The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-12-14
Il Is No Nearer Solution To-
day than 1t Was in 1851,
But the Task Is Being
Tackled Firmly.
SEVERAL BILLS ARE
NOW BEING DRAFTED
And Will Be Given Consider
alton by the Next Legisla-
ture-To Be Leading Mat
ter Before Solons.
palladium Specially

palladium SpcciaD
indianapolis. Dec. l4.--With the
problem OF the registration OF voters
no nearer solution than II was In 1851
Indiana legislators are tackling 1t
this winter with the determination to
produce something definite that will
be constitutional. The process Of ell
mination ID expected to bring forward
the best OF the several bills which
Democrats are preparing before the
final causcus. The only law now
touching the subject Is an act OF 1881
which reads: "The general assembly
shall also provide for the registration
OF all persons entitled to vote"
In view Of the importance which the
subject will assume In the coming
session and with the purpose OF steer.
Ing legislators OF rocks which po-
litical intrigue has led In the past,
Charles G. Jewctt, legal assistant In
the legislative reference department
OF the state library has reviewed the
blunders Of other bills in a special
treatise.
In Other States.
"The constitution of Mississippi re-
Quires registration as a condition pre-
cedent to voting" says Mr.. Jewett.
"In Alabama. Colorado. Kentucky.
Missouri. Montana. North Carolina.
Louisiana. Rhode Island. Idaho. Ore
gon. Massachusetts, and q number Of
other states registration laws have
-hoen enacted under provisions OF the
constitutions. England has very
practical and enicient registration law
which requires that . INST of persons
entitled to vote be made. stating the
full name of each person claiming the
right to vote. the nature of his Qualii-
cations - voter and the place of his
abode. The law Of Canada follows
the English law and has proved very
enicient"
Indiana acts Of 1867 and 1869. re-
quiring registration, caused the would
be voted to swear he had lived 20 days
In the township. ward and precinct to
prove residence. The court decided
the legislature could not fix time that
could be called sufIicient for "resid.
ence" and both acts were declared un-
constitutional
Gov. Hendricks in his message to
the legislature In 1877 suggested some
provisions without which. he said. no
registration law could be eficient.
These provisions were:
What Provisions Wsr1.
I. A fair and real representation on
the board Of election ofiicers OF all
political parties.
2. Voting places no numerous and
precincts 20 small In respect to the
voting population that all who offer
to vote may be known by the people
OF the neiGhborhood as well as by the
onlccrs.
3. A reasonable period Of residence
In the election precinct as a qualifica-
tion to vote. 20 that persons may not
pretend residence not real, In fraud.
I. The elimination Of the influence
Of money from elections.
Gov. Hendricks ideas involved the
amending OF the constitution and this
was accomplished In 1850. Tho su.
preme court threw out the amend.
ments on the ground that they were
not adopted not by a majority Of the
voters OF the state. but merely by a
majority Of the electors voting. The
amendments were resubmitted and
carried. The law then read the leeis.
lature should provide for registration
upon the basis OF residence in the
state OF six months. township sixty
days. ward or precinct thirty days
THIS amendment made II possible for
the legislature to enact an efficient
registration law, which has never
been done.