New-York tribune., 1879-11-11
PRETEN7IYG FRAUD At THE POLLS.
A VALUABLE AND INGENIOUS DEVICE FOR REGis-
TERIyG AND STAMPING TIE VOTES CAST.
Onn &C thn rnnrt cnrinns and vnlnallo OF

A VALUABLE AND INGENIOUS DEVICE FOR RLGls-
TERISG AND STAMPING 1IE VOTES CAST.
One of the most curious and valuable OF
the many devices for secur n far election ana an
honest count Of the ballots cast is lately patented
by sttubeu r. Bacon. Boston. Mr. Bacon's invention
consists of DOUBLE or more properly speaking. two
story ballot box upper part OF which ia arranged
mechanical conrvauoe Tor Stamping each ballot as
deposited The box Is made OF iron or wood as de-
sired and no access be had with either The upper or
lower portion of II except through n dooi which Is
10 .ked and sealed during the voting. The mechanism IN
the box consists OF number wheels resembling those
Ola clock, which mcloscd IN The upper box SHAFT
or axle to which crank attached constitutes tHe
means whereby The machinery Il moved.
When voter presents himself at the polls he Is told
10 MACE MS ballot on small .holf stand immediately
in from OF the opening through which u II TO DC passed
into the box The inspector OF election or
tie voter himself II ho chooses. then pushes
the ballot, with the back uppermost. into tie
opening The ballot IS prevented from falling
iaio the box below by little framework or shell Wa ch
separates the lower and upper parts OF the box Ihe
inspector turns the cran TO Tie let "a small rAt-
chot preventing Its being turucd n an opposite drcc
tou) and sinai b.l ruu- o.der tua the attention
Of the other persons in tn may hc attracted and
ANY uttemDiod fraud on tie part Of tie In
spcctor or yOfer thereby be prevented. complete
turn of the crank stamps ON Tie back o the ballot
letter ana number and a.ro drops the framework be
may fall into the place prepared Tor It's reception The
ieitcr Is not changed; tue figures are oonsecu-
tive. The first ballot cast al the polling
place would, OF course. b, stamped One."
ana the machine is arranged that with each turn ~
lie crank figures 10 be printed on the ballots follow
each other tncir proper numerical order That 49, tAe
nrsi ballot would be- stamped "one,' tic next "tWo,
The next " three" aud so on.
But IN TIE letter stamped with RE figure on each
aot he, the seemingly perfect guard against fraud.
dshopest Inspector might beiOfe bringing the box ~
the polIngplace I'm the morning. be Induced by some
equally dishonest pod o. reveal the letter cOnb-
uation winch could bc counicrl.i.cd by stamp; and
might have ballu.s of Ais own parry stamped
the genuine So and after the ballots had he.n
taken from the replace tar honest oucs east for tine
opposite side with the spurious ones wlch lie nad pre-
rarcd Ins fraud. no ever. would ne Impossible VII"
tnc box In use for each Of the inspectors al polnl
place. or amy citz-n. can move tly Wh'ci wAch ln'S
Inc letters, uDitLtr inspector nor Ctlcn 90 chah--
us the comhn .tou can possibly know I" Mh"t '',i'I
nc has changed IL unt the election Is over ana The box
In.s lev box would also preven, any person from
casting more tnan one ballot or al least would prevent
more beng counted, necauae on, tie Top bhl
lot woald Ice stamped, uid ever! unsl"mpcn b:nlo'
woud necessarily acc tho"h oui as it""'"'".
iepcalng would also De practically Useless u
tais were used. lusl'ad OF mercy cheo KING "i
Trcn AZ j. now done tie inspectors under inr
ten would enter Opposite e",H l',.no a. J., was to.,n
upon "a number wncn w"n" represent 'he "ii,I III
winch each vote east The number opposite each
ballot. Ia contested election cases whore the
majority either way Was sinaIl, stoicni un-
d,r which every ballot could be i.'Itined
would he of incilcuiable ya.ue. Arn Known To have
been absent the polls election da could Dc
muncd prove thtt iaci, and iue paliois bi
peafcrs IN their could De rda'cy picked ont
ana thrown away. SOME complain mai inls Wuuiu de-
strny the veil secrecy Win which each vote Dr. sup
ussei under the present system 10 De cthct but those
most familiar with The present mode Oi ctCuOAS know
that this sOcael -ccrrcy dO-s NOT 10 TACT eXisi the df
ference IN the ypes used IN ludorg uck rs enabling
Inc iS lecfurs cudldutts Autoaris in detect
t.iiaelv the candidates ior whom tt votes cast.
Tie inventor who recently explained Toe WOihings 81
the new box a IRIBuHE reporter, said thai me- uad
shown Al io many prom people and ilaf Of
them had IOnrd what seemed 10 hr detects It's
oncrltion hui that after they fully understood IT. they
Acknowledged value as perfect guard against
fraud Mr.. Bacon also said tnat he hau
drawn M law Wnch ought tO be passed
la every Stale where The box adopted. one Of the
provisions uf this thai at thc opening tie
polls "A certhcalc should be passed through the BOX
as To show that the naclnc was set L" amp Unr.
mat al tue close another certificate should be- Passed
bad been east. Tnp proposed law also provided
that when the polls were closed the
spectors should break the seal OF he door OF the box
ana looking the nuuher printed on ic baca OF ir
lasi ballot declare aloud To those assembled ia the
room. Ihey would tLeu nave to account ln their
furn, for this number and THIS numDcr only IL they
fouud that the nun O Da lois cast exceeded the
br ON the register. II approxIu ated the uUmhcrOn
The poll LIST so closely t. eXcue suspicion of Illegal
voting, dhey had every Iaciiity for asccraluing the
truth.