Evening journal., 1898-05-02
ACT WISELY, OR NOT AT ALL.


greater Importance has come under its
consideration at this adjourned session.
In the consideration Of these important
matters, however, we enjoin upon the
members the Importance Of considering
the political conditions that exist in a
densely populated community as
against those in a more sparsely settled
section Of the state. The bill providing
for the registration Of voters, as pre-
pared by the legal commission and
passed by the House and now pending
in the Senate, is, we think, fatally de-
fective in many particulars. The ex-
perience OF several years in the man
agement Of registrations and elections
in the city of Wilmington has proved
beyond a doubt that the Department Of
Elections as an appointive and super
vising body is Indispensable. To abolish
that body now would be a mistake that
would be fruitful Of disastrous conse-
Quencos. 1t would be impossible for the
governor to make the appointments Of
registration officers in the city OF Will
mington to either his own satisfaction
or the satisfaction Of the body polite.
No one would doubt that in making
such appointments the governor would
OF necessity be compelled to rely
wholly upon the recommendation OF
other persons who have no RESPONSE
bility in the matter Such a system
would be unjust to the governor as well
as unsatisfactory in its effects.
The bill as passed by the House is
wholly irreconcilable with the provls-
ions Of the act providing for the purity
of primary elections enacted by the
members Of the present General AS
sembly at its regular session. By the
terms Of that act primary elections are
TO be conducted subsequent to the reg
istratiOn for the general election, at
which registration independent books
containing the names Of persons quail
fed TO vote at primary elections are
made From these books the primary
elections are conducted, thereby secur-
ing the purity Of primary elections. No
more popular law has been enacted
than the primary election law, which
law was not enacted before it was
greatly needed. 1t should not be in
terfered with by either direct or indi-
rect legislation. Under the provisions
of the registration bill passed by the
House the confusion, if 1T should be-
come a law, would be so geat that II
would be next to impossible to hold
primaries in New Castle county, be-
cause, as has been said, only such per-
sons can vote at such primaries as have
been registered, and the days for regis
tration are not until the last Saturday
OF August and the first three Saturdays
in September, leaving no reasonable
time for holding primary elections be-
fore the general election. This condi-
tlon would surround the election with
such doubt and uncertainty as would
lead to protracted litigation and it may
be said that any ticket nominated by
either OF the great political parties foi
the suffrages Of the people would moi
be free of question when it came to bC
printed on the official ballot by the
clerk OF the peace.
II can be contended with great force
that the wholesale appointments OF mi
nor officers by the executive Of a com.
monwealth detracts from the exaltet
position of the governor, and drags hin
and his Office into petty political dis
putes and scandals The General AS
sembly should not lose sight of the at
tempt on the part of the Constitutions
Convention to elevate the office of gov
ernOr by adding to his duties those O
a legislative character which increas
his responsibilities and give a highe
tone TO that exalted office, at the sam
time relieving him Of many dutie
which have heretofore been debasing
disagreeable or embarrassing. In tn
light OF past experience we do not hest
tate to say that the attempt to rein
state the governor to the appointmen
OF such officers is a step backward. w
hope the Senate will give this matte
very careful consideration and will lis
ten to the representations Of competen
and Trustworthy men who are infOrme
of the political necessities of this cit
and state. 1t is not too late for the Ser
ate to repair theinjury threatened by th
bill passed by the House. The senator
could do an infinitely greater service I
the state by preventing any legislatio
upon the subject of registration inal
much ais the Constitution in Section
Of Article V legalizes the present regis
tration laws, Notwithstanding the lac
OF uniformity, in the following lai
guage:
The existing laws in reference to u
registration Of voters so far as consis
ent with the provisions Of this artie
shall continue in force until the &c,
eral Assembly shall otherwise provide
BY this provision it will be seen tn
the Department OF Elections, with /
control over the registrations and ele
tions in the city OF Wilmington. is pr
served If the senators will make