The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-22
Council May Take Steps To-
ward Cutting Out Primary
Election Day Holidays
GRAND JURY MAY TAKE
UP ELECTION RUMORS
City Pays Out Large sums ct
Money for Which 1t Receives
No Returns in Services by
Employees

w HEH the ETdHa jury meets To-Day,
with Councilman Edgar II. Ferguson.
foreman. it will take up the question
of alleged irregularities in connection
with recent elections.
Commissioner John Hirschberg, Of
the Administrative Board. has asked
that body to fully investigate the re-
port that ne had made threats against
an emplcye OF the State Department
of Agriculture. and superintendent
Henry Cohn has asked for an invest!-
CATION into the report that men in
the Street Cleaning Department had
been biacklistei for voting for Com
monwealth's Attorney Wise. and
others had been INSTRUCTED" how to
cast their ballots.
Both of these matters from the
surface, appear TO he trivial.
1t may turn out, however. that in
It's inquiry. the grand Jury may deem
the conditions such as to warrant
some recommendation concerning the
part taken In primary elections by
city employees.
Minimize Activity.
There IS a movement on foot IN
certain councilmanic circles looking
10 If4t passage G1 AL Qfdilk3lC pro-
hibit!ng city employees taking active
part IN elections IT is pointed out
that there Is no apparent reason for
closing the city departments on pri-
mary election days. These depart
ments close early in the afternoon,
and many of them do not start busl-
ness before s or o'c,oek. thus pro
viding sufficient time between sunrise
and shutdown for the employees to cast
their votes.
Much complaint comes from many
quarters of the unnecessary, activity or
city employees In the elections. The
complaints are based or the fact that
IN many OF the precincts tho city en =
pioyes display much concern over the
election Of certain candidates with
the Idea of self preservation In view.
Z, is known tina, a number Of the
employees claim to control many votes
end thot on election days they are ex-
tremely active around the polls
Neredith's Suggestion.
Should the Charter Changes Com
,nittee incorporate the suggestion OF
Charles V. Meredith that city en-
pioyes be eliminated from the voting
list In primary elections. this end VIII
have to a large extent been met,
At an early meeting of Council 1t
is probable that Il resolution will be
introduced prohibiting the closing OF
the city departments on primary cleo
tion day. for the very reason that
there is apparently too much activity
displayed at the polls by the en-
ploves.
There Ia TO more reason for the
closing of city departments on election
day" said a prominent citizen yes
terday, than for the closing OF the
Tredegar works or the American To-
hacco Company's plants, or any otnef
business place. Most OF the primaries
take place when the day are long
md there Is plenty of time between
the opening and closing of the polls
for everyone to cost his vote.
Every man should be allowed the
kirht to vote. and every man should
vote. But there rs no reason why city
employees should be given the whole
day.
City Loses Money.
Look how much the city is paying
out. FOR which it receives returns.
Take the Street Cleaning Department
IA an Illustration. There are about
$50 men In that department. getting
on an average of $3.50 a day. There
n the sum Of three hundred dollars
thrown away. simply to give the men
the opportunity of voting--and work
ing for their friends the ms, as a
rule"
This point seems to have been well
taken. fnasmuch as the Administrative
Board has passed a rule by which
men are to be limited In the number
OF DAYS they may receive pay for ILL
ness Just the other day man In
one Of the departments was refused
nay for absence on account OF sick
s ness.
Therefore" continued the citizen
referred to, why should a thousand
city employees be given whole day
within which to vote
In the meantime, IT is we'll Tor all
citizens who have not yet paid their
poll taxes to DO so at once, so they
may be able to cast their ballots at
the spring primary. when candidates
for the City Council and for the Mayor
atty will be nominated.
Treasurer PAGES Office. was crowded
every day last week with citizens eager
to qualify. If the tax is paid before
December ist the Ave per cent penalty
will not have to be paid. 1t must