The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-19
D. B, HILL FINDS A NEW ISSUE
DEMOCRATS TO UNITE AGAINST
THE FORCE BILL.
A Piece of Outrageous Republican
Legislation Which, the ex-Sena-
tor Thinks, Will Overshadow the
Financial Question.

Albany, n. Y, July 1S.-Former Gov
ernor D. B. Hill, speaking of the met
ropolitan election law, just passed by
the New York legislature, said:
"A measure has been passed of a
most extraordinary and dangerous
character, violating every principle of
orderly legislation, conceded to be spe-
cial in its nature and attempted to be
justified upon assumptions which are
as insulting as they are false
In brief, this remarkable law Gre
ate new civil division in the state, to
be known as a metropolitan elections
law, not co-eXtensive with the state,
but limited to particular localities
The principle of home rule, so dear
to every citizen who understands and
appreciates the true theory of our
state and local governments, is I'M
blushingly antagonized, repudiated and
set aside.
THE law is based upon the assump-
ton that the people of the city of New
York are unable or unwilling to hon
estly enforce the election and registra-
ton laws at their own home, and hence
that the state has a legal constitutional
right to usurp such functions, ignor-
ing local officials. local sentiments and
local instrument2lities l denounce
such assumption as false and often
sive. 1t is a partisan bugaboo, con-
cocted to secure partisan advantages
and used as an excuse to provide for
partisan faVoritism.
There was never any necessity nor
demand for this measure. and every
conservative and Independent newspa-
per in the state so comedies.
I believe this law to be violative of
the spirit and letter of the constitu-
ton. The law is not only insolent and
dishonest as a whole, but some of its
provisions are unprecedented and pos
itively dangerous. The deputy superin-
tendents, 200 in all, are permitted by
section of the act, to visit and inspect
any house in the city of New York.
The words visit and inspect are broad
words, and confer vast powers. This
power OF inspection is nothing more
nor less than a right of Search and
violates the constitutional provisions
which declares that the people shall be
secure in their houses against such I'M
reasonable searches.
This law is not only an attack upon
the Tammany Hall Democracy. but
will be regarded as an insult by every
Democrat throughout the state 1t
outrages not only Tammany Demo-
Gratis, but Democrats of every faction
of that city. 1t gives to the Democracy
a new issue-the issue of equal citizen
snip tine issue or uniform legislation
for Democratic and Republican locali-
ties, the issue of home rule for munich
palities VS.. state force bill. 1t will
absolutely unite the Democracy of the
state. It viii cement fractional divis-
ions; it Will overshadow all differences
upon financial questions; it will slrfoor-
dinate personal contentious, and this
fall the unnecessary and gratuitous in
suit involved in this force bill will
arouse a spirit of Indignation among
not only Democrats. but fair minded
men of all parties, which, augmenting
as the campaign progresses. will teach |
an intolerant Republican faction les
son which they have not had since 1882, !
when they boldly forged a committee |
mans proxy, and Will insure the tri- |
umphant election of the Democratic |
state ticket and a Democratic legisla- |
ture. These are the signs of the |
times.'"