Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-04-17
Political Assessments.

fr =. WASHINGTON, April 2.
Senator Wallace, on behalf of the ma
jority of the Senate Select Committee
on alleged frauds in late elections, has
submitted TO the Senate special report
concerning political assessments. He
says:
} The whole sum received by the Republican
committee in the summer and fall of 1878 from
Federal officials was $93, ,000 and the whole sum
received from other sources was S13, 600, max
ing the campaign fund of the National Repub-
lican Committee amount to total of $l06, ,000
Persons were sent into nearly every executive
department of the United States, with the
knowledge of the head thereof, to obtain
money from clerks and othersthere employed,
and the books in which subscriptions were
made were headed in several instances by the
chief of the department before presentation to
subordinates. When there seemed to be a
neglect of a first circular, or those agreeing 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 as
sessing clerks is issued, but it is followed by a
circular from the head of the political organi-
zation in sympathy with those who hold power
| to dismiss from employment persons & who do do
money from them for political purposes. They
are visited by agent of their party during
riors, whose names head the list, and they thus
voluntarily" subscribe. Your committee
think that the statute of 1876 is in practice a
dead letter, aud respectfully report for adop-
ton the following bill: ast
A bill to prohibit officers and employees of the
United States from contributing money for
political purposes.
Be it enacted etc., That it shall not be lawful
for any person holding any office under the
United States, or employe thereof, to contrib
ute 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 the
income or emoluments of his office or position
for any political purpose, or to give, lend, adj
vance, or pay any money. property, Or va1ua-
BILE thing with the intent or with assent, per
be applied to or for any political purpose
Whatsoever, or to himself or herself apply the
same to any political purpose. No head of a
department or other superior officer shall him.
self collect or permit or allow any other person
to collect or receive from any officer or en-
plOye in his department or under his super
vision, or from any other officer or employe
whatsoever any assessment, percentage, con-
tributiOn, gift, loan, or advance of any money.
property, valuable thing, with the intent,
/ understanding, permission that the same
shall or may be used for any political purpose.
SECTION 2. That any person who shall violate
any provision of this act shall be deemed guilty
of a miSdemeanOr, and on conviction thereof
shall be punished by Imprisonment for a term
not exceeding six months, and, in the discre-
| tion of the court, by a fine not exceeding
| $5 900, and conviction shall be forever
| thereafter disqualified from holding any office
of honor, profit or trust under the United
shall violate any provision of this act shall, in
addition to such imprisonment and fine, be
deemed to have vacated the Office by him
! haId