Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-11

SllQuAu- W. ~ q
pend 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 a mere pretext for COR
ruption.
The present criminal laws against
bribary at elections are clear and
stringent. but are not enforced. The
reason is that all the parties engage i'll
the Improper, not to say the Illegal, use
Of money at elections, and grand jurors
will not indict. Prison penalties are
apparently OF no avail to check this
class of crime. !
BY paragraph two of article two OF
our State Constitution, 1t is provided;
1.-THE Legislature may pass laws to de-
prive persons OF the right of suffrage
who shall be convicted of bribery" l
believe, IL 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bribery at elections were repealed, and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, it would do more to put an
end to election corruption than n
other kind OF punishment possible. 1t
would appeal to the popular sense as
a just form of penalty, and the law
would be enforced. -
Election Oficers.
There is much complaint from certain
sections of the State about the election
officers. 1t relates tx their efficiency
and impartiality, and In some localities
to their partisan zeal.
: In selecting election officers the
greatest care should be taken. They
should possess certain qualifications as
prerequisite to their appointment,
among others, these:
e l.. They should be physically healthy.
2. They should understand the simple
rules of division and addition.
8. They should be able to write fairly
rapidly and we'll.
A. They should be good readers.
s.. Their cyesight. should be good.
G. Their mora standing and personal
character should be unquestioned.
Z. They should possess a fair knowl-
edge of the elections laws.
They should also have a fixed tenure,
for, say, five years, or, what would be
still betaer, they should hold office-dur-
ing good behavior.
No person should be appointed Is al
election officer until he has passed ar
examination In at least the respects
above indicated, and opportunity should
be given to any person to &c into the
examination. Each applicant should
declare, when he appears for exanll.
nation. to- what party he belongs, and
present, with his application for exami-
nation, his Endorsements. as to mora
character.
The chairmen of the respective
political committees should be required
to select, for recommendation for, .ap'
pointment, from those certified to hin
by the examiners as fitted for @tht
place.
Only residence in the county should
be required for eligibility to becom'
election officers in any district in {
county.
Upon the intelligence. integrity. &c
curacy and skill Of the election officer,
must depend the election. The ex
animation for election officers Nigh
be put In the hands OF a common plea
| Judge Of the respective counties of tn
State.
Voting Machines.
Under chapter 1913 of the laws of 100
244 election districts in this State hav'
voted to abolish the voting machine
in said districts and to return to tn
| use OF the paper ballot. Only six dis
tricts in the state have voted to retail,
the machines. and these by a very clos
| vote
There is an almost universal deman'
for the discontinuance of II votinl
machine. The law permitting its US
should be repealed, and the machine
owned by the State should be sold.
other States have declared he ma
| chine unconstitutional as a method Q
voting, and 1t is to be regretted, tina
It has not been tested in our state.
1t is absolutely unfair to foist upo'
the voters of an election district a vot
ing machine by the mere arbitrary ac
ton of some State official, and nothinI
Is more Objectionable than to permi
the placing OF one of these machines
thrown out of n district by the vot
ers thereof, into another district wher
g machine has not previously existed
If the law for voting machines is I
remain. it should be SO amended tina
a machine could not be placed in an
I district except upon a petition signe
by a majority of the voters of u
district who voted at the last election
before the presentation of the petitio
for the placing of the machine.
Probably nothing has eyer befor
been quite 80 unpopular with the voter
OF u State as thee voting machin,
The paper ballot permits Of care an
elaboration in voting. and a free an
independent exercise of the right {
suffrage. A citizen has the right I
know and be sure, not only that h
has voted. but how he has voted. Wit
the machine he can not possibly kno'
either.
License and Excise.
One of the vital questions in tn
State is that of a more stringent regl
lation Of the liquor traffic. Protibitio
is, not practical. 1t does not prollib
and will not until a stronger and be-
ter public sentiment shall obtain.
The sentiment for local option in til
election just passed showed muc
growth in some communities. Ths
sentiment. however. IS probably not {
sufficient force to secure legislation fc
q submission Of the question Of licens
or no license, to the people. Yet, it
evident that the public demand for I'll
enforcement of existing laws, and IT
the enactment of others hooking to
better regulation Of the sale of intox
eating liquors, is quite universal.
The license fees in most places in tn
State are not, high enough. To me 1t