New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25

little less than one-sixth OF a square mile, or
over hundred acres. Is the total area which the
ballots ordered for the coming general election
in this city would II spread fat together.
No fewer than 2.7e4.s10 In number these bal
lots- 22S. 500 bearing the OF the candidates,
the same number Tor voting On the canal cues
ton. and 307. 200 samples" OF pink paper. to
be voted but explain with
500 600 and 500 600 the election will
the city. TO nothing Of the 2l3oO0o additional
that was spent for the primary election These
sums are. OF course entirely distinct from the
Of the primaries and the election and the pre-
iiminares and afterwork Of each to the various
political parties and their leaders and candidates
These ballots would cover sA.5Io40O square
inches About their size. the color and quality Of
the paper on which they printed. and other
details. the law is precise. II must be a clear
white book paper, free from ground wood 500
sheets OF which. Is BY 30 inches shall weigh 90
pounds. The ballots fer voting on the candidates
must be 125 by 265 inches Those on the canal
proposition are TO be by l2 inches For the pri-
maries the political parties pay for the ballots.
though the Board OF Elections prescribes the quail
ity Of the paper TO be used. its size and various
other important details. The number OF ballots
ordered for the last primary election was 500 Ooe
Next year. for the reason that President OF the
United States IS to be chosen. there will two
primaries. one for the usual purposes and the
other 10 select delegates to the State conventions,
who shall in turn select delegates 20 the national
convention The expense. OF course will be at
least double that Of the primary Of this year
The many officials and employees OF the Board
OF Elections busy these days Many and per-
picking the problems that presented
them daily for solution One source OF trouble.
strnnge II may seem. is that the candidates
themselves often wofuly ignorant Of the
nomination and election requirements and in con-
sequence. are asking the most absurd questions OK
the election officials regarding eligibility and sim
liar matters.
So too. DO the petitions Cor certificates Of indie
pendent nomination cause great annoyance. Some
of these petitions often have their face the
required number OF signatures but those who are
Interested say that there IN the lists many
names OF ncn-residents. many names Of those who
have departed .his life. many names placed there
without the consent or the knowledge Of
their owners. Frequently the notary commits
sioner Of deeds who attests that the men whose
names are signed have personally appeared before
him and known to him has deliberately stated
what he knows TO be untrue 1T seems q common
conception says Commissioner John r Voorhis
that anything IS fair in politics They regard
such false attestation Of no account"
Certain dispsrties in the laws too cause trou-
BILE Two thousand signatures. for instance must
be obtained by an independent candidate for
tain city Offices in order obtain a certificate OF
nomination whereas for borough president who
Is voted for in same territory as those city
officers only 1000 names need be obtained. For
e Assemblyman 500 signatures appear
whereas independent candidate for alderman.
though voted for in the same territory. need get
only 100
Complaints come IN frequently about the closing
of polling places-not that they closed before
the hour set but that the inspectors only waited a
minute after the hour set and consequently
the kicker couldn't register. Complaints that
the polling places not large enough or are not
light enough come In regularly. but in torty-nine
cases out Of atty say the election officers. these
criticisms unfoundeG
Humors OF the campaign are not all TO be found
at the rallies The Board OF ELECTORS got letter
the other day from In the XXlst Assembly
District Of Kings County. One had TO have his
pocket shifted" he expressed It. IN order to
vote the primary there. As he went on to ex-
plain one couldn't vote until he paid Further
more he said there q curious habit at that
polling place OF putting something IN box"
Everybody did il Those contribution boxes. he
said ought 20 be removed before the election He
referred so It gathered from his letter. to the
boxes, for party enrolment Whether himself
either had his pocket shifted Contributed
he didn't say.
The cost Of the primary election this year
throuEhout the city reached total Of about $780,
600 OF this the largest item is SO 900. the pay
Of four inspectors OF election. s. each for