Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-13
VOTING MADE EASY
oTTUMWA CITY COUNCIL PuR.
cHAsEs SEVEN UNIVERSAL
VOTING MACHINES.
Each Ward in the City to Be Equipped
With Machines for Registering VIII
of Voters-EconomlcaI and Rapid
May Be Used at Coming Election.

/ E "
Seven Universal voting machines,
one for each ward in the city, were
purchased last evening at the session
of the city council held in the coun.
Gil chamber after the adjournment of
the board of health meeting. The ma
chimes are to be delivered if possible
in time for use at the coming general
election, November s, but according to
contract not later than thirty days be-
fore the city elections next spring.
The price to be paid for the ma
chimes is $4,000, and the time of pay
ment is to extend over a period of
seven years. making the yearly pay
ment $500. Conferences with the
members of the board of supervisors
by aldermen interested in the pur-
chase leads to the belief that the
board will take half interest in the
machines, thereby reducing the total
cost to the city to $1,000, or $500 per
year.
Economical Investment.
Economy in time and money was the
chief motive which lead to the pur-
chase of the machines AS saving Of
expense it is said that the machines
will more than save enough each year
to meet the annual payment of $500 or
even of 5000 in case the board of sup
ervisors does not agree to share half
/ the expense. The use of the ma
chimes at the last special election
would have saved to the city in clerk
and printing hire 1922. In other cleo
tions where there is a general ticket
in the field to be voted and where the
counting of the ballots extends into
the small hours of the morning the
saving would be proportionately great
er.
Machine Is Simple.
The use of the machine, the key
board of which is patterned closely
after the form of the Australian bal
lot, is extremely simple The matter
of spoiled and rejected ballots will be
entirely done away with. While in
the act of voting the voter, after de-
Gliding upon one candidate and so ar
ranging to cast his ballot, can at the
last moment before leaving the ma
chine change his mind and vote an
entirely different ticket with no dan
ger of losing his ballot.
The pressing of a key and the pull
ing of lever will vote straight par.
I ty ticket in less than five seconds.
After arranging the straight party tick
ct the voter can in a few reconds time
by devices that are extremely simple,
scratch one or every man on the ticket
and vote an entirely different one.
When the ticket is arranged to the
satisfaction of the voter he presses a
signal which notifies the judges on
the outside of the booth and the pull.
a signal from a second casts the bal
lot.
Steel Balls are Ballots.
Steel balls take the place of the
; paper ballots, and each time vote Is
cast for any candidate small steel
, ball falls into a receptacle devoted to
that candidate. At the close of the bal
!, loting these receptacles are removed
and glance at the ballot box will
give the exact number of ballots cast
: for the candidate.
!. A very few minutes time will suf
flee TO count the heaviest ballot cast
The heaviest ballot can be counted
: in the same time that it would re
quire for the casting Of 100 or zoe
votes. If it is possible for the ma
chimes to be delivered in time for the
coming general election the result OF
the ballot for the entire city on that
occasion will be known within half ar
hour from the time the polls close.
The company which sells the ma
chimes are to give an indemnifying
bond in the sum of $4,000 as g guaran
tee that the machines will remain In
good condition and be kept in repair
: for period of five years. The interest
on the deferred payments will be al
the rate of four per cent.
Hoglund and johnson Oppose.
Aldermen Hoglund and johnson
were the only members of the council
, voting against the purchase of the ma
chimes.
: Other Business.
Following the conclusion of the dis
) cussion on the voting machine matter
on motion of Alderman Keyhoe the
crossing on Ash street at the Garfield
school building was ordered to bt
!, placed at the north corner of the lot
A bill for personal expense in the
sum of $3.50 incurred by Alderman
Hall, chairman of the police commit
!, tee, in closing up the Gay Paree show
during the Korn Karnival week. was
allowed and the clerk instructed tt
draw an order for the amount.
On motion of Alderman C'Malley
the street commissioner was instruct
, ed to construct a sanitary sewer from
the new school house being built OF
Orchard street to the Hayne stree
sewer.
On motion of Alderman O'Mal
, ley the council adjourned.