The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-24

Among the laws enacted Dy the last leg
islature to multiply the safeguards about
the electoral frau, hlsc, is what is known as
the Corrupt Practices law. 1t is r brief
, affair and It's provisions are simple but the
changes 1t is to produce and the reforms 1t
is expected to secure are worth considering.
Under the new law IL Is a criminal offence
for any person to pay, or promise to pay,
lend, or contribute any money to secure the
vote uf another in his own behalf as a eand-
date or for friend or associate; to pay
another person to do this: to induce voter
to remain from the polls on election day, and
il he has voted or failed to vote. to pay him
aftprward for what he did or did not do.
It is unlawful either for n candidate or
one Of his friends to promise any Office or
place orto promise to procure, or endeaVor
to procure, place for voter In return Tor
his vote, or on account OF his agreement
not 10 vote. II makes 1t unlawful for any
person to make any gift, loan, promise,
offer, procurement or agreement, tending to
secUrc the election OF any person" or the
vote OF any elector. The agreement OF a
| candidate before election to sustain or op-
| pose measure the adoption of which might
| benefit or injure his constituents might un-
| der the terms OF this law be deemed INSIDE
meanor; and undoubtedly the act OF pub
| lic-spiritcd citizen Of this town who having
| been nominated for Alderman Immediately
| after the TWEED disclosures, accepted the
| nomination under the stipulation that II
| successful he would return the salary to the
city treasury, would be at variance with
both heletter and spirit Of the new law.
Under its provisions it is unlawful for
candidate to use, or to agree to Use, any
money for bribery or to advance any money
to another for bribery at an election, or to
atterward repay money, or redeem
promises, incurred In bribing, influencing,
or affecting an eector. The acceptance Of
bride for either voting or not voting, or the
receipt OF any money during or after an cleo
ton, either by the principal or another in
the way Of repayment, is unlawful. SO is 1t
for any candidate to make bet with voter,
to have an interest in q bet, or to furnish to
others the money for betting on his success.
There are to be, hereafter. no more pay en-
velopes; no signs or pacarlls posted in work
shops or factories within ninety days Of
election; and no handbils, the penalty being |
fine for firm and for a corporation the |
forfeiture of its charter.
after election. file an itemized statement OF |
the expenses OF his canvass both direct and |
indirect. He must give the names Of all the |
persons to whom his money was paid, and,
specifically, what they did, or were sup
posed to do, with it. There must To at
tachod an affidavit sworn to by the candi-
date. This affidavit ia to be filed with the
Secretary OF State, il the candidate has
sought u State office or place in Congress;
with the County Clerk il he has sought q
local office. Any candidate who refuses or
negents to file such statement within the
prescribed time is guilty OF a misdemeanor;
and II lie ia successful candidate the office
to which he was chosen becomes vacant.
The provisions o! the law are Of sweep
ing character, and OF kind much more
easily enacted than enforced. 1t Is ex-
tremely doubtful whether any Of our early
statesmen could have been elected under
law preventing them. for instance, from
making an agreement with the voters az
10 their course With respect to O certain
question Of policy. However, nothing is
good until it is tried, and II this law secures
the benefits promised by its advocates, the
cause Of good government will be pro-
noted, and the unrlghteous geta regular old
fashioned Humpty Dumpty fall This years
election will be held under Its provisions
The Corrupt Practices law. however much
It may be open to objections on purely prac-
-Ical grounds, contains at least one clause
which shows that the reformers who, for the
asst three years, have been endeavorng to
Introduce the Australian system into New
York politics, have learned something from
hnir 1afaof ba l. ,l,o 1. |
For any by JoreDn Fraudulent drvec or
on'rrdnce whatever 10 fmped> prevent ohertpIa In
,rr. '0im the ez>yetSe Of Me elective anchtse BY
ny p0er."
Such offences "are hereby declared to be ,
Infamous crimes" and when the offender
S convicted, che shall In addition to the
Of" imprisonment IN the county
all for not less than three months or more :
han one year. be excluded from the right .
VI suffrage for period OF five years after Il
uch conviction"