The San Francisco call., 1907-02-01
Welch Fights Vigorously to
Obtain Investigation and
Leavitt Tries to Prevent.
FORMER PREPARING
SPECIAL MEASURE
Existing Statute Prevents
Opening of Devices for
Half Year After Ballot
CALL HEADQUARTERS,
1907 EIGHTH STREET.


SACRAMENTO, Jan. sI.-Exfsting
law extrfeated the Legislators who are
opposed 10 a searching investigation of
the voting machines employed In the
last San Francisco elections from an
unpleasant fix this afternoon. Senator
\ Richard A Welch of San Francisco hRd
produced awkward situation by
offering to pay personally the expenses
of an expert mechanic, when it was
discovered that the Investigation pro-
posed by him could be had only after
the passage of bill abrogating exist
ing general laws. Such n bill he viii
introduce tomorrow.
This was a busy day with the cleo
tions committee OF both houses. The
Assembly committee sat decorously for
several hours engrossed in a discussion
OF the provisions of the Stetson bill by
which It was proposed to give to Cali
fornia an Improvement over the Illinois
law, enormously designated a direct
primary law. The Senate committee,
too. spent two calm, peaceful hours
Earroti1Es sAnthonzss- recall measure and
listening 10 the suggestions of T. V.
Gator, president Of the San Francisco
Board OF Election Commissioners. for
q general revision Of the election laws
before II was thrown into furious tur-
moil by Senator welch's resolution for
the investigation of voting machines.
WOULD SETTLE A DOUBT
Senator Welch is not a Senatorial nor
yet a San Francisco machine man. He,
in common with many citizens OF San
Francisco. IS not satisfied that the
voting machines employed at the last
lection IN san = Francisco were not
MANIPULATED He believes that If the
machine cannot be manipulated to frus-
trate the will OF the voter and ac-
complish the purposes of the boss its
use is step IN the right direction On
tie other hand he believes that If the
machine can be made; 70 register the
will Of the boss IN defiance Of the in
tentions of the voter the most sacred
right Of American citizenship has been
invaded by a device that cannot be put in
jail, as can a dishonest election off,
cial If apprehended in his dishonesty,
and that to remove all doubt the most
searching investigation should be con-
Quoted by the Legislature. To secure
such an investigation he introduced
resolutions empowering the elections
committee to employ an expert and
showed his good faith today by offer
ing not only to pay the expenses of
the investigation but to deposit in
cash the price of the machine as an in
surance against its injury by the ex-
perts.
Welch asked the committee to report
a resolution authorizing the elections
committee to constitute itself an in
ouisitorial body. employ an expert and
demonstrate, II possible, that a venal
expert in the. employ of a city adminis-
tration could not by simple device
defeat the viii OF the people. He said
a real doubt existed in the minds of
Francisco and called attention TO the
fact that the people OF San Jose have
refused TO use the machines they pur-
chased at an expenditure of $4,000.
LEAvITT BREAKS LOOSE
WeIch's proposition contemplated the
employment Of an expert machinist.
unacouainted with voting machines.
and the turning over to him of one of
the San Francisco machines. which he
was TO take apart and discover, If pos
sfble. some simple means by which the
machine could be manipulated He said
the voter could reasonably guard
AGAINST the dishonest election oficial-
AZ least could be sure that he prepared
an honest ballot, and in the event of
detected trickery, the individual could
he punished. A detected manipula-
tion Of the machine might not result
in disclosing the identity Of the trick
ster. the machine could not be punished
and a premium would accordingly be
placed on dishonesty. Welch did not
nretend TO say that the machine could
Re manipulated, but be did say that in
Alnmon with many San Franciscans
he entertained a doubt that he wanted
confirmed or removed entirely.
SO far welch's remarks had not
touched any tender spots of Leavitt,
Continued On Page 3, Column L