The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-03

ballot is almost double the national average rate.
In the West where the voters are scattered IT
great deal more per person than IN tie
closely populated states of the east Also direct
primaricS--and they have them III oregon
about every other month-bring the total stu
higher. But it is always higher In PRESIDENTIAL
years. Then. ss you know. two regular primaries
are held. one in the Spring and the other IN
early autumn. And the cost of these must DE
included in the Presidential bill.
N New York State. for instance, the cost OF the
l autumn primaries in some towns came 10
$500 IA vote In others it was only sl.23. lhere
is no putting your finger said price 1T
varies. like Srpte mber weather And so me
$3o.0Oo,oOO is piled up-ditferent methods Ill diff
ferent states different costs coming from the four
corners of the country.
Take New York again for an example IL IS
estimated that the vote here will cost S1.56S,2oo
and there are not "a million and a half voters
in the state Still the cost per capita Is small
compared to other states Also to better see now
this money is spent throughout the country let
us see how New York spends hers. Primaries
cost about 100000. The state election bureau
expenses to sil7.s0o- Supervisors eat up
$4,000 and clerks stick on $1,000 more. SO 1t Is
very easy to account for the bill:
The taxpayers generally settling 1t they
don't like the Presidential game. If they were TO
look into the way the money was spent they
would find that each city village having 3,ooc
or more inhabitants divided into election DIS
trct>. They would also learn that there were two
DenSes Of each were large Even in the httie
primary districts there boards of election m
spsctors poll clerks and ballot clerks to be paid
Their. are who must be remnDerated Tor
their work in preparing and copying enrolment
books There are the big bills for the primaries
that must be settled. long before the Presidential
vote is cast in November. County. city and town
they must all raise it by taxes. And IN the
cities that have two million people there
are also elect ion inspectors to be paid
lust think of it there ATS election dis
} tricts in the State of New York Hailotlng
places are maintained in all for two primaries and
a national election during Presidential year In
each balIotinc place men under salary. linen
consider that there fOrty-eight states IN the
Union Do some multiplication and addition
New York e!ectiOn-a single election for one
state of ATS districtS-cOsts over million and
n half What then would it cost forty-sc,en other
although smaller states? Surely. You will admit.
$50 100000 as the total Presidential bill - not
at all high.
just see how they spend the money per-
manent offices in New York The method Is char
ac,rrisfic of most states This year the lcSisia-
turc passed. and Governor Dix signed a bill max
ing the appropriations for the Bureau Of Election
The sum was $4,000. That was permanent
charge for election against the state But IN ad-
d,jop 10 that sum the cost to counties and
towns from primaries and all is about million
more.
1t is interesting to how the state SPENDS
this money Other states spend II in about the
same vay. although the amounts NAV vary. 10