The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-12-07
NUMBER 80
TO PREVENT CORRUPT PRACTICES.

Features of the Baltimore Reform Leagues
Proposed Election Reform Bill.
The Baltimore Reform League has
completed its bill for the prevention
of corrupt practices at elections and
the draft of the measure is practi-
cally ready for presentation to the in
coming Legislature.
The bill is intended to prevent such
large expenditures of money as have
characterized elections of recent years.
Certain limits are established and
full publicity must be given every
item of expenditure. 1t is believed
that this measure, in connection with
the anti-bribery statutes, will effec
tualiy limit the Rsa Of money for
political purposes.
The bill provides that no candidate
for office shall, either by himself or
through agents or political commit
tees, pay, promise or offer any money
or other valuable thing exceeding in
the aggregate a sum determined upon
the following basis for 5000 voters
or less, 800; for each 100 voters over
5000 and under $4,000, 81; for each
100 voters over $4,000, so cents. The
number of voters is to be ascertained
by the total number of votes cast for
all the candidates for such offices at
the last preceding regular election to
oh
include the actual travelling expenses
and board bills of the candidate, nor
money paid for printed matter in
newspapers, pamphlets. letters or
circulars.
Under the act, a candidate for Gov
ernor of Maryland could legitimately
expend for campaign and election
purposes 1880 outside of the sums
allowed for travelling expenses, print
ing, etc, as just mentioned. A can
didate for Mayor orany other munich
pal office voted for in Baltimore city
could expend $547 and candidates for
the State Senate or House of Dele
gates in this county could eXpend
only 800.
The law extends its provisions not
only to nominated or independent
candidates who may contest in the
regular election, but to candidates
for nomination whose names may be
used in primary elections or brought
before any caucus or convention.
Every candidate, within 30 days after
the election, must take out and file
with the clerk of the Circuit Court
in his county, or the clerk of the
Superior Court in Baltimore city, and
with the officer empowered by law to
issue the certificate of election to the
place sought, complete written
statement of all money contributed,
expended or promised by him, and,
to the best of his knowledge, by any
other persons in his behalf, or in con
nection with the election of any
other person or persons. The dates
of all payments or promises, the
names of the recipients and the pur-
pose of the payment or promise must
be plainly stated. Thie statement
must be sworn to, and the successful
candidate cannot receive his commits
sion until he files the same.
The law also sets its dragnet for
political committees. Every commit
; tee or organization which has any
thing to do with raising or disburs-
ing money for election purposes is
; deemed "a political committee. 1t
must appoint a treasurer, who shall
keep a careful record of all money
= received and spent as all money must
pass through his hands. Any attempt
by a committee to collect and expend
-, money except in accordance with the
act is unlawful. The treasurer's rec
Il ord must show the amount, date and
i purpose of every receipt and expend-
= iture Within 80 days after an elec
ton the treasurer must file a com
y plete sworn statement of receipts and
/ expenditures. This statement must
cover a period beginning 80 days be-
;, fore election and terminating when
the statement is filed. Full particu,
IL lars regarding unpaid debts and obli
d cations must be included.
's All these statements of candidates
e and committees are to be kept on file
for four years and be open to public
inspection.
+ The law then goes on to provide
ID penalties for violation. The candi
g date who fails to comply may be tine'
"a not less than 800 nor more thai
n 81 900 Failure to keep correct &C
er counts, or the alteration. humiliation
IN or the destruction of books, with tn
e intent to conceal anything, or failur
h. to file a statement after notice givel
lie him after the expiration of the tim
limit, is punishable by imprisonmen
is of not more than two years, nor les
1t. than six months Wilful false state
2t ments are dealt with by the law Gov
ering perjury.