The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-01-25
Rep. Palmer's Bill Makes It ii.
legal For Anyone Connected
With Traffic To Serve
MEASURE AIMED AT
BOSSED DETROIT WARDS
Rep. McGraw Has Bill Which
Would Limit Boards To
Single Term
From a star Correspondent.

X LANSING, Mich, Jan. 26.-Several
changes. intended TO eliminate fraud
\ I'm the administration OF Michigan's
present election laws, may be intro
duced I'm the House during the present
session II suggestions advanced In
formally by several members are CIV
en- serious consideration.
y At least two, advanced by members
4 or the Wayne county delegation, are
3 worthy OF attention and will, In all
probability, he incos porated In bills
/ presented before the close OF the pres
emit session, although neither one has,
Is yet, progressed beyond the forma-
tive stage.
Rep. George p. Palmer, or Wayne
county, IN discussing proposed amend
ments to the election and primary
laws OF Michigan with "a group OF
friends recently advanced the idea Of
the adoption OF statute similar to
that now In force in Nebraska, the
sole object of which Is to take the
administration OF elections cut Of the
hands OF mercenary and interruptions
ward healers and politicians-espe-
cially In the larger cities Of the state
where such corruption Is most preva.
lent.
Under the Nebraska statute, accord
ing to Rep Palmer, the appointment
\ Of all election officials, such as regis
trars and other members of the cleo
4 ton boards, Is vested in state ON.
cial appointed by the governor. No
saloonkeeper. employee of a saloon.
s, keeper, brewer or distiller, candidate
for once or holder Of ONCE may act
- an election oficial, under the Ne
braska statute.
Appointments as election officials
may be- revoked at any time by the
0Glcer In charge and members OF
IL ards need not reside In the ward
or precinct I'm which they serve, the
appointive oficer having full author
stty to place his men wherever he
Wishes.
The Nebraska act is also worded so
certain population--so that II applies
af present only 70 Omaha and one or
TWO other large cities Of the state.
The object Of the law Is to prevent
the delivery" of q certain precinct by
the precinct or ward boss" who, by
manipulation of the election boards,
It
residents- The employment OF non.
resident election oficials also tends,
Il u said. to minimize the amount of
sshort pencil. work done by members
0f the board Themselves thing re-
yealed in recent disclosures in De
troit.
Rep. Palmer pointed out that there
we're certain wards I'm Detroit which
. h. T.
man who swung the deal was, In
several instances. not even a resident
of the ward which he controlled. De-
livery for any certain candidate was
always made. he said. by control Of
the election machinery.
While there might be no objection
fto saioonkeepers. or employees OF 9TH
err Interested In the liquor business
ecttng IS election ofiicials, this clause
q the law tended, he said, to elm
mate the dive keeper and saloonkeep-
er Who made use OF his place Of bust
ness solely to round up coterie Of
y mercenary voters.
Passage OF such law, or a similar
& one, In Michigan would do away with
gang control of election machinery
and undoubtedly would have a salu.
z tary enect In safeguarding the inter-
ests Of the voter, according to Rep.
Palmer.
Rep. Palmer said that he was not
preparing such bill but that he was
considering some such legislation dur.
+ Ing the present session.
Another and simpler suggestion rel
alive to amendment OF the election
Z laws In such way as to minimize
8 the harm done by dishonest election
oficials was advanced, during the
course OF the same conversation. by
Rep. Homer McGraw. Rep McGraw
said that one Of his friends had men.
toned to him the advisability OF bar
\ ring candidates for registrar, inspect.
or or other similar ONCE from acting
as election ofiicials-thus practically
limiting election boards to a single
+ term.
The temptation to WELD the "sbor,
pencil" on an opposition candidate
3 OFTEN proves too strong, according "a
Rep McGraw. and this provision
would eliminate the temptation and
. - the same time, tend to remove
~ the consequent rotation OF election
90cials--the precinct from the con,
troll OF any man or set OF men who
have heretofore managed things
through manipulation Of election
, boards.
Both suggestions doubtless win be
b G1von 0orious consideration In Tram
No election legislation.
BALIBNGER-
HYHW p6nKC IICTEn