The record-union., 1893-11-03
STRINGENT Law.
What the New Purity of Elections Law
Provides.
An protection of Voters, Warming to
candidates, and Mandates to OH
GERS 1t is Unmistakable.

setlVlty In elections in this State for the
future.
- VIII nave its first exemplification, so
A@I as This city is concerned, in the ap-
pdoachlng city election. In the election
oI last spring it was not thoroughly un-
"erstood. 1t is not wholly new; on the
contrary, similar laws have been put on
.rlal elsewhere. and, we believe, with en-
sire success. Certainly there has been no
0emand anywhere for their repeal.
THE FINANCES OF POLITICS.
According to the theory of this Purity
o1 Elections Act, all the financial actions of
parues and of party or organization candi-
dates In securing candidacy, and in effect
ing tr1umphs at the polls, are to become
subjects of public scrutiny under penal
Ties Tor failure to make complete expos
nre, which would render the candidate
neglecting to comply with the law very
unhappy individual.
WHO DIsBURsEs THE MONEY.
With every certificate of nomination
maqe under the so-called Australian bal
lot law, there must also be filled certifi-
cafe naming five persons who are to sig
MY their acceptance of the trust, and
they are to have the entire handling of
the money used in the promotion OF such
candidacy, no matter from what source
the coin comes.
EXPOSING CAMPAIGN REVENUE.
The letter Of the law is very explicit in
providing for the disclosure of all such
sources OF campaign revenue, and it
would seem to be quite impossible to
evade it. But that it will be attempted
and that perjury will be the result before
the law has long been in operation is to
be taken for granted. If there shall fol-
low, however, a single sharp prosecution
and conviction for such evasion and
offending the law will stand and serve a
most excellent purpose in insuring the
purity OF the ballot-b box. If, on the other
hand, Noncompliance with the law is
winked at and the first offending is not
promptly punished, the law will be in
danger of becoming dead letter.
The ardent friends of the purity of the
ballot, who esteem the clean ballot-boX
as the chief bulwark of liberty. should
see 10 it, therefore, that the new law is
not allowed to fall into the rut into which
SO many election laws have in the past
degenerated.
FOR THE HONEST MAN.
An examination of the law will disclose
that there is IN it nothing whatever
against which the honest man can in
good conscience protest. There is moth
Ing in it TO which the candidate who hon
dSplr6S anu Cl6dnly promotes Ills
election can take exception.
The committee referred to is to have
exclusive control of the campaign funds
and Of all outgO for the forwarding of any
candidacy. If it is the committee of a
party it is to disburse under the direction
of its author. But it is to preserve a
voucher for every item of expense in ex-
cess of 50. Within a short time after the
election this committee, under oath, is 10
file an itemized statement in great detail
of all receipts and disbursements, from
whom money was received, what for,
under what conditions, if any, and to
whom paid out and for what.
MAKING ACCOUNTS PUBLIC.
In addition to this, every candidate
voted for is to file an itemized account,
sustained by his oath, to include indi-
rect as well as direct contributions, loans
or levies. The specific purpose of each
disbursement is to be set forth, with
names in full, so that whoever chooses
thereafter may make examination of the
whole financial scheme Of the election.
STRINGENT oATHs.
The oath to support these statements is
about as comprehensive, specific and
searching as the shrewdest lawyer could
devise. 1t seeks to uncover everything
financial relating to the election. The
candidate is compelled TO swear that he
has no knowledge of any money used in
his behalf by anyone Whomsoever, and
that neither he nor any other has made
any promise or offered any reward, or
made any pledge of any valuable char
acter. or created any liability or obliga-
tion in respect TO expenditure in behalf of
his election that is not set out in the ac-
count of the committee. He is to swear
also that he will not make any future pay
ment, or be party to any future pay
ment or reward, or promise, or liability
or obligation relative to the election.
SEEKING TO BEAT THE LAW.
If someone has sought in his interest to
avoid the law or make payments or incur
obligation in his behalf, and he has
knowledge of the fact, he is bound to set
it forth in elaborate detail, and in that
way he may escape responsibility Tor
any such act of evasion by another.
HEAVY PENALTIES.
TTpon the candidate who refuses or neg
1ects TO file the statement or who makes
q false statement, very severe penalties
are laid. If he is a successful candidate
he will forfeit the right TO enter upon the
office, in addition to the other penalties.
IF he Is already an incumbent in office,
he is to be ousted from his trust.
WHAT MAY BE SPENT.
The law then proceeds to specify what
amount of money each candidate may
lawfully expend in promoting his candi-
dacy. and the sum that may be spent IN
his behalf and for what it may be eX-
nended. The list of legitimate expenses
is too long to be here quoted. That there
may be no covering under the head OF
'.incidentals." that item is not 20 exceed
Sl0O by candidate nor s., 200 by the COM
inittee of party or organization.
LIMITATION OF EXPENSES.
The limitation upon the whole amount
fiat may be expended is per cent. OF
the sum of the salary, if the term OF Office
is one wear: if for two years, 10 per cent.
of one years salary; three years, 10 per
cent; four years, 20 per cent, and so on TO
rbe end of the list. In case the compen-
sation in Office is a per diem for the time
oreunied officially, then the limit IS .
1,er cent. with Specifications as to the
f;n,it in great detail further where COM
11ensation is measured otherwise than by
q Yearly salary.
CLAIMS AGAINST CANDIDATES.
It is required that claims against the
committee or candidates must be pre-
sontad within a given time. Where good
cause is shown the Superior Court may
S"arn1it a claim to be filed after the limit
boS axnired. and the court may extend
+essonably the time for filing election
stetements, But strong showing has to
he made to that end.
FRIENDS NOT TO USE MONEY.
particularly stringent provision is
4lat which forbids any one, without con-
.t of the committee in one case and OF
e. candidate in another. using any
,-aonev for the candidates election or in
onrrinp any liability in that behalf. This