The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-09
DEFERS APPROVAL
OF THE REPORT ON
VOTING MACHINES
Commercial Club to Take No
Action on Matter Until
Next Meeting.
HAAS GIVES OPINION

Approval of the report of the special
committee of the Commercial club
favoring the adoption of voting ma
chimes, accepted by the board of di-
rectors last week, was laid over until
the next regular meeting of the club
last night, when that organization con-
sidered the report of the special COM
mittee last night.
E. M. Haas, chairman of a special
committee on voting machines, said
reflections had been cast upon him
self and other members Of his COM
mittee, which he considered unfair.
Mr.. Haas, in explaining the attitude
of the committee, said four years ago
when the question of the purchase of
machines was up, he, as secretary Of
the Commercial club, was instructed
to prepare data and present it to the
board of directors, He said that he
also wrote letters to the various coun-
ties where voting machines were used,
al of which was presented to the
board of directors, and included in a
recommendation made by the board
Of directors to the county commission
ers and county council.
Action Postponed.
He said that at that time the ques-
ton was voted down by the county
and had been up several times since,
with the result that each time no ac-
ton was taken toward the purchase
of machines, although the recommen-
dation of the directors was for their
purchase.
when the question came up last
week for discussion" Mr.. Haas said,
"the board of directors just happened
to be in session on Monday night pre-
vious to the meeting OF the county
council. and l reported the matter to
the board on that night, recommend
ing that the former action of the
board on the question of voting ma
chimes again be made The board act
and all the information, together with
the recommendations were forwarded
to the county commissioners and
county council"
Takes Exception.
r. G. Leeds took exception to the
report of the committee on the ground
that thorough investigation had not
been made or the committee could
not have made a report in favor of the
purchase of voting machines. Mr..
Leeds said that an investigation of
this kind should be made strictly upon
"a business basis and with a view to
finding out if the machines would be
a real saving to the county.
Mr. Leeds cited figures on the ex-
pense of machines in Marion county.
which showed that the average cost OF
machines there was S77.00 per pre-
cinct. He said the figures, which the
county auditor had presented to the
commissioners, did not include the
items of depreciation and interest,
which should always be taken into
consideration in determining the saw
ing.
Bowman Replies.
Mr. Jordan and Mr.. Bowman both
took exception to the items of inter
est and depreciation on the grounds
that the machines were to be paid for
out of the saving to the county, and
therefore there would be no deprecia-
ton or interest charges~
Mr.. Jordan said tnat the. county
never had taken into consideration in
terest or depreciation charges in any
of the public buildings
James A. Carr, member of the board
of directors, said that he was not pres
ent at the meeting where vote was
taken on the question of machines,
but he favored further time to make
an investigation. Adam H. Bartel also
a member of the board. said he was
not prepared to vote on the question
and would like to have further time
to investigate.
After a general discussion it was
unanimously decided to lay the whole
matter over until the next meeting of
the club.
John Robbins. a former prominent
attorney of Richmond and now con-
nected with large law firm at In
dianapolis. county attorney for years
when he lived here, said that he was
unalterably opposed to the introduc-
tion of voting machines in this, his
home county.
81 fought the machines when the
question came up several times before
when was county attorney" said
Mr.. Robbins, and nothing has tran
spired since TO cause me to have any