The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-09
ans, voter having voted or re-

count of such voter having voted or re-
Trained from voting at any election.
The second section deals with promises
OF Office as a bride. Persons TO be pun
ished under this section are those VINO
make offers Of money. office or other con-
alteration TO induce another to engage
I'm corrurt election work; every person
who accepts a bride from a person or
member of committee. or who shall be
directly or Indirectly party to any bril-
berry scheme: any person who shall at
tcmpt 10 ascertain how voter has voted.
Legitimate election expenses are thus
defined:
Personal travelling expenses OF the can
didate.
trhe rent OF hall or rooms for the deliv-
l. cry OF speeches relative to principles or
candidates. and for renting OF chairs and
other furniture properly necessary TO III
such halls or rooms for use for such pur-
poses.
The payment Of public speakers and
musicians at public meetings ana thelr
necessary travelling expenses.
Printing and distribution or lists or
candidates or sample tickets. speeches or
addresses by pamphlets, newspapers or
circulars relative TO candidates or politi-
cal issues or principles, cards, handoilis'
posters or announcements.
Challengers at the polls ct elections;
copying and classifying Of poll lists; max
ing canvasses OF voters. and postage,
telegraph. telephone or other public mes
senger service.
Rent OF party headquarters or Tor clerk
hire AT the headquarters OF office OF such
committee. and conveying lnfirm or dis
abied voters 10 and from the polls.
Violations OF the provisions OF the law,
either bribe-giving or bribe-taking are
made punishable by imprisonment for
not less than six months nor more than
five years. AS If to cover every point.
the law also prohibits the giving of any
entertainment, meat or drink, to any per-
son for the purpose Of influencing that
PERSONS vote.
II is also made an offence punishable
by imprisonment for any person TO use
or threaten violence. damage, harm, or
loss to any voter for the purpose Of in
fuencing his vote.
Every candidate for office is required
under penalty within thirty days after
his election to make out and swear TO
complete list of his expenses during the
campaign. the statement TO be filed with
the official empowered to issue the certi-
ficate Of election, and duplicate with
the clerk of the courut.
II IL further provided that no political
parties shall collect or dsburse money
for campaign work except through poll
tical committee, and every such commit
tee must have n treasurer TO handle the
funds. The treasurer is required to keep
a detailed record Of every sum received
and expended, and he too must file with
the clerk of the court full statement
OF his receipts and disbursements.
We have not attempted to give full de-
tails. but simply TO point out the salient
features Of the bill. There have been re-
peated charges OF bribery in the election
in Virginia in 1896. and we made refer
ence in yesterdays paper TO the disgust
ing scenes witnessed in the recent muni-
cipal election in Augusta. Georgia, where
negro voters were bought up like herd
of sheep. The Virginia Legislature has
the opportunity TO prevent both bribery
and corruption, and II It will adopt the
Maryland election law and some such
bill as we have above outlined as an ac-
compartment, there will hereafter be no
opportunity of cheating or bribing the
Virginia voter.
We do sincerely hope that the Legisla-
ture will address itself earnestly TO this
question and give Us such law as will
remove every suspicion OF wrong doing