The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-21
4 Democracy's
 Polling Places The Campaign to Use Public Buildings-How Patron age Has Prevented Econ- Omy-SelectiOn of Elec- ton Officials
Louis H. Pink Member of New York Bar


 Is it not odd that in a republic the supreme act of self rule should be performed in manner haphazard and in places unfit?
 The surrounding of churches of all creeds and denomina tions are digni- fled and quiet, usually beautiful. Of ten the architecture is imposing. The chambers of legislative and judicial bodies the world over, are in keeping with the important functions there eX- ercised.
 How different the polling places, where the destiny of party, of city, state, and nation is determined. Tn New York city the polls are usually in small cigar stores or barber shops selected without regard to their fit ness for the purpose or the convent ence of the voters
 Each year s125,0O0 is spent for the rental of these places, much of which could be saved if it were not for pa tronage. In all sections of the city are public schools, libraries, court houses, municipal office buildings, de- partment headquarters, and other structures owned by the public; why not use them for the most sacred of all public functions?
 It is important that voting be con- ducted amidst dignified surroundings,
 
 of the district political leader and his followers. A place we'll lighted, properly ventilated, and sufficiently spacious is essential. There are but few neighborhoods where dishonesty and trickery at the polls still obtain But so long as even the possibility of corruption and of the misconduct of election officials exists, opportunity for fraud must be minimized. Hones- ty must be made easy, not hard. Fraud. trickery, undue influence. which might easily be possible in a place crowded, dark. out of the way, would be most difficult in a public building such as a school or a lbra- ry. Election officials and the police would be placed upon their good be- havior
 Loud mouthed officials browbeating and bullying voters; the hustling in of men to vote on others names in the crowd and confusion; the lining up of repeaters and men falsely reg istered from lodging houses; the un- fair domination of the primaries by the faction in power-all these would thrive with difficulty in a building consecrated to the service of the peo- pie
 In recent report to Mayor Gaynor by Raymond Fosdick, commissioner of accounts, the present method of
 
 ''The election law" says the commits sioner, provides that the, Board of Elections shall designate the polling places for party primaries, for regis tration, and for general elections. By a custom long established, this function has virtually been addicted in favor of the party organizations, and the selection of polling places has become source of patronage for dis trict captains. According to the method now in force, the Republicans are allowed to designate the polling places in the odd-numbered districts. Aside from superficial examination by the police as to the size of the polle ing places thus chosen, no check on the designations of the political parties is exercised by the Board of Elections
 The adequacy and shape of the room the question of ventilation. the loca- tion of the poll in the election dis trict-in short, the considera ton of voters themselves appear to be left by the election officials, without investi- gation, to the representatives of the two dominant parties"
 Commissioner Fosdick's investiga- tion showed that in several instances the room where the booths were placed was so small that watchers had to remain outside the guard rail where they could not properly per- form their work. Conditions in the Second Assembly District, of Brook lyn were especially deplorable, the polling places being small, unsuited for the purpose, and inconveniently located.
 The United Neighborhood Guild, a Social Settlement located in this dis trict, has offered to the Board of Elections the use of it's buildings as polling places free of charge, and at the same time has petitioned that the schools, libraries and other public buildings in the district be used, so that trial may be had. with the ob- ject of extending the use of public buildings to other parts of the city should the experiment prove success full.
 Not only the selection of the poll ing places, but the entire election machinery is out of gear. Election officials should not be camp followers of the district leader but experts in their line.
 The law requires the Board of Elections to hold an examination for candidates for inspectors, poll clerks, and ballot clerks, both as to their knowledge of the English language and of the provisions of the election law. Last year it went through the form of holding an examination but little intelligence was required to pass as the candidates were to con- verse openly and written lists of an- swers were given out to the candi- dates. The answers in all the papers were identical New blood has been infused into the board by Mayor Gay nor and repitition of this farce is unlikely
 It is the idea of Commissioner F'os- dick that business men. bankers, and law clerks should be chosen for cleo tion officers. He suggests that the hours of registra tion bechanged "so as to substitute for the present four days sof registration between the hours Of 700 A. M. to 100O P. M a week of registration (between the hours of P. M. and 10:O0 F. M. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs day, and Friday, and from 7:30 to 10:30 P. M. on Saturdays) This change would increase both the num- Der of available men from whom election officials can be selected and the opportunities for the voters to register, and at the same time would make possible the use of school houses for polling places
 The Board of Elections is not properly equipped to hold examina- tions. These should be placed under the Civil Service Commission. When candidate passes he should be placed upon the eligible list and, during good behavior, should be assigned year after year. At present the officials are selected for one yea ofl;J a-d must be chosen from lists supplied by