Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-04-14
SENATE PASSES
W|LSON-RECORD-
GERAN MEASURE
Amended Election Bill Goes
Back to House for
Concurrence.
FINAL ACTION EXPECTED
EARLY In THE WEEK
Much Talk Over the Vicious
Amendment Which Destroys
Ballot Secrecy.
EFrom a stan Correspondent

TRENTON, April 1.-THE wilson
Record Geran bill, to revolutionize the
electoral system of New Jersey, passed
the Senate last night.
It was patched by the upper House to
such an extent that when it gets back
to the House for concurrence on Mon
day there may be another howl. Up
wards Of 200 changes frop the original
bill have been made.
The printed copies of the committee
substitute were received late in the
afternoon and rather unexpectedly Sem
ator Bradley, chairman of the election
committee, moved for it's final passage
under suspension of the rules There
was short debate on the measure and
it passed. all present voting for it. The
absentees were Senators Hand, John
son and Nichols.
Ballot Secrecy Destroyed.
The most important change in the bill
and one of its worst features is that
which permits the illiterate voter to be
assisted in the preparation of his ballot
by two election officers, a system that
has worked with so much evil in Penn
sylvania politics. as pointed out in the
Evening STAR yesterday.
Here Is the section as it now stands:
"s3. At any primary or general cleo
tiOn any person who declares under
oath and establishes to the satisfaction
| Of nf nj ha me- Of
the board of registry md election that
he is unable to read the English lam
Suage, or that by reason of blindness
or other physical disability he is un-
able to mark his ballot without assist
ance, may have the assistance of one
or more members of such board, to be
assigned by the board, In preparing his
ballot. Such member or members of
such board shall retire with such voter
to the booth and assist him in the
preparation of his ballot and folding
the same. The clerk of the board of
| registry and election shall make n
memorandum ON the poll book of every
Instance when an oath was adminis-
tered to voter as herein provided,
stating briefly what facts were sworn
to and the, name of the member or
members of the board who aided such
voter. All members of the board of
registry and election shall have the
right to witness the preparation of the
ballot of any such voter, but no other
person shall be allowed to assist such
voter in marking his ballot or to wit
ness the marking of the same. No
member of such board shall reveal the
name of amy person for whom such
voter has voted, or anything that took
place while such voter was being as
sisted"
Frequent comment is made here to-
day to the effect that 1t seemed a pity
that senatorial ingenuity could not de-
wise better plan than the vicious one
borrowed from Pennsylvania. Mayhap
the next most important change was
the provision providing for the ap-
pointment, instead of the election, Of
the chairmen of the county commit
tees.
Clerical Exrors Corrected.
Bradley said that the BILL after it
had been for weeks in the House. came
to the Senate full of Inaccuracies
Since the Senate committee had re-
ceived the bill 1t had worked indus
triously to correct the clerical errors.
and the Camden senator then AK
planned the amendments that had been
made.
Leavitt maintained that he thought
1t was inadvisable to hasten the bill
at the present rate. He knew that the
bill was wanted. and greatly wanted.
by the incumbent Of the executive
chamber. but he still thought that,
fcentsnuea on second Paxs.l