The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-22

The anxiously anticipated report of
the board Of trades committee on legis-
lation and taxes was presented at last
nights meeting. 1t occasioned little
discussion. The members seemed TO
think that the questions involved were
of too momentous a nature for inn
promptu disposition and it was con-
cluded to defer action on it until next
meeting, the secretary. in the mean
time, being directed TO have the report
printed and furnished to the members.
The report in full is appended
40 the Board of Trade:
Horr committee on legislation and taxes,
'" which was referred the letter of J. NJ.
I\cmmerer Of September s, 1885, relating
- election contests ard the election of n
mayor. respectfully axe the following
report:
rhe lcttc. of Mr.. licmmcrcr is as fol-
lows:
scranton, Pa, sept g. 1898.
ID. II. Athcrton. Secretary.
Dear Sir | will be- out Of the city
Monday night and want To present some
important work for the proper commit
tees for the coming winter.
The taApt yCrs of tho county and city
must have legislation to relieve them of
election contests | have 1t on good au-
thoritr that The present treasurcr's con-
test VIII ccst about $4,000 Nv opinion is
That we ask all Of the boGrds OF the state
10 petition our next Legislature to enact
- law 10 relieve us. ULdcr the present
law any defeated candidate may contest
at the countys expense, and might divide
Tees with commissioners authorized to
examine the votes ana voters.
we must elect a mayor. cut OC politics,
without e2 pCnse UhC salary belongs 60
sis, 81 nd x,sttl tl,,,,st
ises. This Is not politics but business
"Respoctfully you're.
(Signed) y. NJ. IIcmmprcr,"
NON-F4 RTIsAN MAYOR.
With reference to the election of a
mayor out OF politics and without ex-
pense. your committee believe that If
iault can be found with what mas oc-
CURED in the past the trouble lies Drin-
cipally with the business men themselves.
Absorbed I'm their enterprises they give
no attention to their political dutics-tu-
lies as urgent and as important as any
business. For instance, the primaries
which should he attended by hundreds of
citizens in every election district are
generally neglected hy all but a few. ana
or that few bare one Or two attend for
AN unselhsh purpose. Also. few business
men care to be delegates to a convention
10 nominate candidate for mayor or a
candidate for any office. Attention to
both of these means trouble and annoy-
ance TO the ordinary business man with
no corresponding personal gain. Your
committee believe that the election of q
mayor should not be taken cut of politics
but business men should go into politics
whether ii be to attend "A caucus or vote
for president of the United states.
In this discussion which has arisen from
Mr.. Kcmmercrs letter. the suggestion
hAn hot Ia
election contests be taken from the courts
and vested in some new tribunal or COM
mission. We find no assurance that any
commission or other tribunal TO whicn
this jurisdiction might Dc Committe1
would command any more fully the conf
dence Of the people or be able to secure
any more satisfactorily the results de-
sired. An election contest so frequently
calls for an Interpretation of the law Us
well as Il finding of facts that an indc-
pendent commission woulG be I'm effect
the establishment OF a new court. whicn
is unnecessary. It is believed that the
remedy is to be sought I'm other directions
Some of the changes suggested are: UD
n more strict registration law, to the
end that Illegal votes be more perfectly
kept out Of the boxes: (2l the abolition of
the numbering of the ballots. to insure IN
absolutely secret ballot: 80 n simpler
form of affidavit for nOn-registerol
voters: "a a change in the law permitting
the voter with defective affidavit to prove
his right to have voted ana have his vote
counted instead of having a defective af-
fidavit absolutely decisive against the
vote; CD provision fer the recountinC Of
the votes in court upon a proper showing
OF ground for suspicious and 90 the en-
fniccmont Of sections ana o. article s.
of the constitution of Pennsylvania, which
reads as follows:
SOME ELECTION LAW.
amy person who shall give, or promise
or offer to give to an elcCtOr, any money,
reward, or other Naluablc consideration
for his vote at All election, or for with
holding the Same, or who shall give or
promise to give, such consideration to any
"the" person or party for such electors
vote, or for the Withholding thereof ana
ANY clCCtor who shall receive, or agree TO
receive. for himself or for another. any
money, reward or other valuable consid.