The record-union., 1893-02-25
"A NEW ELECTION LAW GOES INTO
EFFE("T

Heads Of political committees, candi-
didates for Office, voters, managers, bosses.
officials. and others interested in promot-
ing the election of any candidate. or
evading or enforcing the election laws,
need to have it impressed upon them
that the Act to promote the purity of
elections became a law on Thursday, and
that its provisions apply to the city cleo
ton in Sacramento, to take place within
three weeks.
The bill requires very little affirmative
action prior to the election, but great
deal of action, caution and careful man
agement after it, which must reveal all
that candidates have done in the matter
of money expenditure, promise of re-
wards, etc.
1t requires printers to put their names
upon all bills, cards, pamphlets, posters,
ETC., relating to elections printed by
them; and this, in our opinion, applies at
once. 1t requires political committees
and conventions to file a list of five
names of persons who are to be the sole
financial agents of the party and its can
didates; but there is a shade of doubt
whether this filing is not required to be
made at the time of the certification of
nominations under the ballot law. If so,
the time has passed for that for our city
election, and to that extent the law cam
not apply to US. On this point there is
such doubtahowever, that it may be well
to be on thesate side and file the lists.
After the election the committees must
make and file complete, detailed, sworn
expositions of all election outlays of
money for the parties and candidates.
Each candidate is required to make and
file an affidavit within two weeks after
an election of all outlays made by him,
and this whether he is defeated or elected.
This exposition is required in such detail
that promises of rewards, bargains.
offers of place or employment accommo-
dation, loan, etc, must be exposed, and
failure or evasion is made the subject of
severe punishment. even involving loss
of Office.
There is, however, granted to COM
mittee of party or association promot-
ing candidacy the right to expend 81 900
for office rent, printing, expressage, tele-
graphic and other expenses, and candi-
dates may in the same direction expend
500, but all expenditure is forbidden in
excess of 5 per cent. of one years salary
if the term of Office is for one year or
less; one year to two, 10 per cent; two
years to three, 10 per cent. three years to
four, 20 per cent; over four years, 10 per
cent. of the amount of one years salary.
There are other similar provisions where
the income of the Office is per diem or in
fees, or not in excess of $500, and SO on.
1t is prohibited to expend money in an
election or for a candidate or party in
rent for rooms if on the premises intoxi-
eating liquors are sold or supplied, with
some stated exceptions.
There is long line of prohibitions in
tended to cut off evasions of the law by
loans or promises or payments to defeat
any election laws, or evade them, or to
commit any crime against the elective
franchise, or for keeping or employing
persons to maintain place in the voters
line in order to hinder electors in reach
ing the election booths or Ballot Clerks
desk, or to secure nomination to office,
or the withdrawal of candidate, and
so on.
In great detail it is forbidden to pay or
use money, or promise it, in elections ex-
cept as provided in the Act, or to counsel
or advise its use, or the use of threat,
promise, reward, etc. There are two full
pages devoted to conduct of contests for
Office on the ground that the incumbent
or claimant has violated the Act. In cer-
tain cases offenses under the Act after
conviction are to operate to the perma-
nent disfranchisement of the offender.
The sections relative to buying votes
are very exhaustive. So far as the Eng
lish language can compass the task, the
whole subject has been traVerseo ana re-
crossed and treated in all lights and
phases, with view of absolutely closing
the door to any and all devices for use Of
money TO influence voters in the deposit
oftheir ballots or in refraining therefrom.
If fthe law is honestly attempted to be
enforced it would seem to be feasible to
utterly and wholly prevent the casting
of a vote for any consideration without
involving imminent peril to the offender,
and his liability to serve a term IN stripes
in one of the State prisons.
In addition to the guards thrown about
nominations and theiballot, willfully false
registration is made penal ofense, anc
the same penalty applies to whoever
knowingly permits .Alse and fraudulent