The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-04
MAY NOT Be ABLE
TO ADVANCE DATE
Legal Obstacles i'll Way OF Ad-
mlnlstrative Board Primary
Before June IA.
LOOK CAREFULLY INTO LAW
Candidates and Politicians May
Try to Force Issue at
Meeting Tonight.
LOOK CAREFULLY INTO Law


The City Democratic Committee has
| been called to meet tonight at Muir
phys Hotel. The call does not state
the business of the meeting, but il
was stated by j. NJ. n. Allen and others
signing 1t tnat the intention was to
force an early primary for selection Of
members of the Administrative Board.
not only In tile COMMITTEES, but among
"a large element outside there is u de-
sire for short. sharp campaign and
10 have this contest over and settled
at the earliest possible date But It
appea1s from inquiries made by men,
bers of the City Committee yesterday
that there are serious obstacles in
the way of an early primary.
Takes Time to List Voters.
The receipt OF poll taxes for quail
ification in the November election ends
to-day. but SO heavy has been the rush
of the past few weeks that Deputy
ii will be impossible, even with extra
clerical assistance. to have the list of
voters made up and verified in less than
forty days. The law allows the Treas
urer thirty days. but in the case of
the city of Richmond IL has never been
accomplished in that time, and forty
days is said to be a minimum allow
list has to be printed. 1T Will make
book OF more than 500 pages. grouped
by wards. so that the mere printing
is no light undertaking, though this
part Of the work can be divided up
and done rapidly If necessary.
The mere forty days time needed
in the Trcasurer's office brings tho
time up TO June 10. however. and the
new Byrd primary law. adopted by III,
recent General Assembly, takes effect
on June Il.
Just there lies n most difficult point
of law. which has puzzled not only
treasurers and members OF the City
Committee. but many attorneys as we'll.
The Byrd law provides that the can
didate must pay his assessment OF. >
per cent. of the first years salary sixty
days before the primary. Until the
law takes effect. no city county or
State treasurer feels authorized to re-
ceive the money and has no fund to
which he can credit it, Several congress
Sional candidates have forwarded their
assessments TO state Treasurer Hartman
already. ana n has the money in his
vault. holding that IT is not q part OF
the State funds. but merely reserve
held in trust for the candidate in the
States vault.
May Garry Election Over Ia AuEust.
If this Wow Is upheld by Attorney
the sanction Of many wellknown at
torneys. these assessments will not b.
payable until June II. and must then
remain in the hands of the treasurer
sixty days. as required by law, before
primary can be held This would
throw the date for the Administrative
Board primary back certainly 10 Au-
gust II and make June II the final day
for fling names and sSessmcnts. Civ
ing the candidates then in the field a
clear sixty days to make their cam
paigns. Objection is made by some
members Of the City Committee TO n
midsummer primary, when many men
may be out OF the city on vacation,
and some have even advocated carry
ing the whole matter over 10 Septem-
her. y majority. however, and certain
ly a majority OF the candidates now
in the field. favor primary at the ear
lest date on which it can bc legally
held some members of the committee
are apprehcnsivc of going ahead TOO
fast and of having the primary d cleared
void by the courts because OF failure
to comply with some provision of the
new law, which might make it neces-
sary TO fight the whole battle over
again.
VIII Not Condonc Fraud.
The City Committee will also take
up tonight the alleged irregularities
at the ; cond Jefferson Precinct at the
primary held on Tuesday TIL. COM
mlttec is without power TO punish any
one, but proposes 10 let the public
know that it will not condone fraud
or In any way encourage irragulari-
ties or illegal practices in conducting
elections. 1t is possible that n COM
mittce may be appointed to present
ths whole matter to the grand jury
officially next Monday. If this is not
al
tee VIII individually go before the
grand jury and tell what thAy know,
and it is now certain that Registrar
Trophy and Janitor r. w. Folkes. Of
the First Regiment Armory. who has
admitted having in his possession a
marked official ballot outside of the
polling place. viii ba called as wit.
nesscs.