Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-10-10
The CONSTITUTE onal Amendments.

Interest in the November contest
should not cause citizens to overlook
the fact that two Constitutional Amend
ments are to be voted on. One of these
emanates from the Union Committee
for the Promotion of Ballot Reform and
the Merit System in Pennsylvania. 1t
proposes to amend the Constitution so
AS to give authority to the General As
sembly to prescribe personal registra
tion of voters in cities. In its present
form the Constitution provides that all
laws regulating the holding Of elections
or for registration of electors shall be
uniform, and that no elector shall be
deprived of the privilege of voting by
reason of non-registration The latter
clause was obviously intended to protect
voters whose names had been negligent
ly or maliciously left off the lists by as
SCISSORS. Experience has demonstrated
that the system of assessment in cities
is susceptible of grave abuses. Too
many OF the assessors neglect their
duties, or perform them improperly,
while the principal cause of complaint
is the assessment of the names of
persons who are disqualified or mythical.
In the country precincts the electors are
well known and padded lists are rare.
but in the crowded cities, where persons
may dwell for years in adjoining houses
without becoming acquainted, and
where there is large migratory popu-
latlon, the present system offers abun-
dant opportunities for fraud. The
amendment recommended by the Union
Committee on Ballot Reform provides
that laws regulating and requiring reg
istration may be enacted 50 as to apply
to cities only, provided that such laws
be uniform for cities Of the same class
The reason for authorizing the applica-
tion Of personal registration TO cities
without extending it throughout the
State, is that the country districts con.
slider that they do not need personal reg
istration, and are ayerse to the expense
which such a system would impose on
them. Tie adoption Of this constitution
al amendment does not enjoin personal
registration, but il empowers the Legis
lature to introduce it at the discretion
of the law makers. and subject to the
retained constitutional restrictions
No better evidence Of the necessity
for personal registration and of its prac-
ticaDility need be sought than the ex-
periepce of New York. where elections
are often close and temptations to fraud
SbIOUk. III NEW 1bTh Guy Dfle regis
tors sit for several days in advance Of
the general election for the purpose Of
enrolling the names of persons qualified
to vote. Minute description Of the
physical appearance Of the applicant is
recorded in book kept for the purpose
as check upon personation at the polls.
The work of registration is done with
order and care, and by representatives
of the principal political parties, so that
partisan advantage and fraud are mini
mized The introduction Of such
system to Philadelphia would not usher
in the millennium, but it will conduce
TO fair and honest elections
There is another Constitutional
Amendment to be submitted at the No
vember election. IL provides that elec-
tions may be carried on by other secret
means Of voting than the ballot. The
adoption of this amendment would per
NIT the General Assembly 60 authorize
the use Of voting machines, of which
there are several varieties
Certainly no good citizen should fail
to cast bis vote in favor of the personal
registration amendment. Philadelphia
Ledger.