Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-03
POLITICAL .ASSESSM ENTs.
HOW OFFICIALS ARE BLEp.

WASHINGTON, April 2.-Senator Wallace, in
behalf of the Senate select committee upon
alleged frauds in tho late elections, has SUBJ
political assessments. 1t says the whole sum
received by the Republican committee in the
summer and fall of 1878 from federal officials
was s93, 900, and the whole sum receiyed from
other sources was $4,000, making the cam
paign fund OF the Republican national COM
mittee amount to totd of $1O6,OOO. Persons
were sent into nearly every executive depart
ment of the gnited States, with the knowledge
Of the head thereof, to solicit
money from clerks and others there
employed, and the books in which
subscriptions were made were headed in sew
eral instances by the chief of the department
before presented to subordinates. When there
seemed to be neglect of a first circular, or
those who agreed to give were slow in payment
other circulars were sent to them. This mode
of obtaining money for political purposes was
also adopted and carried on in 1876. An order
against assessing clerks is issued, but it is fol-
lowed by circular from the head of the poiti-
cal organization, in sympathy with those who
hold power, to dismiss from employment per-
sons who do not pay when called upon, which
asks for money for political purposes. They
alG tlolLSQ Wy dill dSCu0 VI LutlI paIby uul1uS
business hours under the eyes of their superb
or, whose name heads the list, and they thus
voluntarily subscribe.
Your committee think that tho statute of
1872 is in practice dead letter and respectful
ly report for adoption the follawing bill:
A bill to prohibit officers and employees of
the United States from contributing money
for political purposes.
Be 1t enacted, That it shall not be lawful for
anu HnI1ipO off, r7ydo ho Tod
States, or employe thereof, to contribute or
pay to any committee or person, or into any
fund, any money, property, or valuable thing
for any political purpose whatsoever, or to pay
any assessment or percentage upon income or
emolument of his Office or position, for
any political purpose, or to give, lend, advance
or apply any money, property or valuable thing
with intent or with the assent, permission or
understanding that the same may be applied to
or for any political purpose whatever, or to
himself or herself apply the same to any polit-
ical purpose. No head of department or other
superior officer shall himself collect, or permit
allow any other persen to collect or receive,
from any officer or employe in his department,
or under his supervision, or from any other Of
fcer or eInploye whatever, any assessment, per-
centage contribution, gift, loan or advance of
any money, property, or valuable thing, with
the intent, understanding or permission that it
shall or may be used for any political purpose
Sec. 2. That any person who shall violate
any provision of this act, shall be deemed
guilty of misdemdanor, and on conviction
thereof shall be punished by Imprisonment for
term not exceeding six months. and ia the
discretion of the court by a fine not exceeding
$4,000, and on conviction shall be forever
thereafter disqualified from holding any office
OF honor, profit or trust under the United
States. Any officer of the United States who
shall violate any provision of this act shall, in
addition to imprisonment and fine, be deemed
to have vacated the Office by him held.
The foregoing report is agreed to by Senators
Wallace, Bailey, Garland. Mcdonald and Ker-
nan. Senator Teller will hereafter submit a
minority report on the same subject, to be
signed by himself and Senators Kirkwood,
Hoar and Blair.