The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-10
In All Forty-Seven Measures Are In
troduced i'm the Upper House the
First Working Day.
PLUMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS
EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE GIVEN
THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.
Both Branches of the Legislature Ad-
journ Until MOnday-Matters of
Unusual interest.

counties of the State if the bill introduced
in the Senate yesterday morning by Senator
Matson, of indianapolis. gets through. The
bill, about which there has been more or
less favorable discussion during the past
several months, is in the form of an amend
ment TO the present election law. In pre-
pairing the bill ii was not thought wise to
make ii apply to all of the counties of the
State at the outset.
In its present form. which may be changed
somewhat in the committee room. the bill
provides that the use OF voting machines be
made compulsory in every county that has
a city of 10000 or more population. This
restriction seeks to make the law compul-
sorry on Marion, Allen, Cass. Clark, Della
ware. Floyd. Grant, Howard. Knox. Madi-
son. St. Joseph, Tippecanoe. Vanderburg,
Vigo end Wayne counties.
There is considerable variance of opinion
as TO how broad should be the application
of the law. That a measure OF some kind
should be passed is conceded by a large
majority, but there are a number who be-
lieve that it should be made to cover Marion
alone to begin with. The view is expressed
that voting machines are to a certain ex-
tent in the experimental stage. and Indi-
annapolis is considered a good place to
try an interesting experiment by some SEN
ators hailing from out counties. II II works
well In Indianapolis, they say. where the
most intricate problems will be presented
and where the greatest difficulties will have
to be overcome. then il will be time to
try II in other counties of large population.
On the other hand. Senator Matson. who
fathers the bill, holds that 1t should apply
to the counties named. If so important an
experiment is to be tried there is no reason
why IL should not be tried in all the counties
named when there is nothing to lose and
so much to gain. Senator Matson hopes
that the committee on elections Will con-
slider il wise TO made its application even
more general.
MAY ISSUE BONDS.
The bill provides also that boards or
county commissioners may issue bonds in
order to buy the voting machines that the
heavy expense may be distributed over
period of years and not be too onerous.
This section is so written that it gives
counties which have reached the constitu-
tional debt limit the privilege of procuring
the machines upon lease contract provid-
ing for the payment of a certain sum each
year as rental. Finally when the sum Of
rentals have reached the total OF cost the
county This method has been well tried,
Senator Matson states. i'm other forms of
expenditure when counties have found II
impossible to issue bonds and there Is no In
surmountable objection to its use where
voting machines are concerned.
In order TO secure machines that will do
the work and that will be satisfactory
in all respects the bill provides that only
machines that have been approved by the
voting commission be purchased.
The voting machine bill was not the only
m legislation
TO the committee on elections. Senator
Charles n. Thompson introduced the much
discussed bill for the publication of pri-
mary elections, on which the Commercial
Club Primary Elections Commission worked
for several months under the chairmanship
of Addison G. Harris. Senator Thompson
was a member of the commission and as
chairman of the elections committee will be
thoroughly qualified to pass on every phase
of the measure.
The bill applies directly to Marion county
and is optional with every other county i'm
the State. Discussion before the commission
brought out the fact that there is opposi-
ton in rural districts to such bill. but
every county Is given the privilege of con-
Quoting the nominations OF candidates un-
der it il 1t is desired; IL is applicable also
of the total vote
Provision is made that in each county
the Board of Election Commissioners shall
be appointed by the judge Of the Circuit
Court from each political party entitled to
hold primary. The board shall consist of
two members from each party and they
shall hold their offices for four years from
the date of appointment. Reputable per-
sons, known to be regularly affiliated with
the party shall be appointed The salary
shall be 500 a year.
HOLDING OF PRIMARIES.
No two political parties shall hold their
primaries at the same place and the same
time AS to the election of precinct COM
mitteemen the bin makes strict provisions
teeman liable TO removal. Soliciting money
from any candidate for any Office or from
a delegate 10 a convention means .mprison-
ment for not more than three years nor
less than six months and fine of not more
than 5000 and disfranchisement for not
less than ten years. The board of comms-
sioners shall exercise the utmost care I'm all
details concerning the election OF precinct
committeeman. and their duties are ex-
pressly set forth
seven days after this election the precinct
committeeman shall meet, and they shall
vote viva voce on roll call 10 determine
whether the party candidates are TO be
voted for at primary election or by dele
gate convention. In case a primary Is de-
cided on the board of election commission
ers shall give notice that such primary
shall be held not less than three nor more
than five weeks before the general election.
Then il is made the duty of county COM
missioners TO apportion the county into pri-
mary election districts formed OF con-
tiguous regular and whole precincts OF the
same ward township. No district shall
contain more than 1000 votes. All expense
is TO be borne by the county.
Candidates before the primary shall file
written notices with the board OF election
commissioners ten days before the primary.
and a petition signed by twenty-five voters
shall be deemed sufficient TO place candi-
date on the primary ticket. Qualifications
of inspectors. clerks. challengers and super
visors shall be the same under the elec-
ton law. All cost shall be borne by the
| county
An attempt to repeat will be punishable