Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-23

/ EulIOT OIL COuTlcT.
saw In your paper of Wednesda!
! OF February, s, 1911, report OF com
i. mittee asking the board Of SUPERVISOR
to purchase voting machines for Wap
clio county.
beg leave to say few words fol
the consideration Of the board Of sup
| ervisors from farmers standpoint.
| In the year 1910, the board bonded
Wapello county for about one hundred
and ten thousand ($11O, 100000. On the
first of January, 1911, there was not
sufficient money. in the hands Of the
treasurer to pay the salaries OF the
officials of Wapello county. Under
such circumstances, members Of the
board Of supervisors have you right
to pay twenty-one thousand (321, O00'
00), dollars or any other amount for
voting machines, at this time, our next
election being almost two years away?
In fact you are aware we have no
general election until November, 1912.
Would it not be better to call halt
and not contract more Indebtedness
until we have paid for that already
contracted?
Just think Of precinct containing
not to exceed 100 to 125 votes and you
spend $4,000 for voting machine for
such a precinct to be used only once
In two years. The interest alone on
the investment would be $4,000 besides
the original Investment. And this COM
puted at only 6 per cent.
note the offer says the indebted
ness may be paid in IL annual pay
ments, but ask you what inducement
would this be? You will have interest
to pay on the deferred payments, and
the interest will amount to as much
or more than the principal.
You realize that Wapello county
must raise it's money by taxation and
not In any other method. submit
to you that our taxes are already
burden.
For. this year the board has ordered
an increase of assessment in order to
raise sufficient funds to run the coun-
ty. AS an argument to induce the
purchase of these machines they claim
it will be saving in the cost of cleo
ton. But is this true?
: So far as the county is concerned I
know it Is not &
1t would be necessary to have the
same officers during the day, and all
that possibly could be saved would be
few hours pay in counting the votes.
1t would be necessary to make up
the books the same as they are now.
And also to make the returns to the
auditor. So that all the time saved
would be the counting Of votes. In
country precincts would this time ex-
coed ten COY hours? And in some
precincts it would not take over two
hours to count the votes. But for the
sake of this argument, let us assume
1t would take ten hours, three Judges
and two clerks at rs cents an hour
would amount to $1,000. Now in the
precincts taking two hours it would
amount to $3.50.
In the city it might save little.
But II you desire to economic on
elections expenses, permit me to sug-
gest that you cut out the police, and
other unnecessary special officers at
the election.
There is about as much use of hav-
ing special election police at the
polls, as there is to have five (5)
onsa wagon. These burdens
added one at time are what make
n
broke the canlels back.
Now, members of the board of sup
ervisors, a few words Of comment in
regard to this so styled committee, !
who advises you to proceed TO buy
these voting machines. Remember,
they do not simply attempt to convince
you that it would be tor the hest Of the
But assume the aHthc rity to
tell YOU what to do In other words.
for some time it has occurred to me
that there are certain men in OttumWa
who have assumed sort of guardian
ship over the affairs of the people OF
county, and especially the ele-
ment known as the farmer element |
It may be true that the farmers have
net had all the advantages of educa-
ton that some of the city men have |
had. But it is also true that we have !
the opportunity, and avail ourselves Of
it Of reading the best newspapers and |
We also have plenty !
Of time to think while about our work !
in the field. and out. And also by that |
selfsame work we know where cur |
me- ney comes from. and how hard it ,
Is to get. And as one Of the country !
class it strikes me that the country !
people know their needs better than |
any self-appointed committee.
But if they do not a guardian !
should be appointed to watch over
heir affairs. We insist on being CIV !
en- the privilege that is granted a min
)r- over the age CT IA. wiz the right !
20 name cur own guardian.
Let me again. refer to the fact that !
~
resident of city or county is the man
who considers the cost of an article !
before he buys it, and where the
money is going to come from to pay !
t. And not the man who buys every
hing that is offered to him because !
'crsooth he can purchase it to be paid !
some time in the future. I
For your indulgence and the space !;
n your paper I thank you. i
Very respectfully.
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