The anti-monopolist., 1875-01-14
the LEGISLATURE.
Senator CoIs Bribery Bill
SENATE. Jan. Is.
BR1EERY AND C0RRUPTIox.

BRIKERY AND C0RRUPTION.
The Senate resolved itself into COM
mittee Of the whole, Senator Pilfsbury
in the chair, and took up the bill Of
Senator Cox in relation TO bribery and
in election, which resas ~
follows:
SECTION l. If any person who may here
after te candidate for any oface, either in
the gilt Of the people, Legislature, or of any !
officer in the State OF Minnesota, doth, shall, |
or may, either by himself or any other per-
sons employed BY him, by any gift, or rel
ward Or by any. promise or ragreement, or Sc
curity for any gift, promise, or reward, cor
rupt, procure, or induce sny person to give
or cast his vote to, Tor, or III favor Of such !
candidate, or to iorbear, refrain or abstain |
from voting for any other or different person
or candidate, shall be adjudged, taken, and
deemed guilty of bribery, and upon convic-
ton in any competent court or tribunal, hav-
ing jurisdiction thereof, shall be punished
by imprisonment at hard labor in the States
prison. for term not exceeding three years,
and by fine not exceeding ten thousand dol
lars.
See. 2. # any person candidate forany
Office mentioned in section one of this act,
gives or promises any money or Office, or
knowingly consents to the giving or prOmis-
ing of any money or Office to influence any
elector Of this State in his vote for any OFF,
Ger mentioned in said section one, such per-
son shall be punished as provided in said
section.
SC. 3. Any person or persons hereafter
candidates Tor any Office within the State Of
Minnesota, as prescribed by section one OF
this act, who shall or may hereafter by him.
self or themselves, or by any other ways or
means in his or their own behalf, or at his or
their charge, before his or their election, or
within thirty days next preced-
ing such election, directly or
indirectly give, present, or allow to
any person or persons having voice or vote
at such election, any money, entertainment,
drink, refreshment, Or provision, Or enter
into any promise, obligation, or agreement
| therefor, in order to influence any elcctor of
| this State in the vote he may give or cast at
such election, shall be deemed guilty Of bri-
! berry, and sh al, upon conviction. be punish
| ished by fine OF not less that one hundred
| dollars, and imprisonment in the States
! prison not less than three months.
| SIC. 4. In all cases the party or persons
so bribed or attempted so to be. Shall be .
competent witness in all courts of\ \lis State,
and one half Of the tine imposed fol- viola
ton of any of the provisions of this act shall,
upon conviction, be paid to the complain
ant
Sec. 8. That in all cases of prosecution un-
| der this act, no prosecution shall be COM
menced or maintained against the complain
ant, provided complaint be by him made
within six months after the alleged commits
sion of such offense.
Sec. 6. All prosecutions under the provis-
ions of this act shall be commenced within
the ofense.
Sec. 7. This act shall take effect and by in
force from and after its passage.
i Mr.. Donnelly moved to amend by in
serting in line 4 Of section / of the
printed bill, after the word candidates,
:.at any general election, or in any elec.
ton in any board Of county commits.
sioners, or in any election in the State
Legislature, or in my meeting Of mem.
bers Of the Legislature held preliminary
, to and with . view to influence and
control any election in he State Legis
: lature or either branch thereof
Senator Drake thought this amend
ment did not 60 far enough. The pro
, vision should apply to nominating con
ventions and primary meetings, dc.
Mr.. Donnelly held that legislator
had special trus: placed upon then
being representatives Of the people. /
was in caucus where P0meroy pait
York seven thoasand dollars. Thi
impression of Senator Donnelly va
denied by Senator Graves and 9th
, ers. Mr.. Donnelly, however, continues
, at length in dsnunciation Of briber,
and corruption, insisting on the necessi
ty for his amendment.
0 Mr.. Cox held that on its face thi
bill does not seem to reach the object
: sought to be effected by Senate
i Donnelly's amsndnent, but o.
: examination it would be found to reacl
8 corruption and bribery Of every shad
and character. The principles EN-
i bodied in this bill were adopted by tn
E wisest English legislators, and its pre-
e visions will reach not only transaction
/ in the secret caucus, but also in ia
9 secret bed chamber He alluded to tn
! prevailing modes Of infiucncin
" votes in this conntry, even 70 tn
e psowling about the country by cand
e dates ineGiring Of the farmer - to th
!. amount Of fax per acre produces
: Money prevails in elections to such
h extent that poor man stands
rs chance. He felt lis power in the can
paign last fall The more whisky tn
., IS used the f1eer the election has con
% to Be regarded. He continued readiz
4 from Englisk laws to show the standi1
!. Of legislatisn Of this character.
he alluded 70 the history Of natisl
and showed that in al ages when q
people became corrupt, nations decays
l. liberty took its fight. He contiaa'
= at length appealing for Protectisa
poverty.
r. Senator Macdonald did not deen {
- present law defective and failed 70
Of where this bill would give addition
% protection He read from the s4atu'
the provision Of the present lau viii
!, he deemed Sufficiently strineeAt.
!. the bill advocated BY the Senator n
3 Nicollet, be provides what sha'l Be b
T. to be bribery and in that respect
be may be an improvement, and yet
nk present law viii Be found to reach
in cases that the bill in question reach
n; Mr.. Graves moved 10 amend
~ amendment by adding Tor in any me
s. ing Of voters held with view e ind
ne ence and control any election IN
81. State"
II Senator Graves thought il Ne wo'
ser have ! good thing We might - '