The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-05
THE VOTING MACHINE AGAIN

THE VOTING MACHINE AGAIN.
Our San Francisco contemporary, the
Chronicle" suggests that it is not the
part of wisdom to buy or contract for
any voting machine until after a work.
ing test has been made Of one or more
selected devices at an actual election
Our contemporary idea is that the
next election can be conducted as at
present, but several machines can be
located in the booths in one or more
cities for voters to use after depositing
their regular ballots, in order to give
the machines a test.
OF course the State must buy no pig
in poke. OF course now that it has
been well warned it must have nothing
to do with any Of the schemers who
have been plotting to rob the common
wealth by cornering on a. machine and
forcing through a. measure for its pur-
chase. But if the machine system is to
be tested, it must be done in better
manner than the Chronicle" suggests.
A mere permissive use in the midst of
a genuine election viii not test it since
not one in ten Of the voters will then
use the machine. Nor if all use it will
it be such a test as one in which the
results are to be official. New York
adopted the plan of permitting the ma
chimes to be officially used in three or
four cities and her experience has been
wholly satisfactory.
What is to be avoided is long post
ponement Of needed reform. That it
should take, as it now does, two solid
months to canvass the election returns
in San Francisco is crying disgrace.
That there should have been, as there
was there in the late election, about 10
per cent. of errors in every precinct is
outrageous, and demonstrates the abso-
lutte necessity of some method being
adopted whereby such evils will be
avoided
Our contemporary has done the State
distinct high service in exposing the
rascally steal that was in process of
Hansen machine. It has brought out
the fact also that at least some of the
Ballot Commission signed the late re-
port OF that body without having per-
sonal knowledge Of all the machines re-
ported upon But that a thieving
scheme has been nipped in the bud does
not justify the loss of four years more
of time in adopting reforms in the vot-
must be, that such reforms are neces-
sary.
Such q test as our contemporary pro-
poses means postponement for four
years, not less. But just such a test
could be made with just as good re-
suits by setting up the machines in
this city on a given day and invite
the people to go through the form of
a regular election. We are ready to
guarantee that at least 1900 voters
can be rallied for the purpose, though,
for the matter Of that, 500 in one pre-
cinct would be just as good a test, since
probably never more than 500 voters
will be allotted to precinct with the
machine system in USE
But, as the Record Union" has al
ready said, whatever is done no step
should be taken regarding any machine
until every avenue leading to possible
fraud is closed. This may be done, as
we have heretofore suggested, by re-
curing all competitors to give guaran-
tees Of prices of machines, charge for
use, charge for right OF manufacture,
etc, before the Legislature takes up the
matter of testing or examining any
machine
We are still disposed to hold also to
our proposition that the Legislature
should by vote fix upon no machine.
Any device adopted by vote will now be
open to the suspicion of having been
jobbed upon the Legislature. But that
body could provide the necessary legis-
lation, after having tested all machines
presented for competition, so that, say
the Governor, Attorney General and
Treasurer, or other officials Of high sta
ton, should constitute the commission
to select the machine and fix the terms.
1t is improbable that under some such
an arrangement the State would be
robbed.
Mr.. Carl Evans Boyd, In a very able