Professor Invents Voting Machine

A noted student of election methods and problems for many years who has naturally been concerned about easing and protecting the right of suffrage, Joseph P. Harris has invented a voting machine that sounds like a professor’s dream.

Dr. Harris, professor of government at the University of California, walked into the National Municipal League office recently, opened his attache case, lifted out the small (13 by 16 by 2 inches) machine and set it on a desk.

With a small punching tool he punched out small familiar squares after the names of candidates and showed how write-in votes can be easily cast.

High speed computers count ballots at the rate of 800 cards per minute, he said, rejecting those with excess votes, and print off the returns automatically at a cost of less than a half cent per ballot.

Musing over the low storage and transportation costs, Professor Harris guessed that in most jurisdictions sav- ings would pay for the machines in two or three years.

Law, Seattle Leader, Dies

Myron C. Law, Seattle department store executive and civic leader and former member of the National Munic- ipal League’s governing council, died recently. Among his many activities, he was a former president of the Municipal League of Seattle and King County and of the Seattle Safety Commission.

Professor Joseph P. Harris (left) showing Leasue Executive Director Alfred Willouphby how his voting machine works.

Graham Steps Out

After being on the Board of Sinking Fund Commissioners in Louisville for fifteen years, fourteen of which he served as president, Thomas Graham, invest- ment banker, civic leader and politician, has stepped out due to a change in party control of the city. Mr. Graham, who includes among his many activities mem- bership on the League’s Council, said the cost of operating the Sinking Fund, which manages the bonded debt, is the lowest of 35 major cities.

Bank Promotes Browite

Alan K. Browne, a League regional vice president, has been promoted by the Bank of America to head its new combined municipal bond and govern- ment securities investment activities. Mr. Browne has served with numerous civic, charitable and professional organi- zations and is a member of several Cali- fornia committees on water, transit and metropolitan problems. Presently he is chairman of the Bay Area Rapid Transit District advisory board on financing.

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