Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-06-04
INVITING BIDS
FOR MACHINES.
Commission to Buy Voting Ma
chimes for the State has ad-
VerliSed for 1870 of Them.

! The State Board of Voting Machine
Commissioner has made arrangements
for advertising for proposals for the
now voting machines which it was
authorized by the last legislature to
buy. The form of advertisement has
been submitted to the attorney-gen-
oral, and, having received his nppro-
Val as to its legal form, it has been
published.
The legislature appropriated 500,
600 for tho purchase of additional vot-
ing machines, and the commissioners
deci ded to secure 100 new ones,
which, together with the oighty.one
procured last year, will mako the
number ava liable ut the election next
fall Ell. AS the total number of cleo
ton districts in the State is 1, 146, it
will be seen that over three.fourths OF
tho polling places will still DO
without tho machines.
Material change has been made in
the invitation for proposals this @
Last fall tho commission was obliged
to spend n large sum in the
employment of experts to give
instruction in the use of the machines.
In this years advertisement is this
clause, which was not in the other:
"The person or persons, if any,
whose proposals may be accepted,
must furnish with each machine IA
model or dummy thereof for tho
purpose of instruction of voters,
together with such instruction in the
use and operation of their machines
as will enable the average voter 10
vote either q straight ticket or n split
ticket within tho statutory time
allowance"
The specifications of last year
provided that all machines should
allow voting for the candidates Of at
least sever different parties, or
organizations, and for not less than
thirty candidates of each, and fl r
or against at least fifteen different
questions or amendments. This is
changde this year in an entirely new
clause which invites proposals for
machines specified rs in last years
request for proposals in all particulars,
excepting that the ssmachines shall
provide facilities for voting for not
less than forty candidates of each party
or organization upon like terms and
90 lditions as above expressed.
1t is provided that no machine shall
cost more than $500.
The object of requiring machinel
which will provide facilities fol
voting for n larger number O
candidates are amendments o,
questions is to meet the demands o
the larger counties, like Hudson
Ess ex and Passaic, in an election lik'
the coming Presidential one. 1t i
intended to have the new machine
allotted to the larger counties, ant
those purchased last year sent into tn
counties whore tho candidates will bt
fewer.
1t is provided in general that tn
machines must conform to aud mco
ull the requirements of the act unde
which they are purchased. They mus
be OF n pattern approved Of by tbs
board and must BIO capable of regis
tering 800 votes for each candidate
All machines must be supplied wit.
q canopy, curtain or other contrivanc
so arranged rs to secure secrecy whel
used, and each y. rson whose proposal
arc accepted must give n bond in $5c
for each machine purchased for TIL
faithful performano of tho contrac
whun executed.
The commissioner will meo5 in {
State house ut Trenton, July 5, whel
the proposals will be opened.