The record-union., 1898-12-07

11lC LII (C aiAi3 oa4iddlJ i, 4OO1, d RSI
iod of two years and five months will
have elapsed from the date Of occupa-
ton until the elector becomes entitled
to cast a vote. The present writer
knows Of many cases in which men CT
Intelligence and position have not been
able to cast q vote for many years,
owing to frequent changes OF residence.
In one case, that of a responsible jour-
nalist, the victim has not been able to
vote at any election during his life,
never having succeeded in getting onto
the Parliamentary register in a year
during which an election has taken
place.
During the current revision of the
registers numerous instances of dis
qualification for being few days short
of the requisite residence have occurred,
and hardly better illustration of the
working of the system could be found
than the disqualification of General Sir
Hugh Cough, Keeper of the Queens
Jewels.
To some extent the trouble of quail
flying by residence is mitigated by per-
mitting the qualification to be made up
by the successive occupation of differ
ent residences; but this only applies
to the successive occupation of resi-
dences within the same borough, and
does not apply to dodgers at all.
Some extraordinary anomalies result
from this arrangement. In one case a
tradesman living on the east side Of
Edgeware Road, and paying 600 q
year in rent, moved to the west side,
and lost his vote, because one side is
r. Dr1 rrfn nj y1n-
bone; whereas a tenement holder pay
| ing three shillingi a week who removed
from Great Titchfield street to ST.
Johns Wood, and thence to High
street Marylebone, within the year, re-
tained his vote by successive occupa-
ton, having never moved outside the
Parliamentary borough.
This brings US again upon the griev-
ance Of that nice young man." the
1lodger. The tenement occupier, paying
half a crown or three shillings a week
for his room, may move, as we have
seen, anywhere and as often as he
pleases within the borough without
breaking his period of qualification The
lodger paying ESQ or f1OO a year may
not move next door without having to
btgin his qualification over again.
SOME CURIOUS INCIDENTS.
curious but not by any means in
frequent case came before a revising
berrister in South London. A gentle
man who had been on the register as a
looger became the householder He
was struck off the list as lodger on
the ground that he had ceased to be a
lodger, and his claim as a householder
was disallowed because he had not been
long enough in occupation as a house
holder. Another very common case is
that Of the tenement occupier whose
landlord does him the honor of coming
to live on the premises. BY this move
the landlord reduces all his tenants to
the political status of lodgers, and per-
haps disqualifies them altogether-since
the lodger must pay minimunj rent of
four shillings week.
Some amusing cases are furnished by
the attempts of eager politicians who
have the misfortune to be dodgers to
qualify for the franchise. It is no un
common thing for such to voluntarily
offer a higher rent SO as to reach the
minimum of four shillings. During the
present revision some Of the revising
barristers have gone behind the rent
books Of the claimants and declared
their dodgers not to, be of the weekly
value of four shillings. The most anus
ing instance is that Of a curate whose
lodging was held by his political op-
ponents to be Of less value than he
declared. The barrister gave the rev.
erend gentleman the benefit vof the
doubt, but made it matter of con-
science that the curate should not ex-
ercise the vote if, after consideration
and meditation" he felt that he was
not morally entitled to it.-London
Mail.