The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-11-28
GOV, TRAMMELL
WILL NOT REGEDE
From His Position on the Pri-
mary Re-registering Plan.

Last week Gov. Trammell sent the
following letter to tie Tampa III
oune:s
Editor Tribune: l note the edi-
torial in the Tribune of the 18th in
slant, headed "The Governor Guilty"
In this editorial you have approved
the registration feature Of the Bryan
primary measure as introduced IN
the legislature in it's original form,
requiring the registration officer to
only open the registration books IN
each precinct for as much as one day
during the months of November and
December. Upon the other hand you
condemn the amendment prepared
by me and adopted by the legisla-
ture requiring that the registration
books be opened in each election pre-
cinct for sixty days during 1914, and
thirty days every two years thereatt-
| er.
You seem to think that the deputy
registration officers have to be paid
salary of as much as two dollars
per day for the full period allowed
| for precinct registration. This is not
required by law, nor was it contem-
plated. To take such position you
must lose sight of the fact that in
employing a deputy registration ofti-
Ger common sense and justice would
suggest to the officials that the
amount of work which the registra-
ton officer is to perform should gov
ern his compensation. AS to what
registration will cost under the
amendment which l advocated to the
primary measure, it is but reasona-
BILE to consider our past experience
in the matter of precinct registration
The requirement that the regis
tration books be opened for several
weeks in the precinct is no new fea-
ture in our law. For many years
prior to the enactment of the new
primary law under the provisions OF
section 257 of the general statutes
the registration books were opened
in each election precinct for foul
weeks prior to each general primary
Under the former law it was Gus
tomary for some merchant or somt
citizen having a place of business
centrally located in the precinct tt
be selected as the deputy registra
ton officer. He could and did per
form the duty required of him IL
; making registration without mater
! tally interfering with his other busi
ness. AS but little of his time wa
required to carry on the registratio
work, he was not paid for each da
; as though he was giving all his tim
e to the work, but was paid commen
surate with the actual work requir
: ed. Provision for precinct registra
ton should and doubtless will unde
\ the new law be carried on in tn
same common sense manner.
would be ridiculous and absurd
allow a deputy registration office
full pay for each day when only
; few hours of his time would be rt
n ouired in registering voters through
out each week.
| still take the position that
would work a great injustice an
discrimination against the voter
who do not live in or near the coul
ty seat towns for them to be allowe
only one day in which to register
their respective precincts. Such prol
osition had it become the law, in m
opinion, would have placed our ele
tions practically in control of Il
large cities and county seat town
The citizens living in the outlyir
precincts pay as much towards carr,
ing on registration and towards d
fraying the expenses of the election
as the citizens who live in or near Il
county seats, and believe they shou
have reasonable opportunity to regi
ter within their, precincts without b
ing forced to lose the time and unde
1 90 the expense necessary for them
= 90 from ten to thirty miles to coun
seat to get registered.
Will you kindly publish this col
munication? Yours truly,
q Park Trammell.