Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-30
VOTING MACHINES
LOSE IN MARYLAND
House of Delegates Defeats
Bill Previously Passed
by Senate.

BY STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. March 3o.-Vot'
ing machines as substitute for the
ballot system were rejected for cleo
tons in Maryland by vote of the
House of Delegates of the Maryland
General Assembly here yesterday when
the lower house killed the bill, which
had previously passed the Sepate,
authorizing the county commissioners
to lease and use them. at their dis
erection. However, the fight did not
end without a charge against Speaker
e. Brooke Lee. Silver Spring, that
he had failed to recognize a delegate
who had an amendment to offer to the
bill which would have allowed Its
passage by removing some OF the
objections to the measure.
The measure was hurridly laid
before the House for final passage
by the speaker, when Delegate Alfred
Z. Sharp, Democrat. of the third
legislative district of Baltimore. jump
ed to his feet and moved that the
bill be tabled. adding for the infor-
nation of the House that the intro.
duction of the machines would COM
pletely destroy Democratic party
orga nization in the State. AS soon
as he had taken his seat Speaker Lee
ordered a roll call, while Delegate
Frederick Lee Cobourn, Democrat,
of Havre de Grace, Hartford County,
called repeatedly for recognition, but
the clerk went on calling the roll.
Reconsideration
AS soon as the vote of IS to SO to
table the bill has been announced
Mr.. Cobourn jumped to his feet and
made motion to reconsider the vote,
and told the House that he had gone
TO Sneaker Lee and Informed him
that he had an amendment to offer
TO the bill which perhaps would
remove the objections to 1t and permit
sts passage, and that when the
measure came up he wanted to be rec
ognized He said that it was only fair
that when he went to the speaker ana
informed him of his purpose ne
should have been recognized. Wneh
the bill was laid before the House, he
said, he was the first one to jump TO
his feet, but that the speaker recog'
nized the Baltimore delegate for his
motion, and ignored the delegate
from Hartford County.
Mr.. Cobourn said the people OF
Hartford County wanted the right to
use this machine, and the proposltlon
was entitled to have its day before
the House, but that when 1t came UP
1t was. submitted to vote without
any explanation from any one being
allowed. He said the measure did
not make the introduction of the
machines mandatory, but left 1t TO
the discretion of the county COM
missioners. The Senate, he said. had
unanimously passed the bill, and the
wisdom of the upper house was en-
titled to some consideration in the
lower house. =.
Speaker Lee ruled that Delegate
Cobourn's motion was out Of order,
he having voted in the affirmative,
but said he was willing to let him
saw anything he had to say. Co
bourn sat down and withdrew his
motion. when Delegate John G. Cal
Ian of the second legislative district
of Baltimore moved to reconsider
the motion and that motion be laid
on the table. This Is the legislative
action which successfully kills any
measure in the legislature known
as the legislature ''clincher," as 1t
prohibits any similar Legislation form
being introduced at any time In the
current session.
This motion prevailed by IS to -,
and after the announcement or the
vote Speaker Lee. from the cnalr,
told the House that he had no gentle
with Delegate CO.
bourn to recognize him. but had been
merely informed by the latter that
he had an amendment to oner.