The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-01
OLD ONE IS UPSET
Columbia Contract Won't Fur
nish Voting Machines.
New Deal Made With a Kansas
Company.
WILL GET 15 AT FIRST
This Order Probably Be In
WILL GET. 15 AT FIRST
Price of Each Machine Will Be
Six Hundred Dollars.

After one OF the most spirited fights
to secure a city contract in years, the
city council last night decided to pur-
chase its voting machines from the
Kansas Voting Machine company, a
local corporation. If the city had not
entered into a contract with the local
people a contract held in escrow by
the city clerk would have gone into
machine company to furnish it's ma
chimes to The city.
The contract with the Kansas Voting
Machine company had to be made be-
fore IL o'clock last evening, for the
Columbia company's contract under it's
provisions was to go into effect Au-
gust 1.
At one time it looked very much as
If the local company was a rank o1t-.
slider, but it's stock rose away above
par last evening. 1t had an easy ma
jority both in the council and in the
ways and means committee which met
previous to the council meeting to
listen to the proposition of the Kansas
Voting Machine company.
The proposition which the Kansas
company made provided that the
mayor and city council should pur-
chase at least fifteen machines to cost
$500 each, the payments to be made
in ten annual installments, commence
ing the same year of the date of deliv
cent on the deferred payments follow
ing the first year.
Each of the machines is to be equip
ped with seven tickets and fifty keys
for each ticket or accommodations for
$50 voters on each machine. Male and
female voters will be enabled to vote
on the machine. 1t is possible that
the council will eventually order more
than the fifteen. That is the mini
mum; it may run from that up to "a.
s. The first machine is not to be del.v-
cred prior to January 1, 1908, and in
time for the fall election of that year.
by September 1. Two bonds will be
entered into to protect the city. The
company agrees to furnish a $4,000
bond to insure that the machine is per-
feet and complete. meeting all the
provisions of the contract based on the
proposition and to meet the full ap-
prevail of the mayor and council. A
further bond of $4,000 will be given
to insure that the machine complies
fully with the state laws governing the
use of voting machines in elections.
The company also declares willing
ness to furnish third bond of $4,000
as a voucher of good faith in it's dec
laration to establish factory in To-
peka to construct its patented ma
chimes -
! The proposition of the Columbia
company was practically the same in
all particulars regarding terms except
that the cost was 500 higher on each
macnlne ana LnaI no agreement eAISl-
ed that it would be manufactured
here. The company has it's factory in
Indiana.
The great objection raised to maxi
ing a contract with the home company
was due to the fact that it had no COM
pleted machine on display. j. p.
Paynter, the inventor. and the mem
bers of the company came up to the
city hall last evening with frame
work of their product, and several
f111 Of h6lOnR1nK
to the machine when 1t should be COM
pleted. A detailed explanation was
entered into but as it was impossible
to work the machine in it's incom-
pleted state, the members of the coun-
Gil had to draw somewhat on their
imagination.
Though feeling it would probably
be better to wait until the machine
into a contract. the members of the
council were confronted with the
bugaboo that the other contract would
go into effect at midnight unless the
Kansas company was given the right
to furnish machines.
Later the Columbia company's
agent instructed the mayor to tear up
its contract. I'VE realize that we are
hands You can tear up the contract
and throw It into the sewer.
But the council felt it had commit
ted itself and would not consider any
delay even tnen 10 dWdTUIilS lHS COll-
tract.
Councilman Kutz led the fight for
delay and wanted to amend resolu-
ton instructing the mayor to enter
into a contract so that the mayors
signature should not be attached until
the Kansas voting machine was ready
to be set up and perfected.
when we enter into contract we
generally know THAT we are doing and
know something of what we are going
to buy" said he. You wouldn't buy
any machine on the market that was
not finished. I am of the impression
If we contract tonight we are liable to
make a mistake. I would be pleased |
If this contract is held up until this |
is completed
Councilman BIakely spoke against |
snv delay Its a question now
whether we want any voting machine |
ar ALL said he. eff we want the ma |
chimes we should encourage the home |
institution and enter into this contract |
tonight. 1,. |
man Montgomery urged that the |
rome company receive first considera- |
ion and Councilman Hughes. who first |
opposed, finally switched over and sup
norted the signing of the contract |
flor certain representations were |
made by the Kansas company.
Placed on Torpedo Boats.
washington. Aug. 1.-Orders issuing |
from the navy department today show
that a number of midshipmen nave
10 Aro