The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-08-11
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS TO
THE BAKER BALLOT ACT.
Major Barnett Explains.


teen Of the ballot law Of 1888. Hun
dreds Of nomination papers were filed
in this Office during last years cam
, paign, many Of them being very defee-
tive. The general practice Of the per-
sons filing these papers was TO delay
until the last day, thus allowing them
selves no time for correction Of such
papers A. were decided 10 be improper
Many Of them came with thousands Of
names upon them, having an affidavit
made by five persons that ali the per
sons whose names were on the paper
were qualified voters.
This was manifestly absurd, a.
such fact was entirely beyond their
knowledge. \ great many papers
came in also fastened loosely by pins,
- that any number Of these loose
sheets could have been inserted after
ward without the knowledge OF those
making the affidavit In order 10 OBJ
viate this difficulty section three was
amended % provide that blank forms
for making such nominations shall be
furnished by the Secretary of the Com
mOnwealth, and No other forms than the
ones % prescribed shall be used for such
purpose.
a great deal Of difficulty was also
OceasiOned by different political bodies
selecting the same name This pro-
duced much confusion and contention.
and in order 10 avoid this the follow
ing amendment was also made 10 sec
ton three:
a. Provided, That if five Of the cleo
tors composing any political bOdirs
making a nomination by nomination
papers shall file with the prOthOnotary
Of the county in which the nomination
paper or papers are 20 II fled an affi-
davit setting forth that they have
adopted a certain political appellatiOn
70 designate their policy, subject 10
the Limitations Of this act regarding
I the selection OF names, that hereafter
such political body shall have the ex
/ elusive right % u-e the said name or
I apPellaIiOn for the election for which
sIeh nomination or nominations are
I made. Provided that certificate from
I the prOthonOtary setting forth such
Z compliance with the act be fled With
the nomination papers filed BY such
I political BODY
section four WAS amended TO cover
/ the decision Of the Dauphin county
I court in Brackenride's case, where IL
Was decided that the prOyiso Of section
/ four Of the act Of lSaS l. confined 10
nomination papers which follow Ger
/ tificates Of nomination made by 4 con-
ventiOn Of delegates, the single case
/ which il expreSses), and l. not 10 be
I construed 70 cover nomination papers
/ which follow certificates Of nOmina-
I ton made, not by conventions Of dele
gates, bat by primary meeting Of elec-
tors or caucus held under the rules Of a
I political party which az the election
next preceding pOIled al least two per
cent OF the larges. entire vote for any
Office east ia the State. In order 10
make the section harmonic with see
ton two the words or primary meet
I ing Of electors or caucus held under the
rules Of 4 political party or any board
authorized TO certify nominations were
inserted . that none Of the party ap-
pelatiOns used by any OF these nOmi-
mating sgeneies can be used hereafter
in nomination papers
''In section five Of the act Of ls93 the
word representatives was omitted, al
/ though the word senator's was inelud-
( ed in specifying the offices for which
nominations should be filed in the Of
/ ice OF the Secretary Of the Common
wealth IL was decided by the Dau-
/ phin county court some time ago that
[ certificates Of nomination for the Office
Of representative should Be filed with
/ the Secretary Of the COmmOn wealth,
but the omission Of the word still Oe-
cIsiOned some confusion, and during
/ the last session Of the Legislature one
/ contested election case was decided
/ upon the fact that the member whose
seat was contested had fled his eertifi-
cate Of nomination with the County
Commissioners OF Northumberland
county instead Of with the Secretary Of
| the Commonwealth
an the amended section the word
/ representatives has been inserted. II
Is also provided in the amendment To
this section that certificates Of nOmina-
ton which are TO be fled in the Office
Of the Secretary Of the Common
wealth shall be filed at least fOrty-twO
days before the day of election, in-
ste ,d OF twenty-eight- Oae Of the
amendments to section six provides
that where objections are filed to any
certificates Of nomination with nOmi-
nation papers, such objections must
also be filed with the officer or officers
with whom such certificates or papers
have been filed whether the Secretary
/ Of the Commonwealth or county COM
missioners notice that objection has
been made.
Owing to the contests in the Dau~
phin county court last f=ll. il was i'm
possible for this Office to give the eOun-
/ " commissioners timely notice a. 10
the size aud composition OF the official
ballot, thereby producing great deal
of annoyance, a. many Of the county
commissioners depended upon outside
p rites 10 print their ballots. This
/ viii be avoided 10 some extent hereafter
by another amendment 20 section six,
which provides that objections 70 GER
tifiea,es of nomination filed with the
Secretary Of the Commonwealth must
De made thirty-fiye days before the
election instead OF twenty-One. and in
the ease Of nomination papers twenty
eight days before the election instead
Of eighteen This will afford the court
an opportunity 10 dispose OF contested
cases in time TO give county commits
siOners due notice as 10 the size, etc, Of
the official ballot
The ballot under the act Of lSsS has
been growing larger and more un-
wieIdy each year. Some limitation
/ had To he pat upon its size, and this