Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-25

ss a prerequisite to voting is not based
upon any sound reasoning. Like the
proposition to make elective certain
County officers now appointed By the
Governor, IL is mainly the result Of
Republican partisaDship. Ii ia to the
advantage Of the Republican party Of
Delaware to make suffrage az cheap
and irresponsible as possible.
From al economic point Of view, it
wonld be hardship upon the counties
10 abolish the poll tar without substi-
fGting some othsr form Of revenue in
its stead. There are already sufficient
burdens upon real and personal prop
erfy. with a margin existing between
the tax levies and the expenditures in
each OF the three counties. To impose
further burdens IN this direction would
be unjust.
The proposed registration fee would
more than make up for the poll tax.
even IL the sum imposed upon each
voter should be less in amount than the
existing poll tax. The registration fee
is to be paid when the citizen rsgistera,
plan which will prov ide for the col.
lection OF the tax without any addi-
tionsl cost Tie entire revenue,
therefore. would go into the county
treasures, whereas considerable por-
tion Of tho poll tax is los. 10 commits.
Riors and other costs Of collection.
1t 10 urged IN opposition that the
impoaition of a registration fee would be
a. great source Of political corruption
and bribery as the poll tax ever Was,
hut this can be guarded against. Il ia
true that. without restrictions, party
purses would supply the funds for the
repatriation fees, the same aa they have
in the past for poll taxes. But it
should be borne In mind that suffrage
reform is now the watchword in Della
ware, and that the Constitutional Con.
ventIon in session at Dover 10 working
TO make this reform effective.
One OF the remsdial measures pro-
posed is the right to exact of any appli.
cant for registration, upon proper chal.
ienge, an oath or affirmation to the
effect that be has not accepted bribe
or payment for hia Yots, in any way,
shape or form. This oath or aifrma-
ton can be 40 worded rs to cover the
registration fee so that any citizen who
should permit this fee, to be paid for
him by any other agency whatever
would run the rick Of disfranchisement
or prosecution for perjury. Couple
with these safeguards adequate punish.
ment for perjury, and as fair system
for an honest suffrage az could be de-
viaeu is permanently secured.
1t 10 not well to make suffrage too
cheap or too easy. The proposed
registration fes--fifty cents has been
suggested, and a dollar should be the
maximum limit-would not oppress
any voter. And by paying it himself,
out OF his own pocket, he would thereby
be the owner Of his own vote and not
heholdon to any other man or to any
political organization. The tax would
virtually collect itself, and all of il
would go into tho county treasures.
Clearly, the proposed system of q
registration fee, rightfully guarded,
has everything to commend it and
nothing in it's disfavor,
Bradstreet's review OF business for
the past week is as follows: "General
trade shows more Improvement, features
OF which are the advances for BesseneI
pig iron, steel bullets, stesl rails, some
grades Of wool, raw sugar, Indian corn,
pork and lard and for print cloths,
with an upward tendency for leather,
together with number OF metal and
textile industrial establishments which
have reopened within the week and an
Improvement in recent railway earn.
ingB. There ia better demand for dr.,
goods, clothing, shoes, paint, lumber
and architectural iron, but material
increases in request for general NOR,
chandise are moro conspicuous at
Chicago, st. Louis and Now Yurl
than elsewhere, Paterson silk mill
also have found an improvement in tbs
condition Of and outlook for business
Mercantile collections continue slow
and in Texas requests from I'M srio
arc moro numerous than before.
Total busineDa failures throughout tn
country have Increased, numbering 30
this week, compared with 30I las
week, 276 in tho third week of FBbruar
1896, 1877 in the like week of 1885, 80
in tho corresponding period in 1894
and 202 in the like week of 1888. Their
we're 1877 suspensions and failures O
banks, bankers and loan and trust com
panieH in the Unitod States last year
compared with l3l in 1895, only SO il
1894. and contragted with 593 ia tin
panic year 1883, when tho total o
estimated liabilities, amounting 4
moro than $l7Q, 600, 900, was less thai
Total indicated asscts. :"
The American Federatonist, an in
fuential organ OF tradea uuionism, hs
this to Hay about tho arbitration treaty
PcrhapU there are no classes of neon
IN the United Status or Great Britai
who have a greater interest thai thi
trea ~ DO ratified than tho WACO Garner
Ut both cOuutrics. War in at hos
brutal and an arbtrpment by force O
arms ever unsatisfactory The worker
Of the world from time immemcrig
have been those who have had to fac
the brunt Of baltic and sacrifice tupf
liVeH in thu find Nkpr. ba,,o ,,,.,,s =,