The Helena independent., 1894-12-10

legislature of California. IL comprises
sixteen printed pages In the eompila
ton Of the election laws Of the state,
II was framed after thorough inquiry
into the laws OF other states and those
OF England and Il should have the care
ful study OF our own lawmakers in pre-
pairing a law for Montana.
The California statute starts out with
a provision similar TO our own as to
the manner of filing nominations, To
this is added. however, very impor-
tant feature which reads as follows:
And at the time OF fling such certificate
OF nomination the person signing such cer-
ti1cates Of nomination shall also file with
the officer authorized by law to receive
and file such certificate. the names OF 1--WE
persons who have accepted In writing and
consented to act, selected To- receive. eN-
pend, audit and disburse all moneys con-
tributed, donated, subscribed or in any
wise furnished or raised for the purpose of
aiding or promoting the election of the
candidates for officers or electors named
III tue rhih AhiAliNfAA' VI NPAAha''NHf ~
IN any manner to be used in respect OF the
conduct and management OF the election
at which such candidates are 10 be voted
for. The certificate OF nomination must
not be received or filed unless accompanied
by the names of flve persons. citizens and
electors of this state, TO compose such
committee, together with their written
acceptance and consent TO act as such
committee. as required by this act. The
said committee shall have the exclusive
custody OF all moneys contributed. donat-
ed, subscribed. or In any way furnished
or raised for or on behalf of the political
party organized assemblage or body or
candidates represented by said committee
and shall disbursc the same on proper
vouchers. under the directions OF the body
or superior authority 10 which II is sub
ject, II there be any.
The next section Of the act provides
for the filing. within twenty-one days
after an official canvass, by the above
committee of an itemlzed sworn state
ment showing in detail all moneys re-
ceived and dlsbursed by II. such state
ment giving the names Of persons to
whom moneys were paid and the speci-
fic service rendered by such persons
Candidates are also required 10 file sim
liar statements, Vouchers must be
filed Ia all cases except for sums under
five dollars. Forfeiture OF office is the
penalty for failure OF any candidate to
comply with the provisions Of the act
The fifth section Of the California
law defines what are legitimate ex-
penses in the following language:
Holding and conducting public meetings
for the discussion OF public questions,
printing and circulating specimen ballots,
handbills, cards and other papers previous
10 such election. advertising. postage. ex-
pressage. tclcgraphing ana tclcphoning.
supervising registration OF voters ana
watching the polling or counting Of votes.
and salaries OF porgons employed In truns-
acting business at office or headquarters,
and necessary expense OF maintaining
same. ana for rent Of rooms necessary for
the transaction Of the business Of the
sary Incidental expenses. which shall not
exceed the sum OF one hundred dollars II
expended by candidate. or ono thousand
dollars 10 expended by "A committee; and
no sum shall be paid. and no expense In
CURED directly or Indirectly. by or on
behalf of a candidate. whether before,
during or urtor The election, on account OF
or ln respect Of the conduct and mnnngo.
mont Of un election nt which he IL "A cam
ddnto u excess Of tho mnxmum amount
following, that Is 20 say: n the torn Of
The Office for which the person ls q candl-
date hc for one year or less, five per cent
oil The amount OF one years salary of the
office. n tho term br f1r more INN ono
year AMI NOT morn than two years. ten
per cen, OF th" amount pf one yraf's sal
any c' tn office lf rhr term bc Tor moro
than two years and not morr than three
years nnrvn urr cont of tho amount of
on" yn0Ts anlury 0f the office. if tho
t'rm hn Tor NOR" than thrru Uud not more
than four yrnra, twenty pcr rrut NJ ono
years .IlDry if moro than four years. ton
per cent OF one years salary.
For offices in which . p,r diem liz patd
or fees paid In liou OF sulaly similar
provisions exist Other sections pro-
via" that only candidates and author
tied committees shall make payments
Of money for Tho lawful objects above
enumerated; that &c shall bo unlawful
10 board and lodge yotcrs before Am
election with % view TO securing thotr
votes prohibit the payment Of moneys
for securing nominations. except The
ordinary expenses OF petitions, etc.
All the o0fcnses named In The act are
declared to be Infamous crimes. con-
yiction for which works for forfeiture
Of citizenship ana the right to hold Of
nee.
Tho bribery sections Of the law cover
every phase OF that ononsc, The most
important section NJ all being the
thirty-second, which provides that "a
person offending against such proyis-
Ions rs a competent witness against
another person so offending and may
be compelled to attend and testify upon