Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1884-01-04
Bribery at Elections.

In this country, ana IN inns Stale IN partc-
ular, in the last few years there has been very
marked growth Of the abuse. 1t ia idle 10
dwell on the evil which the use of money TO
control the verdict of the ballot-box has al
ready wrought. or upon the dangers with
which it threatens the community in wears to
come if it be permitted to continue without let
or hindrance. These are matters so plain that
that he who rms may read. We have had for
many wears upon the statute-book law pro-
hibiting, under penalty of fine and imprson-
ment not exceeding in amount for the former
FIVE hundred dollars and in duration for the
Latter six months anv giving or promising. be-
fore or at an election. bv direction or indirec-
ton, any eft or reward whatever to secure the
vote of anv person at such election. Every
one feels morally certain and many personally
know that this law is habitually violated, and
vet prosecutions under it are so rare ihatit uill
tax the memory Of almost any one to recall
single instance to which bribery Of voters has
in this State in recent years been made the
ground of criminal proceeding Snch are
the facts which confront the General Assembly
"a great and growing abuse. and the law
which should prevent it not enforced or unen-
forceabIe. Every preCaution that the expert
ence of other communities has shown to be
useful in preventing or checking this evil or
any other evil connected with the ballot. should
be taken. OF course il would be in the high
n
crate and cumbersome that il would be broken
down by its own weight or hepelessly involved
in the meshes which il itself had spun. Snch
Law would he worse than none. u the Leg
islaiure has a duty 10 perform, however, the
people are not without responsibility in the
matter Bribery will never he stopped until
the people make up their minds that IL must
be. Something more is required than 10 talk
solemnly after an election Of the use of money
: -.
as strong before the ballot box is closed as sf-
terward and that riil no, regard the huvinG
of votes from the other side as good thing TO
chuckle over But even now. If the recent re-
ports of bribery in this State can he verified,
the grand jury of more Than one county
can, with very little exertion. afford an OPP
portuuity Of testing practically The value Of
the present law, thus enabling the Legislature
TO see more clearly just what needs amend
ment.- Bait San.
1t was for The purpose Of putting the
law to which the Saa refers to a practical
test, and ascertaining whether and to what
extent il needs amendment. hat the TINES
urged the necessity of insiitu,ing prosecu-
tions under it for the violation. of ITS pro-
visions in the holding Of election day
breakfasts" in this county. Our grand
jury SO far recognized the proprie,y of that
course as to find indictments against two
of the chef offenders. but owing to an un
expec' ed hat add wavering = purpose in
the prosecution officer. he cases could not
be got TO trial. and the matter remains, as
far as a basis for the amendment Of the
law is concerned, in about the same stu
alton it wa. before.
The following is The iull text Of the sec
ton of law interdi,ting such irregularities
at elections. being section l4l Of article 7a
of the Revised Code:
If auy candidate at an election to be
held under the Constitution and laws OF
this State. or any other person Whatever,
shall at any time before or on the day OF
any election, give or bestow, or directly or
indirectly promise any gift or reward to
secure any persons vote or ballot at any
such cleo ion, or shall keep. or suffer to
be kept, any house, ten, booth. or other
accommodation in any part Of any dis
trict at any time during the day Of hold
ing such election, and before the close
thereof, at his erpense. where any victuals
or intoxicating liquors shall lie cautious
ly given or dealt ou, TO voters every such
person or candidate so offending, shall on
conviction thereof 10 the court Of the
county or city wherein snch offence may be
committed, be fired at the discretion of
the court q sum not exceeding five hun
dred dollars, and suffer such imprison-
ment as the court may sdjudge. no, ex
al l.
ties as are prescribed by the Constitution.
one half OF the hne to 60 to the in'ormsr
Now this section OF law taken In con-
nection with section Of article Of the
constitution, upon which it is based would
seem to provide sufficiently grave and spe,
ci6c punishment to prevent the ire
gularities it prohibits. In addition to the
penalties imposed by this section Of law
for corruptly influencing voters. the con
stitution provides that all such offenders
shall be '.forerer disqualified to hold any Of
flee Of profit or trust, or to cote ut any election
thereafter" So it would seem that the
provisions of the existing law upon the
subject Of bribery and corruption are al
ready sufficiently comprehensive and spe
cific, and the sanction sufficiently severe
to break it up, if those who are charged
with the execution of the laws would do
their du'y
The clause of the law upon which ju-
dicial Interpretation was especially desir-
ed is with reference to the keeping of &C
commodations and giving away victuals
etc, to voters on the day IF election The
words "at his expense which we have
italicised in the quoted section, have in
dueed lawyers to entertain the opinion that
if the party indicted for giving away vic
tuals in violation of the act could show
that he did not procure them at his own
private expense, that he would be entitled
to acquittal under the act This it is I'M
derstood was to have been Mr.Stoneetreet's
defense in The recent case against him. He
expected to show, as we understand, that
the money with which the breakfa were
given was furnished by The Republican
State central committee. 1t is very much
to be regretted that no decision upon this
question could be obtained, but, as it
could not be, it would seem to lie the clear
duty of the Legislature to amend the law
by striking out he words ''at his expense"
Those words do not serve any useful
purpose whatever in the act, but they do
obviously tend to raise an ambiguity in
| the proper construction Of the law, which
has emboldened them who violate il in
this county to continue to do so after their
attention had been called to the NATTER
With those words stricken out, we believe
the existing law in reference to bribery