The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-03
VOTING MACHINE
PROPOSITION IS
NOW CONSIDERED
Commercial and Young Mems
Business Clubs Took Up
Purchase Subject Through
Directors.
Difference OF OPINION
WAS VERY EVIDENT.
Older Organization Favors
Modern Way to Conduct
Elections, But Younger OBJ
jects to Expense.

thoroughly discussed at the meeting
Of the board of directors of the Com
mercial club last evening. The board
unanimously agreed on resolution
favoring the purchase OF machines by
the county. The board will include
its recommendation in a report to the
club at its next meeting. But the
board of directors of the Young Mems
Business club did not see things the
same way. It did not approve OF tho
general tendency toward this method
of conducting elections and did not
endorce the proposition.
Commissioners Made Request.
Some time ago the county commits
sioners requested the Commercial club
to give its opinion as to the advisable
ity of purchasing voting machines at
this time. A representative of the u.
S. Standard voting machine was pres
ent with machine last evening to
demonstrate its practicability and eco
nomy. c. e. Wiley. president Of the
board of county commissioners was
also present by invitation. Mr.. Wiley
stated that he was confident that The
voting machines were coming, that
their practibility and economy had
been amply demonstrated. and 1t is
only a matter Of finances with the
county as to when they should install
them.
|. Would Not Raise Levy.
The commissioners desired to know
the sentiment of business men on the
matter. Mr.. Wiley stated that the vot-
ing machine company proposes to sell
the machines on payments, and the
payments could be arranged in such a
way that 1t would not require a raise
In the tax levy to meet them. That
they proposed to make the payments
no greater than the saving made by
the county over the old way of hold
ing the elections. It was shown that
at present there were GA precincts re-
quired to hold the election the old
way, and which cost the county 3d.
2S0. With the voting machines the
precincts would be reduced to 20 in
number and the cost of holding the
election would be but $1.15O. thus
making saving Of e2,13O. H this
saving is applied to the payment of
voting machines they could be paid
for in few years. Their desirability
for the purpose of holding fair elec-
tions was also set out. Mr.. Wiley
did not ask the club to pass on any
particular make of machines. as the
law governed the method by which
they must purchase by first advertis-
Ing for competitive bids.
At the meeting OF the directors of
the Young Mems Business club the
proposition of buying voting machines
came up for consideration and was
the subject of much discussion. Their
opinion relative to the matter was in
exact contrast to that of the Com.
mercial club. The directors did not
deem it advisable for the county to
make an expenditure of $4,000 for
voting machines just at this time,
claiming that the money might be
spent to better advantage despite the
fact that the county is now in better
financial condition than 1t has been
for years. The county commissioners
were notified of the decision OF the
Young Mems Business club and the
matter will be carefully considered be.
fore any action is taken.