Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-05-21
Report Of the Republican Minority on
Political Assessments.

The Republican minority of the Wal
lace Committee of the Uuited States
Senate have submitted report on the
subject of political assessments, and
criticising the bill recommended by the
majority of the Committee. After
quoting its full text they say:
This is, in short, proposition to prohibit
any emplOye or person holding oilue under
the Government of tho United States from
contributing money or other things of value
for political purposes, either with reference to
National political questions or those of the
States. IL is based on the theory that the use
of money contributed by certain class OF
citizens (OHcchOlders) In a political campaign
is crime, while money contributed by non
oiTcchuders aud used for the same purposes
Is not crime, If this bill shall pass, no man
holding public Office can be connected with
the public political press; he cannot contrib
ute 10 pay ordinary and perfectly legitimate
expenses of political meeting. This class of
citizens cannot contribute money for printing
and distribution Of political documents; can
not contribute money to Form and support
political club or society for the dissemination
of the most wholesome political tenets con-
Ccruing the rights of man. 1ne establishment
and support OF rcading-rOom stocked with
political works would bo Il crime, aud must be
treated in the same way rs that uf COntribu-
tiOn of money to corrupt voters md destroy
the purity OF tho ballot. Why shoull this
class Of citizens be deprived Of privilege
conceded TO all otbcrsr Is there more danger
i'm contributions Of mon i'm Office than from
those who arc striving to get in? This bill is
indolGnsible on any principle. IL is ubhorrent
to all ideas of right aud is In violation of
rights of the people granted them by the or
ganic laws of the land. The purpose of the
bill of the majority is not TO prevent eOntribu-
tion of money 10 cnlightcn people on political
questions, but to secure monopoly of such
ipstrumcntality to- men who are seeking office,
and nssail those VINO hold office. II should be
entitled "A bill to compel political infOrma-
tiOn TO be paid for from single barrel" The
Committee might have found ON its file evil
inf nj In lions Ia fl,g
election of 1873. lt might have found that
very many citizens were murdered in
cold blood because they attempted to
vote as their judgment and conscience direct
ed they should. In short, the Committee had
on its iiles uncOntradicted testimony to show
|, that tricks subtcrtuges, manipulation of bal
lots, Justification of returns, force, violence,
fraud, forgery, perjury, bailot-boX stuifing
and murder were resortcd to in many sections
of the country during that election TO defeat
| and set at naught the will of the people. Yet,
to correct these evils, directed not simply
against the purity of the ballot, but against the
very existence of the ballot the Committee
! appear to have no concern Was ii because
| the political party that has protited by these
! wrongs is the party TO which the majority of
| the Committee belong, and the same party
! that so recently attempted to repeal all laws
that had for their only object the protection OF
! the purity of the ballot and the safety of the
Yotcrr Such anxiety to save tue people from the
| evils of political assessment by "a party that
has Illegally refused to consent to any legisla-
| ton that viii prevent intimidation of voters,
me ihdkthg Oh ihiee returns, anu various
| frauds so recently practiced to secure the
J triumph of that party, subjects the Committee
| to Il well-grounded suspicion of u desire tC
make political capital aud TO prevent active
/ and Intelligent officials of the Government
| from contributing to the success of the party
that has honoTed them with offices, rather than
! to correct evils now existing, or that there is
/ reason To fear may exist in future.
Tue minority report concludes by recon-
mCnding the passage of a bill the provision;
of which are quite VolumnOusl prescribing
/ heavy penalties OF line ana imprisonment. moi
only for levyng of compulsory political as
! scssmcnts by,Goyernmcnt officers upon thci
| employees, but also for number of specified
| ofrenses against the freedom and purity o
| elections, including bribery and intimidation
| of voters at National elections. and the bearing
I of arms at any public meeting held for tn,
| discussion uf political ques ions with reference
| to the elect ion of Members of Congress o.
/ Prnuilll ial Llnfi u --- u -