New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-06-03
CLEANER ELECTIONS HERE
Governor Higgins Signs Important
Elsberg Bills.
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBusE.l

Albany June 1.-Two important bills certain
- have a material bearing the next munich
=, election were signed by Governor Higgins
Adv Both measures We're introduced by Sem
- E1sberg, amend the Metropolitan Election
= and are direct results Of the system de-
"a and employed by Republican leaders at the
,.s, election its use resulting In the prevention
= - least thirty thousand Illegal votes being
cast
The more important of these measures pro-
tides for a reduction in the number of deputies
:, be employed by the superintendent and the
.-,nloyTnent Of q permanent staff. Provision is
-.o5e for a secretary to the Superintendent Of
y-1sctions at salary Of 50 0oo fifty deputies at
a 90 and fifty more at 5000 All other depu-
-,es are to receive the usual So a day. but their
Number is reduced TO 400 regular and $50 extra
saputies in place of 600 and 200 respectively.
number of important details are contained
IN the changes in the law made by this bill.
First Of all it provides for the continuation Of
the card index system for all voters. which was
s-st employed under Ex-Governor Odelrs direc-
ZION last year Each board of election district
inspectors is directed to forward after each day
of registration a complete card index of all
voters registered on that day, the cards to show
all the details OF the voters answers to Ques-
lions Twenty-nine days before election the
keeper a each lodging mouse, boarding mouse
and hotel must send TO the Superintendent Of
Elections on blank furnished by him. detailed
descriptions Of his premises, his guests, en-
ployes and all other data necessary.
There are also many minor changes, the d.
rect outcome Of developments Of the last cleo
ton For example, the duty OF local authorities,
sheriffs patrolmen and other public officers are
carefully specified, that there may be no am
ljs1Iiry IN the provision recurring public off,
GERS 10 respond to the call Of the Superintendent
of Elections or his deputies for assistance. The
offence OF giving false answers to 6 deputy au-
thorized TO take oaths is made a felony instead
Of q perjury. ana refusal TO obey subpoena
made returnable at the Office of the Superin-
tendeat Of Elections any branch office is made
q misdeneanO-
The second measure, signed to-day, was
through clerical mistake, announced as signed
some days ago. II fixes the days Of registration
as the twe-ty-ninth, twenty-eighth. twenty
fourth and twenty-second days before election
that is, the Monday, Tuesday and Saturday OF
the fourth week before election and the Mon
day of the third week-the purpose of this
change being to afford longer interval between
registration and Electioa Day for the investiga-
ton of the qualifica tons of voters and the de-
lection of frauds 1t also reduces from 600 to
800 the maximum number of voters in any cleo
ton district, Finally the law provides for an
extra column in the registration book to show
where the applicant last voted registered.
William Halpin, chairman of the New-York
County Republican Committee. was in Albany
to-day and expressed qualification at the sign
ing of the measures. and declared that he be-
lieved they would be OF material value in the
next election.