The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-22
TO BUY VOTING MACHINES
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANT AZ
THoRITY FOR 4 LOAN.
They Believe the Cost Will Easily he
Regained I'm Reduced Expenses
LAW Amendment.

terday that he thought it almost certain
that the next county election in Marion
county-in 1904-would be conducted with
voting machines. He says that the neces-
sity for voting machines in Marion county
is becoming urgent. The vote in the city
of Indianapolis is so large that there is
much delay in canvassing it, The vote In
cities larger than Indianapolis in the East
and elsewhere is recorded quicker and an
nounced sooner and with more accuracy III
the places where voting machines are used'
and he believes that this county would act
wisely if it would acquire voting machines
and use them in the coming elections.
That Marion county would have been
equipped with machines for the last eiec-
ton if it had not been for the Strengthened
financial condition of the county is SAID 10
be a fact. The intention Of the commits
sioners. McGaughey. McGregor and Spaf-
ford, was TO purchase machines for the
county. All of them heartily favor ma
chine voting, and intended taking advan-
tage of the Indiana law permitting the
adoption of machines for voting purposes.
Their intention was thwarted by the un-
foreseen expenses which have fallen on the
county during the year. The county mas
been compelled to build ana repair num- III :
Der of bridges during the year, and mas
been forced to ask the County Counch LOT
appropriations to cover this expense ne
West Washington-street bridge IN iallIns;
and the fact that on the county has rested
the burden for the erection of new brloge,
compelled the commissioners 10 dDdDuoii
the voting machine purchase for TINS year.
If any of the Marion county represen'a af
tives or senators in the coming session U.
the General Assembly or any member Oh
that body from Indiana Will introduce an
amendment to the county reform law
passed in 1899, machines may be possiple
next year in time for the mayoralty elec-
ton. The reform bill, as 1T is called, pro-
hibits county commissioners or councliinen
expenditure or contracting or entering into
an agreement for the purchase OF any sup
plies unless the money is availaple IN the
county treasurers office. There is no pro-
vision made by which the county can Dor
row money for improvements. one amend
ment was added TO the law in the last ses-
sion of the Legislature which permits couh-
~ boards of commissioners TO noat loans
to secure money for the erection OF Jalis'
warehouses;, almshouses and like lnstltu-
tions. The amendment is speclhc ana Only
for these purposes can loans be made by the
county. If the law were amended TO include
voting machines, Marion county would I'M
mediately take advantage of IT, Commls-
sioner Spafford and Deputy Audltor FREQ
Shepherd say.
TO MAKE A LOAN.
cannot be amended 1t has been suggested
that a special law relating to Marion coun-
ty alone and granting permission to the
Board of Commissioners of this county to
float loan of $4,000 be proposed by repre-
sentatives from this county.
The cost of voting machines, IT is esti-
mated would be about $4,000. Each ma
chine could be purchased, ii is said, for
not more than $500, although representatives
of both firm who have secured the approval
of the committee appointed to inspect vot-
ing machines by the last Legislature. have
been asking between 5000 and 500 Tor their
machines. The number of precincts IN
Marion county at the last election was 25S
In the East, in New York for instance,
ii is said in some precincts as high as
twelve and fourteen hundred votes are
recorded during the day at one voting place.
IL this is true in New York men in the
County Commissioners office think that a
reapportionment of votes to lessen the
number of voting places would be possible,
and that, with the decreased number of
precincts and one machine to a precinct.
the cost price could easily be kept within
SIS, OOO
This sum could be paid in installments,
Deputy Auditor Shepherd said. The bal
ance in the treasurer's Office at the end
of each year is about $500. Unless some
thing unexpected occurs which causes an
unusual appropriation of funds this balance
is found with each years settlement. If
the county could buy voting machines
conditioned on the payment of this sum or
a little more annually, and the machines
could be purchased with these conditions.
it is safely said by the men who know
something of the business the machines
would be acquired by the county without
the expense being felt But the law regu-
lating appropriations of county finances
prevents any contract of this sort, and also
precludes the possibility of buying the ma
chimes and issuing bonds as security for
the payment for them to the manufac-
turers.
SAVING IN EXPENSES.
Commissioner Spafford says that the saw
ing in election expenses would pay for the
machines in a short time. He points out
that the last election cost Marion county
SIS 900. OF this sum about $1,000 was ex-
pended for printing of ballots and sta
tionery for the use of the election officers
Other expenses. such for hauling cleo
ton booths, and pay of members of elec-
ton boards and their meals, brought tae
total to the appropriation, $4,000
Under machine voting much of this ex-
pense would be done away with. Ballots
would be unnecessary and smaller cleo
ton boards would be practical-as an ex-
ample. two judges or clerks and a deputy
sheriff could conduct an election, where
Clerks and deputy sheriff are
required. The meals of these men
are furnished by the county. The
payment of the men is based on eight hours
as a days work. The Inspector is fire.
quently paid for five or six days time
as his services on the canvassing board
prolongs his office. With the machine vot-
ing the result would be known almost as
soon as the polls were closed and the in.
spector could take the result from the ma.
chine and report il in three or four minutes
afterward. He need not wait for days
as member of the canvassing board, as
that boards sessions would end on the
night of the election.
This saving, 1t is pointed out, would
easily pay for the machines, and all OF
the County Commissioners, together with
men interested in the voting machine meth
cd of election. favor some action by tn,
Legislature which Will permit the pur
chase of the machines on borrowed money
1t is said that the popularity Of this sug
gestion is not alone with Marion County
Commissioners, but with those of Vigo
Allen. Vanderburg. Tippecanoe and othel
counties where the larger cities make tn,
| vote heavier than in the rural districts.
FORESTRY IN INDIANA.