New-York tribune., 1905-11-11

Tuesday annarentiy satisfied Attorney General
Mayer and Mr.. Morgan yesterday that, while
there had been carelessness by the police and
election officers, no harm had been done, and
there had not been any criminal intent in neg
lecting the box, which contained only few
spoiled ballots. AS in the case of the boxes
found yesterday at the 3d-ave. place, all the
boxes which contained voted ballots and stubs
of voted ballots were taken in charge by the
police.
Patrick Monohan, a real estate dealer in The
Bronx, reported that he saw Tammany cap
tain remove two ballot boxes Wednesday from
the polling place OF the 18th Election District
of the 35th Assembly District. at No. 5,515
3d-ave. The place is Monohan's office.
He said he found the two ballot boxes there
Wednesday morning. and noticed that one OF
them was the box containing voted ballots He
did not know what to do with the boxes. and
later the Tammany captain appeared with a
wagon and took away the boxes.
Monohan's story being investigated yes
terday. It was the belief OF one Of Mr.. Morgans
deputies that the Tammany captain had re-
turned the boxes to the police. as the police
record showed all the boxes accounted for.
A report reached the headquarters Of the
Municipal Ownership League yesterday that
five ballot boxes were taken to the boarding
stable at No. 232 Front-st Wednesday night.
MEL III Oh tne Sldpie Salu Iio Ddiiot DoASS
had been taken there. but that some men, who
said they detectives, tried to hire wagon
there late Wednesday night, saying they had
found four or five boxes Of ballots and wanted
to take them up town.
Agents of the Municipal Ownership League
stood guard all Thursday night at the places to
which the Board of Elections had sent ballot
boxes for stCr rage. Other agents were keeping
watch at the same places yesterday and last
night.
President Voorhis of the Board of Elections
said yesterday that he was sure no ballot boxes
containing voted ballots or stubs used In the
election missing, and that all were sa1e.
He said that he was equally sure that all the
tally sheets of the election officers were safe,
and could be produced if needed in recount of
votes.
Members of the Board of Elections said yes
terday that they had been misrepresented by
of the newspapers as opposed to Justice
Gaynor in the proceedings to have the ballot
boxes removed from the custody of the police.
They had not word of criticism of Justice Gay
nor's action yesterday, but they were unit In
asserting that all the trouble about the ballot
boxes was due to the precipttate haste OF Police
Commissioner McAdoo, in ordering the boxes
sent to the Board of Elections at an early hour
on Thursday morning, without knowing, or TAX
ing means to know what storage room the
Board of Elections had at it's disposal Com
missioner Voorhis said yesterday:
The order Of Justice Gaynor was order to
show cause at noon yesterday, why the ballot
boxes should not be removed from the police sta
ton into the custody of the Board of Elections.
Instead of showing cause why the boxes should
remain in the stations, the Police Commissioner
ordered their instant removal with the result
that the wagons filled with the boxes were COM
PEELED to stand in the streets for many hours
The Board of Elections had no opportunity TO
answer the order to show cause and wnen sne
that the order being complied with there
was nothing left for US to do but to receive the
boxes. We taking care of them the pest
way we can.
Commissioner Page said it had been the pol
icy of the Board of Elections since its creation
to the Police Department in the enforcement
OF the primary and general election laws, under
Subdivision 1, Section IL Of the Election law,
which says:
It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of
Police and the officers and members Of the police
force, whenever called upon by the Board OF
Elections, to render to the said board all prac-
tcable assistance in the enforcement of the elec-
ton and the primary laws
Commissioner Page added
The Board of Elections has each year, fol-
lowing the system SO long established. adopted
a resolution requesting the police to take care
of the ballot boxes. Such resolution was
adopted this year, and that is how the boxes
be In the custody or the pOl1ce. 1t
seems to be the safest, most convenient and
most economical system that could be devised.
If we had passed a resolution this year to have
the ballot boxes taken out of the care of the
police after the election was and placed
In storage houses / do not doubt that there
would have been a public outcry, and we would
have been suspected Of underhand work
in connection with the official count of the vote.
It strikes that the proper and wisest course
for Commissioner McAdoo to have pursued
under Justice Gaynors order to show cause
would have been to walt until the final or
der had been entered directing the transfer
of boxes instead of promulgating orders in the
middle of the night for the removal Of seven
or eight thousand ballot boxes to the offices of
the board, without knowing whether there was
room for them. He was under no duty
or obligation to do until the court had
decreed He could have appeared and opposed
the motion not. of course, as he thought
best. Everything then would have transpired in
a quiet and orderly way, and all the frenzy and
excitement would have been avoided.
The board had intention of disregarding.
and did not disregard in the slightest degree
any order Of the court In fact. no order was
made served until some time in the after
noon of November 9. Any delay that occurred
in receiving the ballots resulted from the pre-
mature and hasty action of the Police Depart
ment. Such delay occurred on the part of
the board resulted from its desire to safeguard
the public interest by securing the safest and
most adaptable place for the storage of the
ballot boxes.
Failing in its effort to secure an armory.
through no fault of its own, it did tho next best
thing by placing the ballot boxes in the rooms
occupied by the board where they will be prop
erly watched and guarded The blame should
be placed the Police Department. where If
belongs. and not on the Board of Elections
The whole affair could have been avoided had
the Police Commissioner exercised little judg-
ment and common sense.
BUNCH OF BALLOTS ON HIS HANDS,
Some One Sat on Them at the Counting