Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-23
SOLDIERS VOTES
BEING ARRANGED
Attorney General and Adju-
tant General Working Out
the Details Now

Attorney General Francis Skunk
Brown last night completed his study
of tho provisions OF the constitution
and the acts CT the Legislature reia-
tive to the voting of the soldiers
the conclusions were sent to Cover
nor Brumhaugh in Maine. Mr.. Brown
holds that the soldiers may vote and
that registration and other laws are
not t bar them while they are in Fed
erai service. A formal statement VIII
be issued by the Governor on the SUD-
ject.
Adjutant General Stewart last night
issued his circular to the Guardsmen
informing them of the steps under
way and what must be done regarding
assessment of voters. The generafs
circular is as follows:
LAS the result of a conference with
the Attorney Generals Department,
and in view of the possibility of the
organizations of h National Guard
of Pennsylvania, now in the active
service of the United States. being de-
tanned in the field before the date OF
the e general election, h follow
ing suggestions prepared by the Ak
torney Generals Department are pub
lished for The guidance and informa-
ton of all concerned.
TO the citizens OF Pennsylvania
now in actual military service under
a requisition from the President of the
United States or by the authority OF
this commonwealth.
Your attention is called to the
fact. that a general election occurs on
November seventh, one thousand, nine
and sixteen. at which cleo
ton there is to be chosen. Presidential
electors, a United States Senator, a
state Treasurer, an Auditor General, a
Judge of the Supreme Court, represen-
tatives in Congress-. senators in the
General Assembly. Representatives in
the General Assembly and mine in
spectors. The constitution of this
State provides. hat a person in mill
tary service does therefore, lose his
residence and It is further provided,
that soldiers in the actual military SER
vice may vote in sue name as is
prescribed by law. The Act of As
sembly OF August Is, 1864, entitled an
act"to regulate elections of soldiers
system, whereby votes may be cast
and canvassed. The details necessary
for taking such votes are now being
worked out, so that, no qaliied cleo
tor will be denied the privilege of
casting his ballot on electino day. At
tention is directed to Art. VIII, of the
constitution which provides among
other things, that before a person OF
twenty-five years of & or upwards
can vote, he must have paid within
two years. a State or county tax, which
tax must be assessed at least two
months n paid at least one month
before the election. The Act of 1864
above referred to. provites, that every
private and noncommissioned officer
collector of his district, or to the
county treasurer, and that he shall be
exempt from all other personal taxes
during his continuance in service.
Commissioned officers must pay the
usual personal taxes. Under a later
tct, it is unlawful for any person to pay
or cause to be paid, any occupation or
poll Ia assessed against n e~lector,
except on written and signed order
ment to be made. which written or
signed order must be presented at
least thirty days prior to the date of
holding the election, at which such
elector desires to vote. Blank forms
will be furnished later by the Secre-
tary of the Commonwealth. whereby
a soldier a authorize some one at
home to pay his taxes and receive a
tax receipt. No such order is neces-
sary in order to be assessed.
I'm view of the foregoing, it is
suggested. that the soldiers should
communicate with some one at home
and see that they are assessed for
county purposes, which assessment
should be made not later than Sep
TENDER sixth. and when assessed their
friend should advise them. Citizens,
who have paid a State or county tax
within the last two years, are not RET
CURED to pay n further tax in or
der to vote at the election held in
November of this year.
II is requested hat commanding
officers without delay take the neces-
sary steps TO have every member of
tile command fully and duly advised"