The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-15
FIND DEFECTS IN VOTING MACHINES
 IN TRIALS HERE
Retabulation Done Under Direction of States Attor- j
 ney-Lists Sealed.

The dramatic features of the re- tabulation of election returns now in progress in city hall consists in vne machine upon which the bell did not ring, and another machine which did not record a portion of the vote of one of the minor parties. There were also machines which showed a dis parity between the protective counter and the total counter.
 Tn protective counter shows the number of times the machine has been operated since it came into use. The total adder shows the number of votes cast in the particular election.
 A machine to work perfectly should show upon the protective counter an increase of exactly equal to the num- Der shown on the total adder.
 The retabulation was conducted without incident, except that the Re- publican organization, represented by Registrar William Lounsbury, strongly objected to having the sealed voting lists taken from the machines, confded to the custody of the superior court. MT. Lounsbury insisted that the Spa- pers should be given to the care of Town Clerk Schultz. At one time this difference of opinion threatened to suspend temporarily the work. At- torney Philo M. Calhoun, who repre- sents State Attorney Homer s. Cum mings, was about to order suspen- sion. when MT. Lounsbury decided to consult City Attorney William H.Com- ley. MT. Comley, in accordance with agreement made under the direction of Judge Edwin B. Gager. directed that the lists be turned over to Clerk Haviland. of the superior court.
 The work of retabulation will take two days more. It has been excel lently organized by Attorney Calhoun, and the labor of writing, checking and examination is proceeding ex- peditiously.
 The work is divided into two main parts The records as they<appear on the counting dials of the machines are read off, MT. Lou3asbury reading, while representative of MT. Calhoun watches. The record is taken by 8 checker, one for the Democrats and the other for the Republicans. When the record is written down, the ma chine is examined, under the super vision of w. H. Church. an expert brought in from Hartford. The seal number, the total adder number and the protective counter number are recorded.
 One machine is finished with before
 Alternate machines are tried, by ad- ditions to the vote. and by voting af- ter the machine is cleared. The lever Is pulled over 101 times.
 This takes each counter through each of its three wheels. The total add is observed to see if it shows 101 votes. and the protective counter to see if it shows an increase of 1O1.
 The machine is tried. to see if 1t Is voting split tickets properly, and then is put back again in the box and an- other one is brought forward.
 The object of this work is merely to preserve the record. No compari- sons are made with any other records It is necessary to examine the ma chimes, because any defects in them would not be known, otherwise. since they were to be cleared for the special election of Nov. 25.
 The results of the retabulation will be preserved for future use, in case the investigation now proceeding shall show a necessity for them.