, 1884-01-26
ENGLISH ELECTION CORRUPTION.
The s~eandalous Practices which Run
= Up tho Candidates. Bill OF ExpendI-

lures
[Cor. Chicago Tribunal
With few exceptions the aspirants for par
hamentary honors In England heretofore
have been very rich men, and they have spent
their money freely to obtain the honor Of a
scat in ''the first assembly of gentlemen in
the world From the time the campaign
opened until 1t closed the town was en- fete.
The aim Of the candidate was, as one who has
been himself a candidate, Mr.. J. E Gorst, NJ.
P, says, ito distribute money among the
greatest number of electors possible, and a
candidate who refused to conform to this uni-
versal custom had or was believed TO have
no chance Of being returned Every article
purchased for the candidates use cost double
its value. All classes shared In plncking him,
from the bill-poster to the newspaper pub
fishers who charged him special rates for
Publishing his address, printing his biography
and circulating extra editions containing his
speeches. The amount of posters and adj
dresses printed was amazing, and the bill
stickers and the billboard owners proited
largely. Every public house was patronized
rs a matter Of course. Whisky and beer
flowed like water, and the free and indepen-
dent e~lsctor, and non-electors, men and
women, boys and girls, made merry over and
got gloriously drunk during the contest be-
tween the two aspirants for a seat In ''ths
first assembly Of gentlemen" ETC.
1t has not been unusual for a candidate to
spend as high &c Sl50, 900 in q single contest,
and this exclusive OF the annual donations in
support Of public charities and institutions.
The expenditure at last became SO scandal
Gus, and led to such an alarming state Of cor
ruption and to 80 much crime In the Dor
oughs after and before election, that a sweep
Ing emedy was deemed necessary. The corrupt
practices act, introduced by MI. Henry
v.--~A g. - ~ ..- . -~---I- e l.
Of the most stringent character, and Is de-
scribed by the Tory members as Draconlan in
It's severity.
According to Its provisions the expenditures
OF candidates are limited, an itemized list OF all
expenses has to be submitted TO the returning
~ofacers; a candidate Is responsible for the
acts of his agents, and anything they do in
the way Of treating, bribery, or corrupt use
Of money or influences is punished by loss Of
seat and disability to again enter parliament
for the same borough. The limitation of e1-
9enses is -, 500 for boroughs OF 1000 voters,
and $500 are allowed for every additional
1000 voters The amount to be spent In
printing and advertising, and bill-posing Ia
limited 10 Rl00. No money can be paid for
bunting, ~"colors" not being allowed, as they
tended to lead to rioting, To treat a voter
to a glass of beer or to engage a public
house or hotel where liquor Is sold Is
an ~otfense, as 1t Is also to pay for the convey
ance Of voters to the polls The 'cabbies'
suffer with the bil-sticker, the editor CT The
Bugle and the messenger boy. Circulars
have to be sent to the postof1ce. The ballot
act did away with the canvassers' election
day, and no British city enjoys the luxury OF
the ticket peddlers Band wagons are out of
the question Under Sir Henry James act,
therefore, English elections will be OF the
most tame, insipid, spiritless and uninterest-
ing character. They will be fat, stale and
Improbable, and life viii be hardly worth
the living to the free, indepsndent and incor.
| rupible British elector.