The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-24
Bill Has Been introduced
in the Senate.
ITS PROVISIONS RADICAL.
Citizens Must Be Permitted 10 Vote
II They Take Oath.
OTHER FEATURES OF MEASURE

There Is a bill now pending in the
State Senate which, If passed by the Leg
islstare. will make some very radical
changes in the present method OF holding
the primary meetings Of the several
political parties. the term political party
to apply to any party which at the next
preceding annual election polled for gov
ernor at least three per cent of the entire
vote cast in the stats for that office. The
mcst important feature of the bill lis that
which provides that all notices for hold
ing primary meetings SNAIL apply TO all
members uf the political party. whose
primary meetings ara TO be held pursuant
TO said notices, and TO them only.
NO person having voted In the primary
meeting of one political parry snail be
entitled TO vote or take part In the
primary meeting OF any other party hello
for the same purpose. Each town or
city committee may make reasonable
regulations, not inconsistent with the
provisions OF law. to determine member
ship In the party. ana To restrain others
than those who are entitled 10 vote at the
primary MEETINGS from attendance there
Mt or taking part therein; provided,
however. that no politicsl convention or
chairman or other officer Of n primary
1NbctlIR eIbll hnI NoNeI
| from voting or taking part In aDy
primary meeting. If such voter shall take
| the following oath. which shall be ad =
minis ersd TO him by the presiding officer
| Of any primary meeting, and the pre- S i'd
| ing officer Of any primary meeting is
hereby authorized aud empoYered TO adj
minister such oath. ''You solemn "
swear Cor affirm that you are regis.
tered votsr In this ward or town and
have the legal right TO vote In this
primary nesting, and intend to support
It's candi idates ut the polls at the election
next ensuing and that vou have not
taken port CT voted in the primary
meeting OF any other political party for
the nomination OF candidates, or for the
election of delegates to convention to
nom mate cand idates Tor the same pOlit-
ical Office or offices as thoss for non mat
ing which the present meeting Ia held SO
help you God. Tor this you do under the
pains ard penalties of perjury" such
voter shall, nevertheless, bs subject To
challenge. the same M any other voter.
The bill also provides that all delegates
and all candidates shall te nominated at
one primsry moe ting, exceTt that Irima-
ries for nomination of candidates to the
General A sssm bly, OF delegates TO conven-
tions NAV be called ana held during ths
second calendar week next presiding the
annual state election. It IL also provided
that the chairman and secretlry Of the
state COMMITTEES of each psrty shall file
their designations 81 days before the dste
on which primaries are TO ba held, with
the secretary of state. he TO fix tae date
for primaries in the order of time in which
ths designations have been filed In his
office In the case OF city or town COM
mittees, the designations aust be filed
with city or town clerk, except IN Provi.
dence, and there to the board Of canvas
sers and registration, III days before the
date on which the frs primary Is To be
held.
Recount of ballots and penalties are
also provided for, and the violation OF
any provisions OF the. act hy any putlic
o.iicsr calls for fine Of not lass than
$50 nor more than 800, or Imprisonment
in jail for not exceeding six months. 1t
also provides q similar penalty for the
one Who shall attempt to vots twice. TO
vote upon snothsr mans name, gives n
false affidavit or takes a falsl oatn. 4
similar penalty is provided for in the case
of one who aids or nbets n person in doing
the atove The same term OF imprison-
ment is provided DIso for any tamperiug e
with the ohepk list. Tbs act still further
says that the appellate and common pleas
divisions OF the Supreme Court shall have
full power In law or In sq1ity 10 enforce
the provisions of the act. aud also that m
officer may arrest without warrant any
one whom he sees violating any of the
provisions of tie proposed law.