Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-03-27
CORRUPT PRACTICES.

We are under obligations to Senator
Charles S. Dana for q copy of the Gar
field Bill to prevent corrupt practices
at elections, which was enacted into
law last week. The senate, upon mo-
ton of Mr.. Garfield, concurred in the
house amendments by a vote of 30 to 4.
The bill was amended in the house so
as to provide that it shall go into eff
feet at once. Some of the senators
unaffected desire to have the date of
going into effect after the April cleo
ton, but the concensus of opinion was
that the bill should not be changed.
The law as it now is provides that
no candidate for office shall expend in
order to secure or aid in his nomina-
tion or election in excess of sum to
be computed on basis as follows: One
hundred dollars for 5000 voters, 81. so
| for every 100 voters oyer 5000 and under
25 900, and 81 for each 100 voters over
25, 900 and under $4,000. Any expendi-
ture in excess of such amount is unlaw-
full and makes void the election of such
violator.
Sectiou . prescribes the manner in
which the number of votes is to be as
certained.
Section provides that any person
who is candidate for nomination
must file within ten days after the eau
Gus or nomination convention with the
clerk of the county and the board to
issue certificates, statement of all
sums contributed, disbursed, expended
or promised by him and make affidavit
to the truth of such statement.
Section provides that every candi-
date after the election is held shall file
similar statements.
Section provides a penalty of $1,000
for failure to comply with the pro-
visions of the act, action to be brought
by the attorney general or prosecuting
attorney in the county of the candi-
dates residence, fines to go into the
school fund.
Section 6 provides that the board
shall not issue a certificate of election
|
Section provides that at any time
during the occupancy of office of any
official, excepting members of the gen.
eral assembly or congress, an elector
may file charges with the attorney
general setting forth that an official
has violated any of the provisions of
this act. The charges must be accom-
panied by bond of $1,000.
Section s provides that within 10
days after the filing of such charges
the attorney general shall begin an
action against the accused.
Section provides that if the attor-
ney general so fails to act the elector
may bring suit himself
Section 10 provides that such cases
shall be given preference on court
dockets
Section II provides that if single
charge is sustained the Office shall be
declared vacant and filled according to
existing laws.
Section 12 provides that persons
must testify in such cases, but any in
eliminating testimony shall not be
used against them in any subsequent
civil or criminal proceedings.
Section IS provides that contests for
seats in the general assembly shall be
conducted as heretofore.
Section IA provides that any two or
more persons who shall collect or dis
burse money for political purposes
shall be considered a political COM
mittee.
Section 10 provides that such COM
mittee shall at all times haye treas
urer, who shall keep an account of the
money received and expended.
Section II provides that any persons
receiving or expending money for such
committee shall make report of the
same to the treasurer.
Section IS provides that within 20
days after an election the treasurer
shall file with the county clerk sworn
statement of the money cole cted, ex-
pended or promised.
Section 10 provides that no claim
shall be paid unless presented within
eight days after the caucus primary,
or election, as the case may be. Any
claims presented later must be submit
ted to the common pleas court and al
lowed if there is sufficient evidence
that the delay in presenting the claim
could not be avoided.
Section 30 provides that all records
of the treasurers must be kept for a
period of four years.
Section 81 provides that any treasur-
er failing TO comply with the pro-
visions of the act shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and subject to a fine of
from $50 to $500.
Section 22 provides that treasurers
neglecting to keep such accounts, mutt
lating the same or failing to file them,
is guilty of misdemeanor and subject
to imprisonment for from two to six
months.