Evening star., 1949-09-14
Voting Machine
Plans Studied in
PriinceGeorges
Commissioners to Give
Decision Tuesday on
Installation Proposal

machines was under study today
by the county commissioners,
with a promise that decision
would be made next Tuesday.
II the commissioners approve
the recommendation made yester-
day by the County Board of Elec-
ton Supervisors and previously
advanced by Republican leaders,
the machines could be used in the
1850 election of county officers.
Alexander L. Buscher, chair
man of the Electoral Board, told
the commissioners at their meet
ing in Upper. Marlboro, that the
large number of voters in Prince
Georges can be served adequately
only by substituting machines for
the ballot-marking system. The
automatic equipment already is
used by Montgomery, Anne
Arundel and Howard Counties
and by the city of Baltimore.
1Z5 Macn1neS NeeOeu.
Samuel A. Wyvill, another
member of the Electoral Board.
predicted that repeal of the Mary
land declarations of intentions"
law would result in adding from
5000 to 10000 names to the list
of $4,000 voters in Prince Georges
before the next election. He said
that unless voting machines are
installed, 10 new precincts would
have to be added and the 46 old
precincts would have to be re-
aligned. Plans already have been
made to add one Takoma Park
precinct.
The election officials reported
that 109 machines would be need
ed for present registrations and
16 more should be kept in re-
serve. They may be obtained
either by outright purchase, by
rental or on a rental-purchase
basis.
The board recommended the
latter, with rensal on q 10-year
basis, at $3.50 per machine each
year. This would require an an
nual outlay of $1s,750. At the
end of the 10 years the machines
would become property OF the
county. To purchase them out
right, the machines would cost
$3.50 each, or a total of $l56, ESQ.
During the 1o-year period the
county either could cancel its con-
tract or anticipate outstanding
payments at saving.
3Zening Demand Studied.
John Underwood, Republican
member of the Election Board,
and James b. Berlg clerk AlsoI
appeared yesterday.
IN other business. the commits
sioners took under advisemefat de-
mafids by the Prince Georges
Civir Fed6ration that no more
apartment zonings be granted and
that land 50 classified, on which
no construction has been started,
be rezoned residential A. s'@I
Walter F. Mulligan. president
of the federation; Daniel M.
Greene. Louis Day and Charles F.
Luebner said that the county does
not derive sufficient tax revenue
from apartments ito pay for serv-
ices rendered"
The commissioners took no
definite stand, saying they would
await reports of survey OF apart
ment zonings. and completion OF
the master coming plan, for the
county.
Inoculations Upheld.
The same delegation asked the
commissioners to decide two ques-
tions concerning special improve
ment districts. Both requests
were turned over to Jerrold ".
Powers, the commissioners attor-
ney. One asked the county to
determine if the districts are en-
titled to a $400 per mile allowance
by the State for road maintenance
purposes. The other dealt with
street improvements. The delega-
ton wanted to know whether Pc
titions for improvements require
approval by 81 per cent Of the
property owners concerned or
whether 81 per cent of the resi-
dents would suffice.
The commissioners, acting on
advice of the county health officer,
DR.. Thomas s. Englar. voted to
uphold the School Boards re-
quirement that all children be in
oculated for diphtheria. A letter
from e. w. Baker Of Hyattsville
asked the county to exempt chill
dren of the Christian Science
faith on grounds of their religious
beliefs. DR.. Englar advised that
all should be inoculated for the
protection of other school chill
dren.