New-York tribune., 1922-05-16
Board Rejects
Single Bid ON
Vote Machines
Failure to Award Contract
by May Is Puts Respon-
sibility OH the Secretary
of State Under the Law
Hirshfcld Seeking Data
Rochester Man Says Demo-
Gratis Cannot Win Since
Devices We're Installed

The Board Of Elections received only
cne bid yesterday for voting machines.
This was from The Automatic Register
ing Machine Corporation. Of James
town, for d25 machines AT S940 each, n
total OF $3.50 500. After a short OK
ccutivc sess On the board unanimously
decided to reject the bid on the ground
that ii did not confirm with the con-
tract approved by the Corporation
Counsel.
The board having failed to award the
contract by Nay 3, as required by law,
it now dcvolves upon Secretary OF
State Lyons to do so. The Secretary
Of State recently designated the
Jamestown machine after the Board
Of Elections became dcadlockcd and
failcd TO select type Of machine. II
is expected he now will award the con-
tract TO that company. The Board Of
Estimate refused last week TO appro-
pirate the money to pay Tor the ma
chimes, end deferred the matter for
month. The city is expected to bring
an action to test the constitutionality
Of the voting machine law and the con-
trovcrsy will be continued in the
courts.
Protest Filed by Labor
Vincent Licbcl, counsel for tho New
York State Federation of Labor, ap-
peared before the Board Of Elections
and objected to tho bid on the ground
that it did not conform with the con-
tract approved by the Corporation
81, .l>
sion from the contract Of q proviso
turcd in accordance with the state
labor laws. William +. kehoe, of the
Central Trades and Labor Council and
president of the State Federation
Of Labor. objected to the bid on the
ground that the company did not opc-
rate its factory in conformity with the
state labor law. kchoc said he had
information that the company employ
eos worked ten hours day and that
ii did not pay the prevailing rate Of
wages. This, he said was in violation
of the labor law, which requires an
eight hour day, no overtime except in
emergency and the prevailing rate OF
wage on all state contracts
Mr.. kehoe explained that he wanted
il understood that the labor unions
but that they we're opposed to this one
because the company had non-union
shop. IIc also said that a voting ma
chine equally as good as the James
town machine could be purchased for
$500 less a machine. Commiss ioner
Charles e. Hcydt, Republican member
Of the board, explained to Mr.. Kehoe
that since the jamestown concern was
the only one to submit q bid, the board
could take no action on any other ma
chine.
Hirshficld Inquiry Continued
David Hirshfield, Commissioner Of
Accounts, continued his investigation
yesterday of the voting machine CON
trovcrsy Jacob Gerling former
Alderman of Rochester,. was called as
q witness and described how the voting
machines were used i'm that city.
"Who is your Democratic leader up
there ?' asked Commissioner Hirshfeld.
we have no leader was the reply.
u here are lot Of them who claim
to be leaders.
The witness said that he had heard
the machines which are used in Roch
ester, which were purchased from
the predecessor Of the Jamestown CON
Germ, could be so tampercd with as to
affect the vote. He said there was
sworn testimony in the Chicago inves-
tlgation of the machines to that effect.
He said it had been the experience of
Rochester that through the use of the
voting machines there were large
number Of people who failed to vote"
He said they went into the machine
booths to vote, but that their votes
were not recorded. He couldn't ex-
plain why.
We in Rochester arc against the
machines because we are compelled to
vote bindfoldcd," said Gerling "While
we have never charged the Republicans
with fraud in connection with these
machines, we always have been suspi-
cious, because since the machines were
installed in Rochester we have never
been able to elect Democratic Mayor
which we used to do occasionally"
"ln what way does the voting ma
chine prevent you from clccting a Dem