The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-02-11

frauds measure, was the bone Of con-
tention in the senate yesterday. This
bill among other things provides that
all candidates for office, and all chair
men of political committees, state.
county and city. shall file with the sec
rotary Of state a statement Of the ex-
penses incurred in the campaign
The measure met with opposition
from Candland, Jones and Sutherland.
The first attempt to emasculate it was
by CandIand, who moved an amend
n1ent excluding candidates for city and
county offices in counties having a
population of less than 10000. This was
vigorously fought by Allison, but he
would have Jared slim had not Evans
and Snow come to his rescue at an
opportune point.
Evans outspoken stand that the
small counties were just as likely to
be tainted with fraud, and Shows IA
vorable argument were the means of
defeating this amendment.
Sutherland then moved to strike out
the enacting clause, which was sec
onded by Candland.
CuIneIIdnQ LOOK IIle 1OSfJlOu ILdI Tic
present law was ample and the pre-
posed measure an unnecessary one.
The speaker did not talk very long
on this point, his argument being chief
" by comparing 1ne old law with the
new: but what little he did say was
sufficient TO cause Allison to speak for
half an hour on the merits of his bill,
which he declared would do away with
the robbing system of ward heelers, "
which is today a crying evil The
speaker maintained that it was high
time for the election law to be
changed. AS regards expenses, a man
could not run for an Office without
expanding money Illegally. 1t is no
crime to hire wagons to travel over
the country or to provide means of
transportation for voters to the polls or
TO spend money in other legitimate
expenses. but the paying Of voters for
dirty work at the polls should be
stopped, and at once. The present law
is inadequate. because it is not far
reaching enough in its provisions and
is defective in not providing for post
election frauds.
Jones thought the bill too long. The
statutes could not be bound in three
volumes if all bills were not Simpli1ed.
They might as we'll describe the lar
ceny of a cow by particularly describ-
ing the COW, as to include all the YER
biage in this bill. Jones inferred, too,
that Allison came from Massachusetts
where he had imbibed blue law ideas.
While favoring the purity of all cleo
tons he (Jones) believed the present
statute ample.
Booth, arguing for the bill, said while
the old law characterized certain Of
r lenses as misdemeanors, the proposed
bill made them greater offenses. If a
majority of any community is against
&c lon 70- he
enforced. But 90 per cent of the peo-
pie here favor pure elections, and the
law cannot be too rigid. The Austria
liam ballot law will not correct all the
evils existing, while the bill under dis
cussion will
Senator Snow thought the bill had
many good points, and ought to be
we'll considered. It is designed TO pro-
tect candidates for public offices. Pub
lie Office is a public trust, and as such
should be protected.
One great reason why people do not
investigate election frauds is because
they are unable to obtain information.
The publication of statements by can
didates and chairmen, as provided, pre-
cludes any illegal use of money. There
are instances of officers in this state
who have paid more for their election
than the pay of the position amounted
10.
Republican sheep men have in time
past allowed their Republican herders
to 90 and vote while Democrats have
been kept with the sheep. There are
also crimes not now punishable which
are reached by section l, which pre-
vents any such action mentioned, and
the bill should be adopted. %Nearly
. every election evil could be corrected
by its provisions.
Candland spoke against the measure
because there was too much time re-
duired in making and filing statements.
This would keep good men from run
ming for office. Corrupt men viii eVade
the law at any rate. The speaker
maintained that to put the bill in force
would kin it at any rate. and II was
useless to pass it. Replying to Snow,
he sad the reason the Democratic
sheep men did not vote was because
they could not vote the Democratic
ticket and then look an honest sheep
in the face, all Of which was regarded
as funny by the Republicans. although
the joke is SO old it has whiskers a.
yard long.
Senator Mckay favored the proposed
lazy because It was plain and ample
Bribery has been INDUCED in in the
past and this bill Will throw some
H,rht on the transactions of candidates.
Mr.. President left the chair to speak
for the bill which in its main purpose
was a good thing in his judgment. 1t
was designed to prevent the purchase
of votes Section 8 provides for the
conviction of those who give brides, on
the testimony of those bought The
filing Of a statement is as nothing COM
pared with the keeping off ward heel
ers when time is considered.
The motion to strike out the enact
ing clause failed. Ayes, 4; nays, Ii.
FUNNY MR.. SUTHERLAND.
Senator Sutherland moved to amend
the title of the bill SO as to make it
read: An act in relation to elections
and crimes and offenses against the
elective franchise and TO relieve weak
kneed candidates from the embarrass-
ment Of being compelled to contribute
TO campaign expenses, which joVial
attempt at legislation was sat upon.
Booth amended the title to include
the words land requiring candidates
and chairraen to file statements Of
to.
The bill then passed. Ayes 12, nays
5. absent 2. Candland, Jones and Suth-
erlan6 voted no.
ROUTINE BUSINESS.
Prayer was offered by Angus NJ. Can
non, president Of Salt Lake stake
LADY TEACHERS SAFE.
The reading of the journal was fol-
lowed by the signing of senate bill To-
preventing discrimination against fe-
male teachers employed in the public
schools.
From the committee on elections
70 n o%