Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-08-13
Limited Period for New RegIstra-
ton is Not Profitable
NOT sufficient 60 Accommodate the
People Loss Ia Time 60 citizens
Not Good Public Policy,
Provo Aug, 10, 1900.

AA"N'f ahNbu ~ A'rr'
To the Editor
Your very timely editorial EN-.
titled important 20 Voters IL
Saturdays News. go addition TO
giving valuable information TO the
voters. calls attention to the necessity
for a change In the statute relating
20 registration.
Five days in which TO register all the
voters In a voting district containing
three hundred voters, is not sufficient
time to do the work. II The registry
agent works the entire thirteen hours
OF each day, he has thirteen minutes
In which to register a voter. If the
voters appeared in such uninterrupted
succession az to keep the officer con-
stantly employed he might IL com
petent," accomplish the work. and
when his work IN examining into the
status Of naturalzed citizens and hear
ing and dispOsing 81 challenges o. con-
sidered Il viii readily be seen that he
would have no time 70 spare. But the
voters win not. and cannot, appear in
that order, and the result will be that
all the voters cannot be registered, uu-
less the registry agent works longer
than thirteen hours day. which he, NO
doubt, would have a legal right 10 do,
although the moral right 20 ask him 20
do 80 might be questionable.
You say that the present law makes
saving TO the county In this, that the
expense 10 the county Is less than the
expense % house-to-house canvass
That Is. OF course. true But when the
expense Of each voter, In time lost by
going 10 the registry agents office
waiting to be registered. etc, Is taken
into account the expense Of the regis
tration will be materially increased. An
average OF one hours time spent by
each voter IN registering going 90 the
office, waiting there and returning-is
a very conservative estimate. That Is
800 hours-thirtY days OF ten hours
each-and no one will claim that 10
would take the registry agent that
length OF time TO register 300 voters
by a house toulouse canvass. And the
expense In either case. whether paid
from the county treasury or contributed
I'm time by each voter, is practically,
paid by the same individuals. When
the unavoidable wear and tear on the
temper OF such voters as are compelled
10 walt an hour or two for their turn,
or 20 make two or more trips 90 the
office. Is considered, the expense Of the
present system viii be intellectually
greater than the expense OF the old
system, for there are very few persons
who can take evaporation Of that kline
hom9opathically
Then the county commissioners DC
not select only well qualified persons
for the Office OF registry agent and
Tor this they are not so much 90 blame
for the reason that they do not know al
Of the agents they appoint The law
provides that three names shall De sub
mitted by the chairman N the party en-
titled 10 the registry agent In "a district
and the commissioners select the agen
from these three names OF course IN
chairman Is presumed 10 select name
OF competent persons. and probably al
ways selects such persons as could d
the work under the house-tO-hOus
method, where they could take plent
Of time for 81, but competent person
(under the present SYSTEM are ne
nearly 50 numerous as the applicant
and very seldom apply II also harper
that tho commissioners. II they are
opposite political complexion 20 "a
registry agent, whom they must al
point. Will select the least qualified
the three where names are submitte
on the grounds that he can DO the
the least harm, or that they VIII
able TO do the most good for their par
by having an incompetent regisu
agent, which amounts % the san
thing. This is good working poliu
n the party managers OF the minou
In the district take advantage OF
aud prevent as many voters from regl
tering as they can. without any .
fraction OF the law.
II is useless 20 say that this shou
not be done. Applied politics Is not
system of morality And the only thl
TO do is 20 prevent. as far as possib
any opportunity for any man or par
10 do anything that tends TO abrd
the political rights of opponents.
IL would be unfair for me TO saw Oh
the present statute was enacted for
purpose OF giving an advantage
either party. and Il Is not charitable
saw II was enacted for the purpose
saving expense That reflects too
verely upon the intelligence OF the ID
islature The best that can Zoe sal,
as can be said OF many acts upon
statute books--is that u was plaC
there without due consideration, q
the application Of such ordinary col
mon sense as should Doe used in matte
OF much less Importance
Many citizens Will be deprived OF Oh
right 10 vote because they cannot sp.
the necessary time 90 register and q
tunately. this will work more To- the
advantage OF those whose patriot
impels them 10 serve their country
making laws, than TO the dIsodvant.
OF those whose political ambition e'
with voting for the law makers "a
therefore. the law VIII be ehanE.l