The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-20
ELECTION LAWS
ARE ARRANGED,
Mr.. Buford Advocates His Bill Before
the House Committee. a..
BILL POSTPONED INDEFINITELY,
Mr.. Buford Says the Electoral Boards
Were Devised for the Purpose OF
Placing Absolute Political Pow
ers in the Hands of Politicians.

The House Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections held a brief
session yesterday morning in room
No. 8. on the upper floor Of the
Capitol building. The object Of the meet
ing was to give Mr.. T. p. Buford, the
member from Brunswick county, an op-
portunity OF addressing the body in be-
half of a bill introduced by him, which
seeks to abolish the electoral boards and
TO place their powers in the hands OF the
courts OF the several counties and cities.
Mr.. Buford said: Whether the present
law was satisfactory or not seems TO me
not an open question for debate. There
are too many dissatisfied people in this
State. and there is a strong sentiment
among some of the best people that the
present laws should be altered. With
view OF meeting the demands, 1 intro
duced nv bills. One Of them abolishes
the electoral boards in the cities ana
counties. and imposes the duties upon
the courts. thereby saving the State the
sum OF s. 900. IL this was done there
would be less necessity for the Leslsla-
ture 10 talk about measures that are
calculated 10 deplete the treasury
II the election laws do not secure
fair and proper opinion or the people
~ this state. then they will be disas-
irons 70 the treasury Of the state. our
criminal expenses have increased siganu-
caIlv during the past few years, ana the
state is too much embarrassed 10 pe
able 10 prosecute misdemeanor cases.
The question IS. therefore. whether the
people of Virginia are becoming more
criminal or the officers elected Dy lne
people do not do their full! duty toward
the treasury OF the State.
NO NECESSITY.
cannot see that there is any necessity
NJ electoral boards, which Is body that
Is more threatening TO the hoertles Oh VIC
neonle than anything else. a Favored
ARGUMENT is that in Virginia some means
have 10 be devised by which the votes
~ the colored population can be con-
troIled. In various States OF this Union
the courts had 20 pass upon
election frauds. In Virginia the
nol,tical mower IS completely with
in the control OF the election ofhcers
in the booth, and this is adverse 10 the
principles of a republic.
No man IS safe in the hands OF anoth-
er man unless the proper safeguards are
thrown around. The vice OF the elecuoh
laws in Virginia started with the elec-
torai hoard. There is no election con-
ducted in this state. but IN when
there are a large number or
neople entitled to vote under the Con-
sfitution who required the assistance OF
soma one I'm the booth. The most enectual
mode OF bribery is the power whlch thls
officer has by his influence with the hesl-
ers on the outside. and he has every op-
portunity OF intimidation towards the
man I'm the booth. inasmuch as some man
might be appointed 10 that ONCE VINO mas
the greatest influence over the iHltera'e
class. ., -
AS 10 the question OF fraud II tne
election officer chooses to do H. uhder the
Parker law, he has the very best Ohtnee
10 cheat the voter out or his vote WIN
ont anv fear Of detection. i nave Woiteu
as hard as any man for the interests 81
the Democratic party but uhuet -" |u1-
-. - corr,itted in the Southside by the
election officers It Is impossible 70 sane
,,or, srch occurrences. In one Of the pre-
c,ncts in nv county Of 80 white votes al
The recent election I received Is Tor the
cen, T now occupy. for Governor and
Cor ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and OF the lOl coll
cred votes I received i06. the other one
being one of the judges OF election. a
stool pigeon OF the electoral board, ana
vet the precinct was counted against me
by a majority Of l02 votes
THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS.
While all other rights Of the people are
anply protected by law, when II comes
70 he political rights all that is required
Is that a man 10 honest and gentleman.
The electoral boards were devised be-
reve 10 vest absolute political powers
inl the hands Of few politicians IN TINS
STATE. NV idea Is you cannot trust any
hoAv this A. not a question Of trust. We