The St. Louis Republic., 1901-02-18
Election Commissioners McCaffery
and kingsland Would Abolish
Final Registration Days.
AS TO DEPUTY COMMISSIONER.
Full Power of the Board Is Not
Conferred Upon Him-Discus-
sion Of the Minority Mem
ber's Authority.

&SsNAot SoiklinRsslOucfS hNNdihchy
and l.. d. Kingsland are of the opinion
operating successfully. SO far as st. Louis
Is concerned. and is superior In fits provi-
sions for preventing and detecting fraud
than was the old "Filley' law OF 1896
Both the Commissioners suggest an
amendment which they think would prove
beneficial. and that is the abolition of the
three final days of registration. or the sup
Elemental days. which they say afford an
opportunity for fraud. for the reason that
there might be an abnormal rush Of voters
desiring to register. and It would be an
impossibility TO complete the verifcation
of these lists in the time intervening be-
tween the final registration day and cleo
tion day.
MIR. Kinssland Opposes Final Days."
Concerning this feature. Mr.. Kingsland
said: This particular clause in the law
may be advantageously used by corrupt
politicians in either party. Several thousand
Illegal votes might be duly registered on
any one Of these days, and It would be i'm
possible to verify them by precinct compari-
son on account Of the short space of time.
1t is also true that this clause of the law
has its good features. For instance, q trav-
cling man. who had been out of the city.
or registered voter. who had changed his
residence. or the forgetful fellow who neg
lected TO register. should apply for either
registration or a change Of precinct. under
the new law they would be privileged so
to do. But in my opinion sufficient oppor-
tunity is afforded citizens for registrations
during the year. and those who seek to
register on the final days should be barred.
Under the old law we had precinct regis
tration only. but under the new law central
registration Is provided. and the addition of
ter
Az to the Deputy Commissioner.
Commissioner McCaffery expressed the
same san g, opinion th on this S subject With refer
requirement Of approval and revision by
that he should not be END endowed vi 'ns With snch
authority. They declare that it has not
been customary for the board to permit
the deputy might be. his rulings could be
construed as arbitrary. As 1t Is, his actions
are under the supervision of the board.
Section OF the Nesbit law Is as follows.
Such Election Commissioners shall appoint ana
sSmmssSn com !,s on Sns Deputy Election c0Hmissioner
% hoa ss s0S .Ss Sns {. the ',p
tine ns pSwsrs sS and duties S1 the dur
form their duties.
Mr.. Kinssland said, Deputy has power to
act at meetings when one member IL away.
oer NJ may for fern n Tth
II that he can on his own account perform
IN the .d,. duties Of Z Commissioner. The power
20 20 scf act Granted to the deputy; ! take 4; Is
The simple faet of another member of the
board being absent does not make the dep
sss spsak. = fun-nsdssd Commissioner SO to
Mr. McCa6ery's Views.
Mr.. McCanery interpreted that provision
Of the law IN q similar manner.
tion," he seid. "as think il tive WORKS ks per per
fectly, and In my opinion there Is no way
for the deputy to abuse his power, even II
% nnssr G u. DO direct sS The SspSs is ss
board. He cannot under any circumstances
act for the board as q whole. The power
m cssa IN nf n sscon L to Ge used only
act In conjunction with some other member
Of the board. With one other member the
deputy deputy can an ,s,a form q Quorum: and thus a
the approval by the board of the deputy's
action compulsory would have no bearing
rected to do SO by. the board. OF course II
he should act on his own account without
authority OF The board board that would be an an
otner an1r. ne would De accountapio ior
rescind his action"
Minority Member's Power.
Neither Mr.. McCanery nor Mr.. Kingsland
minority % member q Of the board y with hI the ea @
elusive power to appoint election judges and
clerks for either primaries or general elec-
y TSey say say ne However that f hs. BEEN eus
tomary for the board to permit the minor
ity. or Republican. member to suggest
names for appointment by the board. The
might be done the party and the candidates
II the minority member should arbitrarily
select Judges and clerks favorable to some
present law. If the lists he submitted
should show preference the differences
could be amicably adjusted by the majority
mernbera who would be nattiraIlv unprefu-
diced.
Concerning registration regulations under
the old and new laws. the Commissioners
saw the provisions Of the new law are more
favorable to the voter, and also to the
minority party. because under the new law
the voters have the benefit of the precinct
of the central registration.