4,000, while in
April it is only 81, 800.
In cities of the first-class there cannot
be full, fair and uninfluenced election
unless surrounded by great safeguards
and unless the election takes place upon
a legal holiday.
1T has also been found from practical
experience that in order to secure clean
election 1t must take place upon the
same day fixed for the general election
IN this State and also for New York and
Pennsylvania there must be other places
than Newark and Jersey City to engage
the attention of the professional voter
The two great essentials TO fair vote
are: First, that the election shall take
place on holidey when all can vote, and
when those interested in good govern
ment have the time to see that the vote
ia honestly cast and correctly counted.
al cl,
have other and more lucrative field in
which to ply their trade.
The expense of conducting elections in
cities of the first-clasS has become almost
an intolerable burden; the last municipal
election of the city of Newark required
the printing of one million ballots, and
the expense to the city was, as I am
informed in excess of twenty thousand
dollars.
"The expense of those interested in
good government and to members of each
of the great political parties has also be-
come too great to be borne. In order to
secure an honest election it requires a
careful canvass from house to house for
the purpose of verifying the registers
say. detectives in New York, detectives
in Philadelphia, detectives at all the rail-
road stations and detectives at many of
the polling places.
chinery as elaborate as that used in elee-
tion and at almost equal cost. There
must be an enrolment of the voters and
officers for the purpose of such enroll
ment with days set apart for that pur-
pose. There must also be printed ballots
officers of election and places used for the
greater part of the day rented at great
expense.
ITO cast such a burden Of expense upon
the office holders or upon the political
parties or upon those interested in good
government out of the parties is unfair"
He next contended that the act was
constitutional and that it provided
method of holding an election.
Mr.. N.cDermott replied to Messrs.
Weart. Corbin and Riker briefly, clos
ing the argument. He asked what was
the trouble with Camden, Paterson and
other cities. Why should those great
blessings which this measure was to be-
stow upon Jersey City and Newark not
be bestowed on those cities as we'll? There
was no reason for this distinction The
workingmen in second-class cities were
as much entitled to the advantages of the
act as were those in first-class cities. 1t
has been the tendency of other States to
separate as far as possible State and Ma
tionaI affairs from municipal matters.
This act was passed in order to effect
the municipal elections with national
politics.
The Court gave no intimation when a
decision would be given, but said it would
be in time to have an election If they
should decide against the act.