The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-29

IiAhHS anu ulSIflUullOu Oh
election laws ............ LOGS
Postage on 100000 primary
pamphlets y. ......... 10000
Postage on 100000 general
election pamphlets ........ 10000
Interest on investment in
booth, cost of fuel and
lights-estimated .... 10000
Printing and distribution of
blanks, ETC., by state 1900. 1000
Total 1885,, 31S
| The total cost to the public of an
election in Wisconsin primary and
general combined-is not less than
s1s5,318, possibly 100000 or an
average of 100000 for each event.
Upon this basis the cost per elector is
approximately 81 cents if there are
100000 voters in the state. There
were 454,421 votes cast for president
| in 1908, and, as matter Of fact, the
adult male population is about 100000
more. Of course some of these adults
are. not naturalized, hence not voters.
The largest item of expense is for
! inspectors and clerks of election.
There are some $3.50 election precincts
in the state, and the law requires that
for each primary election and each
general election there shall be three
inspectors and four clerks. The pay
of these officials is fixed by The town,
city and village governing bodies, but
will average $3.50 for each official
lper day. This army of 30,100 men
therefore is paid $72,250.
Then there is the cost. to counties of
election notices, printed ballots, board
of canvassers, ETC., for the two cleo
tons primary and regular. This will
average something like $1,000 per
county. Dane county's cost in 1910
was $1,120.S1. Thus for the r. coun-
ties this expense is not less than $72,-
900, possibly triAe more.
The cost Of printing the election
laws and distributing those laws as
required prior to each election is
placed at $1,068, as that was the am
CUNT of the expense of publication in
1910 according to data il, the Office
of Secretary Of State Frear, and does
not include the expense Of postage for
distribution--no small item.
The new corrupt practices act re-
quires that the secretary of state shall
prepare before each primary election
pamphlet and before each general
election another pamphlet containing
biographical "guffv about candidates,
statements by political or personal
committees and other prescribed in
formation for the enlightenment of
voters These pamphlets are to be
mailed, one to each voter in the state.
The postage alone required to mail
these, at least 100000 primary pamph-
lets and 100000 general election pam
phlets, at two cents each, will be
100000 The cost of those pamphlets,
paper, printing, illustrating, ETC., is
not figured in the estimate Of the
cost of the election because it is as
sumed that the amounts paid, under
the provisions Of the law, by candi-
dates and campaign committees, will
cover the cost of their publication. 1t
will be found, however, that this is
not true. At least, so declare state
officials who have given thought to
the matter. These pamphlets will be
Of about SO pages, and will contain,
besides biographies, arguments and
platform, portraits Of all candidates
| if the latter want them and are will
ing to supply the cuts ready for the
press.
The cost to the state in the prepare
ton and distribution Of blanks is in
the neighborhood Of $1,000.
/
Another item Of expense not APP
pearing in the above statement is for
extra help required in the securing of
the lists of voters in the state and the
mailing of the pamphlets. The post
| ing must be done in a rush, following
a rush job of printing, and the task
of addressing million envelopes
some 100000 or more for each cleo
tion-is one that cannot be performed
Of course, by the ordinary corps in the
office of the secretary Of state. It
will require large force Of extra
help for a short time at least. After
the next general election each county
clerk IS required by the rev corrupt
practices act to transmit the roster of
electors in his county, but for the ell
eetion next fall the secretary of state
tis obliged to get his roll as best he
may.
the figures used in the statement
| of the cost to counties in the above