Evening journal., 1913-05-28
SAVE CITY
ELECTION
BALLOTS
Department Of Elections to
Instruct Officers Not TO
Burn Them
DEMOCRATS BALKED SUCH A
LAW, Mr.. BILLANY SAID

Chairman Harry II. Billany OF the
Republican First District Committee
and State Chairman Thomas f.
Bayard, City Chairman Daniel p. Du-
Ross and Charles f. Curley. repre-
senting the Democrats, last night con
ferred with the Department OF Elec-
tions regarding the question of saw
ing the ballots that are voted at the
city election on June z. Under a
strict Interpretation OF the law the
ballots should be burned aftor being
counted by the election officers, this
method having been followed In
the past. The department Of
Elections invited the chairmen Of
the Republican and Democratic city
Committees to confer with the mem-
bers Of the Department on the sub
lect last night the Department I'm its
letter suggesting that some method
might be devised for preserving the
ballots Formal instructions for cleo
ton officers to save the ballots pro-
badly VIII be agreed upon by the De-
partment at a meeting 10 be held
within day or two
When the subject was brought ur
last night at the conference. Chairman
Billany, of the Republican committee
pointed out that while the law re.
quires the burning of the ballots. tn,
Republican committee had no objec
tion to them being preserved after tbs
count, by the election officers, pro
vided they were properly safeguarde,
so they could not be tampered with
In fact Mr.. Billany said he favore'
the preservation Of the ballots ant
personally always was opposed q
burning them. In fact. he said. h
had measure introduced I'm the Leg
u islature more than once TO provide 70
saving the ballots az city elections
2 hut Democratic opposition had dc
feated that legislation.
The Democratic conferees aske
the Department TO issue the followin
as supplemental instructions 10 IN
election officers.
First, That the inspector or iud'
y at election shall. upon receiving n
u envelope containing the ballot fro
the hands OF the voters. inspect Il
same for tine following purposes
~ "(a) To see that the envelope boa
upon Il the names IN fun of both
o. the election clerks.
n "(bl That The envelope does n
ST hear any such distinguishing mar
v DETACHMENT or mutilation set for
/. in paragraph u Of the new act
Second. That all Of the Office
T. conducting the election at the con
l. ing city election be instructed n,
J. only not to destroy any Of the eI
e velopes and ballots received from N
voters. but that the said officers 1
o instructed after the counting Of eac
o ballot 10 Immediately return IL I
"a the envelope from which II was tai
n en-, and 10 secure Il therein by r.,
u placing the rubber band and that a
d OF the said env, lopes and ballots h
d returned 10 the ballot boxe
y from which they we're taken and thf
all Of the said envelopes and ballot
y therein contained be carefully pre-
- served IN the said boxes"
e Secretary Lambert J. Foulk rea
j. the opinion given the department h
s City Solicitor Hastings. on which IN
e instructions that the ballots were I
n be burned were based Members {
2. the department practically wer
g agreed that they we're willing 10 hay
Z the ballots preserved II prope
q method of guarding them could
q devised. The problem for the depar
d ment to work out is what dispositio
2 to make Of the ballot boxes contain
ing the ballots after the boxes hav
e been returned by the election of
o GERS.
n To rent space in safe depos
o vault 10 hold 106 ballot boxes woul
uaan q baa,rv evnandffuro The cus
g Continued On Second Page.