The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1956-10-11
County Will Use
Paper Ballots In
Nov. Election
Decision Made At Special
Neutrality-suspicious. Will
Be Valid

Garrett county will use paper
ballots for the November 6 cleo
ton, it was decided last Friday
following a special meeting of mem
bers of the Board of Supervisors
and the Board of County Commits
sioners.
William O. Treacy. Election
Board member, made the motion,
which was seconded by William
Gibson. Election Board president.
Both boards had agreed previously
that they felt paper ballots would
be valid They also pointed out
that the time previous to election
was very limited and there would
not be sufficient time to educate
the voters to the use of voting ma
chimes
The Commissioners had last week
finally decided they had the au-
thority to enter into a contract for
the machines without the sanction
of the Election board and had
passed a motion to l to order Sc
machines from the Shoup Voting
Machine company However, on
Wednesday morning, H. d. Swart-
zcntruber, president of the County
Commissioners, learned that the
price of both machines had in
creased and ON Wednesday eve
ming received telegram from
Harold J. Lcwison, executive vice
president of the Shoup company
stating We do not wish to enter
into contract with the County
Commissioner if there is posi-
bility Of an injunction or any other
kind of law suit
Friday, Attorney Horace Whit
worth, il, representing the Elec-
ton Board, said definitely there
would be litigation if the Shoup
machines were purchased. He de-
clared that the County Commits
sioners have no authority to pur-
chase, only to approve or disap-
prove a recommendation of the
Election Board
Before deciding to use paper bal
lots Mr.. Treacy also moved that
the Board discard any idea of rent
ing machines for this election. 1t
was learned that Shoup does not
rent machines and that the Auto
matte Voting Machine company
would rent for $50 per machine,
plus transportation charges and in
surance coverage. 1t was estimated
the cost for this would be at least
$1,000 Swartzentruber, Aubrey
iBrenneman, Commissioners, and
ITrcacy said they could not approve
the expense OF this amount of
money for one election.
The Election Board decided to
ask both companies for new bids
for So new combination voting ma
chimes. returnable before October
81, and for each company to give
its lowest possible price.
Commissioners had been informed
Inv telephone that manually oper-
ated machines of the Automatic
Voting Machine company cost ST.
431 each or total of SOL SIC. This
company would have been able to
deliver only the manually oper-
ated machines in time for election.
The Shoup machines were cleo
trically operated and could be had
for total of $50 1920. This company
was able to promise delivery on
only the electrically operated ma
chimes. Originally the electrically
operated machines were priced at
S53O64 for Automatic and S5O,8O1
for Shoup.
Chief Judge George Henderson
had indicated earlier that the case
had reached an impasse and the
only way out was for someone to
change his mind 1t was the opinion
of the Attorney to the Board of
Supervisors, Walter w Dawson,
ten days ago that nothing could
take away the right of individuals
to have their votes counted regard
less of legislative enactment max
ling it mandatory to have voting
machines. The law said voting ma
chimes must be used unless there
were unusual circumstances" in
volved
In Judge Henderson's opinion
when the suit was dismissed
against the County Commissioners
this past spring, he declared;
Nothing in this subsection shall
be construed to repeal or impair
the provisions heretofore enacted
for use of so-called paper ballot
system in event of emergency or
other unusual circumstances.
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Britain and France with L. S
backing asked Security Council OF