The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-01-11


the corporations to be regulated OPP
pose it.
Whatever bill is enacted should pro-
vide for the consolidation of the pres
ent railroad commission with the new
commission created by it, and thus
the question of expense which has
been raised mot by the people, but by
the interested ones would not avail
as an objection Forty thousand dol
lars would cover the cost of this COM
mission, and justice between the peo-
pie and the public serving corporations
would be assured. This is small cost
for consummation so greatly to be
desired
The Primary Election Law.
The direct primary laws that exist
in our state are, in my opinion, popu-
lar with the people and when tested
further will be found to meet univer-
sal approval Some notifications are
needed. Provision should be made for
an enrolment of party voters and for
the prevention of any voter of one
party from voting in the primary of
another Chapter 2S1 of the laws of
1907, relative to the expression Of
choice for United States senator by
the voters of the respective parties,
will be operative this year for the first
time at the primary election. Under
this law the people of the state.
through their respective party primary
elections will have opportunity to give
expression as to whom they favor to
represent the state in the United
States senate / strongly favor
strengthening the present primary
laws and their extension to the nomi-
nation of member of congress and the
governor.
The Blanket Ballot.
l can see no reason for refusing to
allow the voter the right to vote a
straight ticket by simply placing a
cross in circle at the head of party
column on the ticket.
The essential thing is form of bal
lot upon which shall be found all the
candidates of all the parties, so that
each voter may have before him every
candidate for Office on single piece OF
paper. These ballots should be fur
nished and distributed to the voters by
the state. The clerk of the county
should print the official ballot as at
present, and the election officers when
the last revision of the registry is COM
pleted should be required to send to
each voter at his place of residence as
shown on the registry one copy of the
official ballot. The clerk should also
furnish to the election officers the
requisite number of ballots for use on
election day at the polling place.
No need should remain for the use
of money by candidates or parties on
election day, or before, in the matter
OF getting the ballots into the hands of
the voters.
The necessary stamped envelopes for
distributing the ballot should be sup
piled by the county to the election
boards, and reasonable compensation
should be paid the election officers for
doing the work.
~ Money at Elections.
The use of money at elections,
whether primary or general, should in
some way be curtailed. Every neces-
sary expense should be borne by the
state
1t might be made permissible to per-
init each party to employ at each
polling district a challenger, clerk to
keep check upon the vote and mes
senger or two to send for negligent
voters. The amount that could be
thus expended should be fixed by law,
and it should be made misdemeanor
to expend in any way other money
for any other ticket handlers or other
persons about the polls. The greatest
source of indirect bribery is that now
prevalent of putting men on the poll
committee, so called. 1t Is mere
pretext for corruption.
The present criminal laws against
bribery at elections are clear and strin-
gent, but are not enforced. The rea-
son is that all the parties engage in
the improper, not to say the illegal,
use of money at elections, and grand
Jurors will not indict Prison penal
ties are apparently of no avail to check
this class of crime.
1 believe if the present laws for the
imprisonment of persons convicted OF
bribery at elections were repealed, and
upon a conviction for bribery the court
should adjudge and determine that the
defendant be deprived Of the right of
suffrage, 1t would do more to put an
end to election corruption than any
other kind of punishment possible.
Election Officers.
In selecting officers the greatest care
should be taken. They should possess
certain qualifications as prerequisite to
Eheir appointment, among Others these:
First.-They should be physically
healthy.
Second. They should understand the
simple rules OF division and addition.
Third They should be able to write
fairly rapidly and well.
Fourth.-They should be good read
ers.
Fifth.-Their eyesight should be good.
sixth. Their moral standing and per-
sonaI character should be unquesticned.
Seventh. They should possess a fair
knowledge of the election laws.
They should also have a fixed tenure
for, say, i've years, or, what would be
still better, they should hold office
during good behavior.
No person should be appointed as an
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