The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-11
TO LIMIT CAMPAIGN MONEY,

Some days since The Post. In discussin,
the suggestion made In certain quarter
that the salaries OF congressman SHOULD
be increased. took the position that "a cor
rupt practices act" limiting the amour
OF money to be spent by candidates FOL
Office, and protecting them from III,
leeches, the "whoopers-up" and the loaf
ers. would be the better plan.
There are few official salaries in TIL,
country that require In justice to be raised
The vast majority of such salaries remain
where they were many years ago. when
dollar bought less than now. Congress
particularly has been making the dolla,
dearer of late years and mas thereby in.
creased the compensation of It's own mem
bers. When the salaried men, not IA Of
nce, were experiencing cuts, the office
holder was enjoying the beneat CT the APP
probation OF our money in the retention
of mis- same old salary!
There Is, as The Post argued, little cause
for raising official salaries by increasing
the amount received, but II any officer,
congressman or otherwise, finds his COM
pensatIon too small, the way to assist him
is to protect his salary from the present
burden OF campaign expenses, lille at
the same time serving the public and
guarding the public treasury. This can be
done through " corrupt practices act"
1t is gratifying to note that rot only
have several of the larger States adopted
such law but that the idea Is conspicu-
ously growing in Importance and making
its way into other States. The reform is
now being seriously discussed In Illinois.
We note in the Chicago Chronicle series
of interviews on the subject with promi-
nent men and politicians, and almost uni
formly they favor such an act as sug-
gested. They differ In some cases as to
the scope of the act and Its details, but
they see In it a distinct avenue to poll
teal or rather election reforms.
A resume of these opinions show that
the gentlemen interviewed believe that "a
corrupt practices act" prohibiting the can
didate. or any of his friends, from spend
ing money except for legitimate travelling
expenses and for halls for speaking and
the publication of campaign literature, or
announcements, each item to be carried
into an itemized account and sworn TO
and published at the end OF the Campaign
by the candidate and his heads CT COM
mittees and campaign managers, would
not only limit the cost to the candidates
but would limit corruption-all party
chalrmen or committeeman to be equally
subject TO the regulations, pains and pen
alties of the act, and punishable like
wise for perjury IL false returns should
be discovered.
While acts OF this kind would save the
candidate and his friends many a dollar
they would likewise give poorer men than
now offer for office chance to enter the
race. 1t would be possible to make the
act so drastic and comprehensive that a
poor man would have an equal chance
with rich man or a man with powerful
backing. And under such a law half n
mans salary need not 90 for his campaign
for recollection!
The democrats lost tho presidency last
year by the vast sums of money poured
out for corrupt uses by their multi mil
Iionaire opponents. Some other ycar the
tables might be turned. The States should
act In this matter and congress also. What
IS fair for one party is fair for the other.