Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-05
LEGISLA TURE NEWS
WALKERS BILLS
STIR COMMENT
Radical Changes Made in Ad-
dition to Compulsory Reg
istration Requirement

Much comment has been caused
in the Legislature by the bills pre-
sented yesterday by Mr.. Walker,
Philadelphia, for changes in the
election laws. 1t is intimated that
more are coming and that the
Philadelphian intends to make
things lively. The bills will likely
appear on the floor of the House
soon.
BY one bill every qualified elector
IN the state would be compelled, to
register and vote at every general
ana municipal election and at every
party primary or non-partisan pri-
mary. Failure to comply with the
act is made punishable by a fine not
exceeding $685. in default of which
the defendant must undergo i'm
prlsonment not exceeding ten days.
An elector may be excused from
voting or registering by reason of
illness, disability or unavoidable alb
sence on the registration and cleo
tion days. Illness or disability how
ever must be established by the affi-
daVlt of a registered physician, and
an absent elector must file an afTl-
'daVlt giving his reasons. Au afTi-
davits must be filed with the coun-
" commissioners within 80 days
after the last day for registration,
OF within 30 days of any election.
III the county commissioners have
reason to believe that any affidavit
is false or does not constitute a suf-
hc1ent excuse, they must lay the
matter before the district attorney
who is directed to prosecute the of
render. The county commissioners,
within so days after the last regis
tration day, or within so days after
any election, to give the district at
torney a list of names and resi-
dences of all persons who failed to
register or vote and who failed to
file affidavits and they are to be
prosecuted.
Employers in cities, boroughs and
towns, must grant employees one
hour, and those in townships must
grant employees two hours, in which
to register and the same time to
vote. In all prosecutions involving
the question of illness, disability or
unavoidable absence, a jury must
decide whether an excuse offered is
sufficient.
Mr.. Walker also introduced a bill
requiring that signatures to non2in-
alton petitions must be those of men
who have personally registered and
are qualified to vote at the next pre-
cedlng general or municipal election
A third bill by the same author
eliminates the voters assistance
clause from the primary election
law, which requires an affidavit as to
disability of the voter to mark his
ballot. Passage of this bill would
place primary election. No affi-
davit is now required at general or
municipal elections.
Another bill by Walker would
require persons wishing to pre-empt
the name of an Independent party
for the purpose of nominating by
petitions to file an affidavit with the
prothonotary of the proper county,
before the primary election, setting
forth the name they desire to use.
Under the present law party names
may be pre-empted after the pri-
mary and before the election.
Senator Phipps, Venango, pre-
sented a bill amending the corrupt
practices act to provide that if a
candidate or political committee re-
ceives no contributions, nor makes
any disbursements, the candidates
and treasurer of the committee, need
file no account or affidavit.