The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-22
BOARD OF TRADE ON
POLITICAL MATTERS


given rise. 1t is said to twenty election |
contests in the state this year. (D II |
would tend to seizure more perfectly tho |
absolute secrecy of the ballot, which has |
ever been considered of the highest ina |
portance. Under the present law, voter
who votes a straight ticket marks one |
mark. If he wishes to show to the party |
watcher that he votes n straight ticket, |
he can and does make his one cross quick |
ly and come out of the booth before nc
would have had time to make the larger
number of marks Uhrteen in November, |
1889, necessary In case he votes full
split ticket. If the proposed form of ball
lot were used every person voting would
make a cross opposite the name of every
person for whom he desired TO vote G)
Doing away with the mark at the head of
the column, would prevent the dlsen-
franchisement of the large number,of citl-
Zens who as the returns show every year,
under this present law are confused by
the double marking system (6) The pro-
posed change would tend strongly to dis
courage bribery and Is In the interests of
fair, free and equal election. 20 1t would
tend to secure better candidates, as The
candidates would have to depend more
upon their own strength and less upon
party connection and improper influences.
(O The Pennsylvania law as 1t stands
now has been construed widely different
qualification by different Judges. 1t ia
manifest that there should be uniformity
in this particular throughout the state,
and the direct way of securing this would
seem to be by having the general as
scmbly declare and define the term.
FOR BALLOT REFORM.
An association has been formed in Phil
adelphia, composed of men prominent i'll
both parties of which Hon. John Rus
sell Young, eX-minister TO China, is pres
idcnt and Hon. Daniel Agnew, eX-chief
justice; Hon. James y. Beaver, eX-gov-
ernor; Hon. Chauncey +. Black, ex-lieu-
tenant governor; Hon. Wayne MacVeagn,
cX-attorney general of the United States;
Judge Hare of the common pleas, Samuel
Dickson, eX-president of the State Bar
association; eX-Postmaster Field, Judge
Mitchell, of Tioga county; Senator Emory,
OF Mexican county, are among the vice
presidents. This association is formu-
lating an act proposed to be introduced
in the Legislature nt this next session tor
the correction OF these suggested defects
in the present law somewhat along the
lines above stated.
The proposed correction of the ballot
laws seems to have also the endorsement
| of the leading newspapers OF the state.
| Among those who have spoken favor
| ably of it editorially since the recent ciaa-
| llpll lltlS bt llltllllOll''A lut lllNlulItI,
| Press, Times, Record, Public Ledger If
| Philadelphia. 1t would appear that there
| Is now reasonable prospect of securing
| the proposed amendment.
| Your committee respectfully recon-
| mend the adoption of the following reso-
| lutioDS:
| Resolved. first, That the present bal
| lot law of Pennsylvania should be amend
ed so as to provide for the grouping of
| the names of the candidates under the
| names of the offices to be filled instead Of
| in party columns and each candidate 8
name should appear but once. The mark
| ing IN the circle should be done away
| with and what constitutes a disability so
as to allow the voter to take another per-
son into the booth. should be clearly de-
| fined and restricted within reasonable
| bounds.
| Resolved. second That our senator
and representatives are requested TO favor
such amC ndments
Resolved, third, That the secretary Of
the board is requested to communicate
| with the association in Philadelphia, So
| cure copies of the proposed act and fur
nish same to our senator and representa-
tives with request for their views there
ON, and that he lay the same before the
board at its December meeting"
SUGGESTED STRAW BALLOT.
When the main report was before the
| board. Joseph Levy advised that the
| board do something practical i'm the
| matter of starting a movement for a
! non-political mayor and suggested that
the board, then and there, take a straw
ballot to test the sentiment of the mem
| bers as to who would make a good
nominee to recommend to the people.
The suggestion was not seconded.
| President Keller remarked that the
| board of trade could not consistently
do anything more than recommend to
both political parties that they nomi-
nate good men. If the recommendation
We're adopted the city would then sure
| ly see a good mayor elected.
Colonel Hitchcock spoke of a citizens
municipal reform league as a very de-
sirahle thing along the line of a non
| political city administration and Mr..
| Kemmerer, who originally brought up
the question, elaborated upon the ideas
| contained in his letter
At the opening of the meeting Pres
| ident Keller announced that the man.
| ufacturers' committee was looking for
| backing for a most desirable new in
dustry. Some difficulty is being eX-
perlenced because of the large amount
Of Scranton capital that of late has
gone into New Mexico development and
the individual operators new road
This industry now offered the city, is
however, one that he feels contiden,
will be literally supported when oul
capitalists are made acquainted with
it, and he hoped by Jan. to convince
the board that its manufacturers com.
mittee is not idle.
Mr.. Henshaw brought up the question
of the poor police protection on the
hill" and it was referred to a com.
mittee. Mr.. HenwoOd and Secretary
Atherton were instrumental In hav.
ing the board declare in favor of g
speedy passage Of the new Legislation
necessary to make the Providence pave
a reality.
Secretary Atherton's plan for ISSUING
a monthly publication to be known a,
the Board Of Trade Journal, was fav
orably received and referred to tn,
publication committee.
Mr. Kemmerer, for the committee or
transportation, reported that the Della
ware and Hudson company is consid
ering a suggestion to move it's freigh
depot from its present inconvenien
location to point near the passenger
station.
A. B Dunning was elected to mem
bership, and the following application,
were received: Frank Silliman, jr., r
i, Prendergast, John G.. Hoffnagle anC
lsadore Krotosky.
DIPHTHERIA NOT ABATING.