With these exceptions, all voters must apply in person; but no one can be registered at any other time or place than those designated in the act. Applicants must sign their names to the entries in the register. Any voter disabled by sickness may make affidavit of the fact and be registered. The final list is made up annually on Monday in the week preceding the November election. Elections in April, or at any other time aside from the November elections, shall be held according to the last preceding register; but provision is made for changes and additions if required. South Dakota. Each clerk of election shall keep a poll list, which shall contain the names of all persons voting at such election in their numerical order. As soon as a ballot is delivered to one of the judges of election to be deposited in the ballot-box, the clerks of election enter the name of the voter on their lists. In cities having a population of 1,000 voters or more the judges of election of each precinct constitute a registry board; and they meet two weeks before any general election and make a list of all persons entitled to vote at the ensuing election in their precinct. No person is allowed to vote unless his name appears on the list.

Tennessee. Registry is required in districts that cast more than 500 votes. A certificate of registration is issued.

Washington.-There is no State law. For each of the cities there is a law requiring all qualified electors to register thirty days previous to any municipal elec

tion.

Wisconsin.-In 1885 the law required an annual registry in each ward or election district of every city of 3,000 inhabitants or more; in each ward or election district of every incorporated village of 1,500 or more; in every town containing a village having 1,500 or more, in which village separate general elections were not required to be held; and in all towns, any part of which had been embraced in any city or village in which registration was required. In 1889 the general law requiring the registration of electors was made to apply to the annual municipal and judicial elections in all towns, villages, and cities in which registration was required at town elections. The inspectors shall meet on Tuesday, four weeks before each general election, and sit for one day, or two days if necessary. They shall make a register of all electors of their respective districts. A second meeting shall be held on Tuesday one week before the election, to revise and correct the register. Names can be stricken off on oath of two electors unless, being challenged, the voter gives satisfactory answers. Voters may appear before the board and take oath as to their qualifications. In 1887 a law provided that the vote of a person not registered would not be received in any city having not fewer than 3,000 nor more than 20,000 inhabitants; but in cities of fewer than 3,000 a vote may be sworn in on election day. No vote shall be received at any general election if the name of the person offering to vote is not on the register, unless he has become a qualified voter since the last meeting of the board, or unless he makes oath that he was qualified to vote at the previous general election and has not become disqualified since. The law of 1887 amended former laws so that in all cities of over 50,000 inhabitants, the inspectors of election and clerks of election constitute the board of registry. They shall meet on Tuesday, one week previous to the general election, to revise the lists. No names shall be entered after the list is completed. Twenty-two States require general registration. The provisions of their respective laws are as follow:

Alabama. The code provides that the Secretary of State shall superintend the registration of electors. He shall appoint one registrar in each county, who shall appoint one assistant registrar for each voting precinct or ward in the county for which such registrars are respectively appointed; and such assistants shall, as soon as practicable after their several appointments, make a full registration list of all the

electors in the precincts or wards for which such assistants are appointed respectively. Each assistant registrar shall make a correct return of the list of registered electors made by him. Assistant registrars shall make registration of the electors residing in their respective precincts or wards upon blank forms provided for that purpose, and they shall not register in any other way or on any other form than that prescribed. Each elector, who is qualified to vote, must subscribe to an oath that he is a qualified elector under the Constitution and laws of the State; and the name of each elector must either be subscribed to such oath by the elector himself, or be subscribed by the assistant registrar; but when signed by the assistant, it must be with the consent and direction of the elector so to do, which shall be evinced by the attestation of the assistant registrar's name written opposite to the name of the elector. The assistant registrars shall write opposite to the name of each elector, under the appropriate head in such form, the number and date of re ristration, the place of residence of the elector, whether white or colored, his employment; and if he is in the employment of another, the name of such employer; and if the elector resides in any town or city, the street and number, or other mark or description by which his place of residence may be identified. The assistant registrars shall be present, at the voting precinct or ward for which they are respectively appointed, on the day of election to register such electors as may have failed to register on any previous day in their precincts or wards. It is not lawful to register any elector within twenty days before, nor in any incorporated town or city having a population of more than 5,000 inhabitants within fifteen days before any general or special election day; and all registrations made on the election day, by any registrar appointed for that day only, shall be returned to the assistant registrar for that precinct or ward properly certified, which shall be returned to, and be treated by, the judge of probate as if made by the regular assistant registrars. But in incorporated cities or towns having a population of more than 5,000 inhabitants any person who may have attained the age of twenty-one within fifteen days next preceding any general or special election, and who is qualified to vote under the Constitution and laws of the State, may be registered by the probate judge of the county on the day of election, and he shall cause the name of such elector to be entered upon the registration list of the ward in which such elector shall reside, and he shall issue to such elector a certificate of registration.

California. The code provides that a great registry shall be kept in the office of the county clerk of each county. The board of supervisors of any county may order a new registry whenever they think best on six months' publication. This registration must conform to the provisions of the code concerning original registration, except that any person applying for registration may be entitled to it if he can show that his name was enrolled, and not erased, on the former great registry. A law of 1878 left San Francisco under the control of a local law creating commissioners for the registry of voters. The several counties vary somewhat in regard to the great registry. The code further provides that the clerk must enter in the great registry full particulars of the voter, and also that the voter must make oath to certain questions. The assessor of each county must keep a list of electors similar to the great registry, and he must enroll the name of any elector of the country making appli

cation to him. This enrollment must show the same facts as those required to be recorded in the great registry. At the end of every month the assessor must return to the county clerk a certified copy of all the entries made upon his roll of electors during the month, and the clerk must at once enter these names upon the great registry. The clerk has power to cancel registry at the request of the person registered, or when the person has become insane or has been convicted of crime or is dead; also when the person did not vote during the next preceding two years. Any

voter may proceed by action in the Supreme Court to compel the clerk to cancel any entry made on the great registry illegally. Provision is made for the swearing in of votes on election day.

Colorado. The law of 1835 provides that the judges of elections in the several wards and election precincts shall meet on Tuesday, three weeks before the general election, to make a register. The number of days they sit depends upon the number of votes cast in the precinct. The board shall enter on the list the names of all legally qualified electors and those who shall become such by lapse of time on or before the next general election. Every board of registry shall also meet on the Tuesday of the week preceding every general election, and also on the day preceding the election. No vote shall be received at any election unless the name of the person offering to vote shall be found on the certified registry list; but votes may be sworn in on election day.

Connecticut.-No person shall be excluded from registration on the ground that he can not read, if he can prove that he was admitted an elector of the State before October, 1855. In 1884 it was provided that the registrars of every town shall, at least eighteen days before the election of the Tuesday after the first Monday of November, 1888, and every other year thereafter, complete a register of electors. Amendments to the law of 1877 provide that the registrars shall be in session on Thursday of the third week preceding the election, and they shall minutely describe the residence of the electors. Names of criminals shall be stricken from the list on information being furnished by the clerk of any court in the State having jurisdiction in criminal cases. Former residents of the State may vote on election day, upon making affidavit of residence, if they have not been registered.

Florida. The Constitution of 1885 requires the registry of voters by counties. The law of 1887 provides that the Governor shall, every two years, appoint one person in each county to be the supervisor of registration. He shall keep his office open at least three days in each week, from the first Monday in August to the last Saturday preceding the first Monday in October. The district registration offices must be open at least two days in each week from the first Monday in September to the last Saturday in September. Each elector on registering is given a certificate without charge.

Illinois. The judges of election constitute the board of registry in the election precinct for which they are appointed. They shall meet in the precinct on Tuesday four weeks preceding the first general city, village, or town election, or the first general State or county election that may occur after their appointment, and they shall make a general registration. A new general registration shall be made prior to each presidential election. On Tuesday three weeks preceding the State, city, village, town, or county election the board of registry shall meet again; and also on the Tuesday two weeks before any of these elections. The three registers made on these separate days shall be compared and combined into a new register. Applications of all kinds may be heard on the Thursday following the Tuesday two weeks before the election; and on the Monday or Tuesday of the week before the election week, the county court shall be open for applications. But after the entry of the applications allowed by the court no further change in the register is permitted. It is allowed to swear in votes on election day. For intermediate elections (between the presidential elections) the last general registration shall be used; but it may be revised by the board of registry. Chicago and East St. Louis have an election law that differs somewhat from the general law. It requires that a registry must be made for every election, whether general, special, or local; and voters are not allowed to swear in their votes on election day, except in extreme cases.

Iowa.-The law of 1888 amended a law of the previous year so that the registers shall be in attendance on the second Thursday preceding every general an

nual election; that in 1888 and on every fourth year thereafter they shall attend three days, and for every other general annual election two days. A new registration shall be made in 1888, and every fourth year thereafter; and after all other general annual elections they shall prepare a new registry list based on that of the last preceding general annual election. For all other general or special elections, the registry list for the last preceding general annual election shall be used. On the day of every election the registers shall be present at some convenient place, but not within 100 feet of the voting place, to grant certificates, in certain cases, to electors not registered; this law applies to places that have a population of more than 2,500 inhabitants.

Maine. The law of 1883 requires that in every town the assessors, or the selectmen acting as assessors, shall by Aug. 1 (in years wherein general elections are held) prepare lists of voters and deliver them to the selectmen. In towns of more than 3,000 inhabitants the selectmen shall be in session two days between Aug. 11 and Aug. 18, to correct the lists. In smaller towns the municipal officers or the selectmen shall be in session one or two days before the election; and in the smallest towns on election day, to the opening of the polls. The lists are prepared by the aldermen and the assessors in the cities in the same way, and they are open for correction.

Maryland. The law of 1882, amended since that time, allows the Governor to nominate and the Senate to confirm one person in each election district of every county to be an officer of registration. In Baltimore the board of supervisors of elections, not later than the 15th of April in each year, shall appoint three officers of registration for each of the precincts of the several wards, two of whom shall be from the two leading political parties of the State, one from each party. In Baltimore the officers of registry shall sit two successive days in May, and the same number of days in June, July, September, and October. In the State, officers of registration shall sit two successive days in October. A registry holds good for every election held thereafter until another registration, or correction thereof, has been made. On the day of election the clerk of the circuit court for each county, and the clerk of the Superior Court of Baltimore, shall be at his office to issue certificates to those who can prove that errors in registry have been made.

Massachusetts. The law of 1884 provides that the board of registrars of voters shall be appointed by the selectmen of each town and by the mayor of each city, subject to the approval of the board of alderNo more than two of them shall be of the same

men.

political party. Full particulars shall be given of each voter on the list. No person shall be placed upon the list unless he writes his name and is able to read at least three lines of the Constitution. Registrars of voters in cities and towns shall, at least twenty days before the annual city or town election, and at least thirty days before the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November annually, make their corrected lists. Names registered may be transferred or stricken from the list upon notice and examination. Registrars in cities shall be in session until ten o'clock in the afternoon of the Saturday next but one preceding the day of any election and for such time previous as may seem necessary. Registration of voters in towns shall cease at ten o'clock in the afternoon of the Wednesday next preceding the day of election, and in cities at ten o'clock in the afternoon of the Saturday next but one preceding the day of election; and no entry shall be made on the list after the close of regis tration. Names omitted by clerical error or by mistake may be placed upon the list. A certificate of the right to vote may be given if application is made on the day of election. The city of Boston has a special registry law. A law of 1889 enables cities to change their boards of registrars so that the clerk shall not be a member thereof. Another law regulates the assessment and registration of voters as to lists of persons liable to or desiring to be assessed for a poll tax.

Michigan. The law of 1859 constituted the aldermen of every city, and the supervisor, treasurer, and clerk of every township, a board of registry. On Saturday next preceding the general election and on the next preceding the day of the regular charter election or any special election, and on such other days as are appointed by the common council of the city, not exceeding three days in all, the board of registration shall be in session. This does not apply to Detroit. In that city the board for each ward or election district shall sit on the first Monday in October in every fourth year, for the purpose of making a reregistration of each ward or election district. In other years the former list shall be worked over and corrected. It is provided that any voter claiming the right to vote, whose name is not registered, may be registered both in the cities and in the townships on the day of election.

Mississippi. The Constitution requires a general registration, and makes provision for registry laws. The revised act of 1880 provides that boards of registry shall be appointed in each county. The clerk of the circuit court of each county shall register on the registy book of the election district of the residence of such person, any one entitled to be registered, if he applies personally, and makes an oath as to his qualifications. The supervisors of each county may order new registry books.

Montana. The Territorial law of 1889, adopted by the State Legislature, directs boards of county commissioners, every June, to lay out their respective counties in convenient election districts. One registry agent for each election district shall be appointed by the county commissioners. But in cities of over 50,000 inhabitants there may be two registry agents in each election district. Registry agents must give minute particulars of voters registered. They shall sit on all legal days between Sept. 15 and Oct. 5; and longer hours from Oct 5 to Oct. 15. There can be no registry on tailure to give residence and other particulars. An oath as to facts must be administered to voters asking registration. The registry holds good for two years, unless the residence is changed, and this requires a new registration. Changes of residence may be made until the day before election.

Nevada. The law of 1869, superseding the original registry law of 1866, made justices of the peace in the several counties the registry agents of their respective townships; but in any township where there is no justice of the peace, or where the election district is distant from the office of a justice, the commissioners of the county may appoint some other person to perform the duties of registry agent. Such agents shall sit on all legal days between July 1 and Oct. 21 before any general election, and for twenty days prior to closing the registry (which shall close ten days prior to the day of election) for any special or municipal election. They shall sit extra hours for the ten days next preceding the closing of the registry. An oath must be administered to voters asking registration. Objections to any voter on the list may be made until the fourth day before election. If a voter's name is erased, he can appeal to the court. The registered voter moving from one district to another before election day must provide himself with a certificate from his former place of registration before he can be registered again. In 1873 it was enacted that no person shall be permitted to vote whose name is not on the registry.

New Hampshire. The general law of 1878 provides that a board of supervisors shall be elected in each town every other year. They shall hold meetings and give hearings preparatory to the making of a check-list. In towns of more than 600 voters, the first meeting shall be held six days before election day, and the meeting shall be continued from day to day until all applications have been heard. A voter who is not on the list is not allowed to vote unless he can prove his claim, and he must appear in person.

North Carolina. The amendments of 1889 require the commissioners of counties to select one or more

persons for each election precinct to act as registrars of voters for such precinct. Such registrars shall revise the existing registration books without requiring voters to be registered anew; and on each day for thirty days preceding the day for closing the books they shall keep them open for additions or corrections. But the commissioners may, on thirty days' notice, direct an entirely new registration of voters instead of a revision of the list. Registration must specify the age, occupation, place of birth, and residence of the voter. The books shall be closed on the second Saturday before each election. Registrars may erase the names of unqualified voters. Every voter presenting himself for registration shall answer all questions under oath. No registration is allowed on the day of election.

North Dakota. The law adopted by the State at its organization in 1889 provides that the judges or inspectors of any election precinct shall be a board of registry. They shall meet on Tuesday, two weeks preceding any general election, and make a register of all qualified voters. The list of the preceding election shall be the basis of the new registry, and the board may change it as they see fit. The board shall meet again on Tuesday preceding the general election. If a voter is not registered he may swear in his vote on election day, and it must be accompanied by an affidavit in writing stating that he is entitled to vote.

Pennsylvania. In 1868 the Supreme Court set aside the former registry law as unconstitutional because it imposed burdensome restrictions. The State Constitution now provides that all laws regulating the holding of elections by the citizens, or for the registration of electors, shall be uniform throughout the State. In every district the judge of election shall select one of the inspectors, who shall have in custody the registry of voters. On the day of election a person whose name is not on the registry and who claims the right to vote shall produce at least one qualified voter of the district as a witness to the residence of the claimant in the district for the period of at least two months before the election. Under this law a native-born citizen not registered but claiming the right to vote under the law may make an affidavit that he was formerly a citizen of Pennsylvania, that he removed therefrom, but has now resided therein six months next preceding the election, and that he has paid a State or county tax within two years. The law of 1874 provides that naturalized citizens not registered but claiming the right to vote may swear in their votes as residents of the election district where they wish to vote, and that native-born citizens not registered who claim the right to vote on age may make affidavit that they are twenty-one years of age and have the other qualifications for voting.

Rhode Island. The law of 1889 requires that every person who is, or within a year may be, qualified to vote upon being registered, shall annually, on or before the last day of December, register his name with the town clerk and certify to the proof of the facts stated in the register. The town and ward clerks shall annually place upon the voting lists the names of voters that were upon the previous voting lists against whom a property tax to the amount of $1 or upward shall have been assessed; and such persons are not obliged to register their names annually, as is required of persons not paying a property tax. The board of canvassers of the several towns or wards of the city of Providence shall meet on the last Monday in February, and within two weeks thereafter the lists shall be posted. The boards shall hold their last meeting within four days next preceding the first Wednesday in April in each year to correct the lists. They shall also meet within four days of any other general or special election to correct them. The city clerk of Providence must deliver to the ward clerks a printed copy of the tax assessment of the city. Certificates of the payment of taxes may be required to be shown on election day.

South Carolina.-Certificates are issued by supervisors of registration for each county. All electors in

Railroads.-There are fifteen railroad corporations with 257 miles of track in the State, with a capital stock of $43,708,830. There are three street railways with 67 miles of track, with a capital stock of $1,724,000. Another street railway has been chartered in Newport.

Legislative Sessions.-The adjourned session of the General Assembly began at Providence on Jan. 15, and continued through April 26. On Feb. 13, a bill embodying the features of the Kansas injunction law (which was demanded by the friends of constitutional prohibition, in order to secure a better enforcement of the law) was defeated in the House. The Assembly then went further, and on March 13, after protracted debates, passed a resolution proposing to submit to the people the question of rescinding altogether the prohibitory constitutional amendment. The vote in the House was 41 to 25 in favor of submission, and in the Senate 21 to 16. The resolution was referred to the next Legislature, meeting in May, for its concurrence. On March 18 the resignation of United States Senator Jonathan Chace was presented, to take effect at once. A large number of aspirants for the office appeared, and the Republican members were unable to unite on a candidate. The first ballot to choose a successor was taken in each House on March 26, and resulted as follows: Senate-Nathan F. Dixon 22, George P. Wetmore 5, Olney Arnold 6, Le Baron B. Colt 1, scattering 2; House-Dixon 19, Wetmore 23, Arnold 10, Colt 4, Thomas Durfee 5, R. H. I. Goddard 4, Royal C. Taft 1. Arnold was the Democratic candidate. Eight ballots were subsequently taken in joint session before a choice was made. On the last ballot, April 10, Dixon, who had been the leading candidate throughout, received 51 votes, or one more than a majority, Wetmore 41, Arnold 4, and Colt 2.

A ballot-reform law, similar to the Massachusetts act, was one of the most important results of the session. It provides that

All ballots cast in elections for electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in the Congress of the United States, general officers of the State, and members of the General Assembly, and all ballots upon any proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State submitted to the electors

for approval, after the first day of June, in the year 1889, shall be printed and distributed at public expense, as hereinafter provided.

Each ballot shall contain the names of all candidates to be voted for, with their residence (street and number, if any), and the party to which they belong. They shall be arranged under the designation of the office for which they are candidates, except that presidential electors may be grouped under the name of the party nominating them. Blank spaces shall be left for writing in names that the voter may wish to insert. Nominations of candidates must be sent to the Secretary of State, who is charged with preparing the ballots. The nomination papers of any candidate chosen at a convention or caucus of any party which received at least 2 per cent. of the total vote at the last preceding election shall be signed by the chairman and secretary of such convention or caucus. The nomination papers of all other candidates must be signed by a designated number of voters, 500

signatures being required if the candidate is to be voted for throughout the State, 250 if throughout a congressional district, 50 if he is a candidate for member of the Legislature in any city, and 25 if for the same office in any town. The Secretary of State shall print on the official ballot the names of all candidates duly nominated by such nomination papers. The ballots shall be folded so that no printing shall appear, except the indorsement, which shall be printed on the back and outside, "Official Ballot for," followed by the designation of the polling place for which the ballot is prepared, the date of the election, and a fac-simile of the signature of the Secretary of State. They shall then be put up in packages of 100 each, and be distributed to the city and town clerks. At each polling place a sufficient number of voting shelves or compartments shall be built by the local authorities, at least one for each 100 voters, and in no case fewer than three, so constructed that in the marking of his ballot the voter shall be screened from observation. A guard-rail shall be so constructed that no one outside can approach within ten feet of the ballotboxes or compartments. But neither the ballotboxes nor the compartments shall be hidden from the view of those just outside the rail. The voter, on receiving a folded official ballot from the election officer, shall go inside the rail to one of the compartments and prepare his ballot by marking a cross opposite the name of the persons to be voted for. He shall then fold the ballot and deposit it in the ballot-box. No ballot that lacks the official indorsement on the back shall be received or counted. Not more than four voters in excess of the number of compartments shall be allowed within the rail at one time. No ballots can be taken from the polling place. Penalties are imposed upon any person who allows his ballot to be seen by another, who shall make any mark upon his ballot by which it may be identified, or who shall interfere in any way with any voter inside the rail. Other acts of the session were as follow:

Providing for an enrollment of all male citizens above twenty years of age in the State on May 15,

1889.

Providing for the assessment in each town and city other taxes shall amount to $1, for each person taxed, of an annual poll tax of $1, or of so much as with the proceeds to be used for the support of public schools.

Establishing a system of registration, which requires all voters to register with the town clerk on or before Dec. 31 of each year; but persons already registered, who have paid a property tax of $1 or more during the year preceding, are not required to register again in order to vote.

Establishing a soldiers' home; appropriating $50,000 for land and buildings; creating a State board of soldiers' relief, which shall have control of the home; directing that the secretary of such board shall be the pensions, free of charge. State pension agent, who shall aid soldiers in seeking

Providing that the railroad commissioner shall hereafter be appointed by the Governor for three years, and giving him power to summon and pay witnesses.

Raising the age of consent in females to fourteen years.

Establishing, and adding to the organized militia, two companies of naval battalion, to be called the Naval Reserve Artillery and the Naval Reserve Torpedo Company.