Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-18
e, LAWRENCE FELL
On Personal Registration

DROBABTY the greatest single thing that
personal registration in Pennsylvania,
and especially in Philadelphia. has accom-.
plishcd is the wiplng out Of the so-called
"phantom" vote, according to f. Lawrence
Fell chairman Of the Registration Commits
sion for the City of Philadelphia.
"1he phantom vote no longer. exists In
Philadelphia" said Mr.. Fell. ''and the per-
sonal registration law has done this. 1t has
to vote on the name of another person that
1t simply isn't worth the risk to try 1t. TX
a voter is challenged he is required to sign
his name In what is called the second book
in order that the signature may be COMPARED
with the original in the registration book.
If he does this and the name is not his own:
the man attempting TO vote has committed
forgery as we'll as violation Of the election
laws. A felony is not easy TO settle. and
the result has been that very little Of this
is tried now.
Women Great Help
"The Registration Commissioners have
found. since the granting of the franchise
to women. that they are great help in
registration, and we have appointed large
number of them as registrars in the various
voting divisions They are exceedingly re-
liable and they take their duties very ear
nestly and seriously.
LAS a rule. they write better hand than
the men. This in itself is a decided ad-
vantage; but more important than this.
they are far less likely to deviate from the
strict letter Of the law because Of previous
friendships. There have been practically no
cases where women have offended In this
way, and In every respect we have found
that they are em!ncntly satisfactory as cleo
ton registrars.
THE women will also 20 to far greater
trouble TO learn the election law md to learn
the details Of their duties than men will, and
lnco tlynltv tN thn IL IaHn
of the other fellow in the pursuit of their
duties. The women ns whole are also
careful to register. ! believe that every col.
ored woman in the City of Philadelphia has
registered. They have taken advantage Of
this new privilege to a greater extent than
the women Of any other class.
Citizens and Their Rights
"It has been our experience. although |
am sorry TO say II. that the citizen who is
most careful Of his rights aR M elector is
invariably the naturalized citizen. This.
however, Is not strange If you consider the
matter. When a man will take the time and
the trouble to become naturalizcd he is very
apt to use the comparatively small amount
Of time that it requires to register and TO
vote.
1--WE had one instance in one of the down.
town wards, although this was the case of
a man born In this country of foreign par
ents. His registration had been challenged
and he could not prove that he had been
born in the United States, MS he had re-
Gently moved to Philadelphia from Brook
lyn In order to register the man Maid his
| own expenses to Brooklyn and brought back
| an elder sister, who swore as to the date and
place of his birth in that city. So, in order
| to clear up his registration title, he paid
| his own fare and expenses to Brooklyn and
back. his sisters fare both ways and her
expenses while here, amounting in all TO n
| considerable number Of dollars and the loss
of several DAYS in time,
Changes in Act Suggested
| 1.-THE registration law in PennsyIyanla has
| corrected lot Of crying evils, but there are
! n few things which our experience as Com
| missioners has shown us might still be i'm
| proved We believe that it would be well 70
| have the registration days closer together
| At present the books are out Of our bosses
| sion about month at each registration
| period, and this means that they are in the
| custody Of the registrars between the df
ferent registration days, which is usually
| two weeks.
''This offers Il temptation to change or to
| add to these books between registration days
| and this should be removed. I'm many other
| States it is the custom TO have the repistra
| ton days Immediately follow each other
| and we have recommended to the I.erisla :
| ture that the registration days here be
Thursday, Friday and Saturday for one
week only.
1.-The commission also has been mpresscd
with the fact that there is no Identification
'tof individuals who present themselves at the