The Government, through Lord Hartington, on Monday intro- duced its
Bill for improving the conduct of elections. It proposes to abolish public nomination, and substitute for it private nomina- tion before the Returning Officer by a proposer, a seconder, and eight electors,—an excellent change ; to declare any expenses not returned corrupt expenses,—a most excellent change ; and to establish vote by ballot,—a very doubtful change. It will stop in- timidation, but it will not stop bribery, except by preventing the publication of premature returns, and thegood it secures is purchased at the sacrifice of the great principle that every public function should be exercised subject to the control of opinion. The mode of ballot is to be the "Australian," that is, the voter is to receive a paper like a cheque with the counterfoil, the cheque containing the candi- dates' names. The cheque and counterfoil bear the same number. The elector erases the names of candidates he disapproves— suppose he can't read 2—deposits the cheque in the urn, and gives the counterfoil to the clerk, who sends it up to the Clerk of the Crown. If, therefore, any inquiry is subsequently necessary, the Court can find out if the elector voted, and how.
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