New-York tribune., 1911-01-04
HITS ELECTIONS BOARD
rosdick Says Commissioners
Favor Their Party Machines.
URGES REMEDIAL MEASURES
Methods Partisan and Careless,
Commissioner of Accounts
Finds After Inquiry.

- the report OF his investigation OF the
,oo-s of Elections. which ne declares could
So only preliminary on account OF the
-.o-,ness OF the time at his disposal. Ray
-.o,d 3. Fosdick. Commissioner OF Ac-
.o,nts. hnds that:
important administrative duties have
Ian ignored by the board.
,.Tbe partisan character NJ the board has
,esn predominant. even in the exercise Of
..s ,pdicial functions. and has produced an
demonstration in the interest OF the two
,ssaing political party organizations as dis
,.nsuished from the voting public"
commissioner Fosdick suggests the i'm
,o-tance Of further inquiry with the idea
~ recommending to the Legislature. II
.ound advisable. measures that would make
,r,nossible the abuses OF a bipartisan
tosrd. II would certainly SEEM" he adds.
that q simpler. more expeditions and
more Just method OF handling these mat
.srs could be devised"
Even under the present system, however
-be Commissioner says, conscientious and
s4cient commissioners could remedy the
abuses 20 a considerable extent He sug-
zssts lines brought out by his investiga-
ION that might be followed up. 1t ap-
reared. he says. that the number OF ballots
purchased for general election was much
IN excess not only Of that required by
law but Of that demanded by the necessi-
ties Of the voters.
Finds Some Useless Employees.
He also suggests that some Of the en-
Moves have duties so superficial as scarce
X 70 require the retention OF such en-
,lcyes Il also appears. he says, that the
STARS Of the board have been conducted
sas no idea Of harmonious cooperation
snd in haphazard fashion.
The Commissioners OF Elections whose
terms expired on January I, but who are
holding over until their successors are ap-
pointed by Mayor Gaynor. probably on Fri
dav. are John T. Dooling and James Kane,
Democrats, and Charles 3. Page and John
l. smith. Republicans. Commissioners
Doollng and Page are not candidates for
reappointment. The Tammany organization
has recommended the appointment of J.
Gabriel Britt In place OF Commissioner
Doollng, and the Republican organization
Of New York County has recommended
the appointment OF Moses NJ. Mckee in
place Of Commissioner Page
James Kane, the Kings County Democrat
has been recommended by his organization
fo- reappointment, but n is understood
that Mayor Gaynor has no intention OF re-
sppoin ting him. Strong influences are be-
hind Mr Smith. the Kings County Repub-
Tcar. however. and he may be the only one
~ the old board 70 remain
Under the head OF ignoring important ad-
ninistrative duties Commissioner Fosdick
N his report first discusses the farcical
character Of examinations held 10 deter
mine the qualifications OF candidates for
appointment as election officials. He finds
that not only did the men at examins-
'ions converse freely one with the other
1ut that written lists OF answers were fire.
ouentlv handed 20 them by the same Of
Scial VINO furnished the examination papers
one man who evidently received the wrong
list copied answers that were meant for
an entirely different examination paper
Commissioner Fosdick finds that the law
regarding the furnishing Of maps and lists
~ polling places 20 the election inspectors
was violated; that complaints in regard 70
-he conduct os election officials were often
aro~ed OF inadequately handled by the
Board OF Elections. and that the board
Sail-d 70 keep any adequate record OF It's
Hroceedings.
Tu regard 70 the partisan actions OF the
,oard Commissioner FOsdick declares the
selection OF polling places was largely left
20 The district leaders OF the Democratic
and Republican organizations without ade-
rvate check. the result being that such
places were often inadequate and incon-
yenient.
In Brooklyn the election districts IN
many OF the Assembly districts were re-
numbered in 1910 with little regard for con-
yecutive order In some instances the
report saws, these changes appear to have
been made in the interest OF certain parties
TO A primary contest
Reference was made TO the I'd Assembly
District. where there was a contest against
John Bridges, the Democratic leader.
When asked about these changes" the
report declares, Commissioner Kane. who
appears 10 BE- ignorant both OF the Board
ot Elections and OF the election law, and
whose fitness for the office we most seri-
ously question, denied any knowledge OF
them"
Commissioner Fosdick also found that the
employees % the board were apportioned
oQuall-- between the Republicans and
OehoCIdts Oy al uI4uei sIaiIU!hs aHlOHe the
commissioners and without authority TO
Jaw This sometimes resulted apparently in
commissioners Acquiescing In the dismissal
4 gooo employees simply because their
places w7re wanted for other men OF the
same party.
IN regard 10 the judicial powers conferred
upon the board 20 decide the right TO
place on the ballot Of political parties and
Individual candidates, Commissioner Eos
dick declares he found that this power had
been exercised IN many instances In the
interests OF the particular political organi-
"a stion 20 which the commissioners belonged
without regard 10 the merits OF the case
Up 70 a lare hour last night John T.
Dooling. president OF the Board Of Elec-
lions, had not seen copy Of the report or