New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-21
MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
ASSEMBLYMAN CHAPMAN SEEKS TO RE-
STRICT ITS USE.
HIS BILL. LIMITS THE EXPENDITURES OF CAN
DIDArE TO TEN PER CENT OF THE ANNUAL
SALARY OF THE oFFICE-sTATEMENTS
BY POLITICAL COMMITTEES


SALARY OF THE oFFICE-sTATEMENTs
BY POLITICAL COMMITTEES.
Albany. Jan. % tSpeciaD.-A CONVICTION mat I'M
der present usages and laws. candidates Tor pun
lie office are compelled to spend an unreasohaoie
amount of money. has led Assembiyman Lew .
Chapman of Syracuse. to propose some sweeping
amendments TO the Election laws. The Dill which
he has introduced further provides for reform
which many students of public affairs favor the
need Of This was referred to in Governor Mortons
message In these terms:
The state of New-York Is also entitled to the
credit of having taken the lead in placing upon one
statute books "A strong law against corrupt p!aCc
h Ses s aa Penal Code. has been strengthened
from time to time. that it is now one OF ne oes
one particular in which this law seems to be de
fective While 1t requires every canaidate uor pun
ments of money for election expenses. IT omits
TO require similar es,rI as very serious defect
and one that should be remedied without delay
Mr. Chapman. besides. seeks to throw around
caucuses and conventions the same safeguards
which now apply to elections. His bill Is amehda-
tory OF Title OF the Penal Code The first change
relates 20 section Al. This provides that any per
son or corporation who refuses to an eMploye inc
privilege Of voting. subjects him to penalty
for doing so. is guilty OF misdemeahor' H'i
Chapman makes this paragraph apply also 10 EN-
blowers who shall not permit their men TO at'ehu
caucuses or conventions. at which they may De
entitled 10 vote. And. in general the law IS maze
TO cover the proceedings which lead up 10 the cree
ton and are really a part OF H.
In accordance with this principle. every one whose
| name is voted on at any political convention ana
! who is not nominated shall says the Chapman Dill
/ within ten dsvs after the adjournment OF such
convention. transmit TO the chairman OF secre''S
Of such convention an itemized statement Vi .'
| expenses The provisions in regard 10 inc s'".'
ments Of a candidate whose name Is voted on u!
| ais O
chairman or secretary shall in turn. file TINS docu
ment in the office whittier II would go II the per
son were a candidate at the following eiec"o"'
Violations OF this section shall be punished as mis-
deineanors. and also by the forfeiture o' any
offices which the candidates may hold.
The part Of the bill relating TO statements Dy
political committees is as follows:
Every political committee every party orRaniza,
ton. every organization established TOT poh'issal
party purposes ana every person HI,n'' A.. M
Stale receiving any money TO D. by them. II OF
hun expended within tins state in a,d OF u. s nom
nation OF any person a candidate Tor or inc eIrc
ton Of any person TO publc Once shail' on ~
LIST day of December in each ana every year, M
or cause 10 be filed an hemzed s'a.eihil.' si't
in detail ali the moneys received and expended by
ndirectv for political purposes from and after thu
3lst day Of November Of the previous year. Such
Kim. and ,nnunt ~ .ach iiem and also shall give
the names Of the various persons "ho received such
moneys. the specific nature OF each item. ana th'
There shall be attached to such statement an ain
dayit SUBSCRIBED and sworn to by such person
by an officer or member OF such committee or
5.,s ee,inr forth in s,tsnnr mai he statrmen,
thus made is in all respects and that the same
Is iud anu u,. , ga -. an
or persons as the case NAV be- directly or lndi-
rectly. for political purposes Said statement shan
De uieo IN tns oiice oi tne ci1ik OF tnt .ou,sg
ca me he exnended entirely within said counv other
wise said statement shall be filed in the Office OF
me a,,i ~ s p.tso, ine @
vi an! 80 ~. ~ ~ az" ny
81 nr n.rtv nUrposes Who pnfnses r ,fee
,onac,s mr. ,n.,ec, 70 Nle s,atanen, 80 ,roscrih.i
~ ", ~ III no y,ii,, 81 % 49,
!" .'i,9 ' . ,,s, $500, '
perhaps the most raoicai chahge IN Inc laws IS
provided by section AK This reads:
>. $500. !, ,....., IT, a.... o...,,,.. - .,,,
IL snail not De aWiui TOT any cahnldate TOT public
once WITHIN the stare 20 ekpend or contribute.
either dlrectIy or lhureoty ~ hlfhsei or through
any other person or ,hrough any committee or
organization III dlu OF ms nomination anu cIecton,
or nomination al any one eiec,ion Il greater sum
IMAM ~ per cent or me sa,ary OF attach.d
10 saiu o'ye ioL t,ie "t - , ,' ' r sa
elecuo N9r snali !. % shi person hod
ing any puDnc Once "ithln .is ga ~ 10
Directly or indirectly ior P0nucai purPoass curing