Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-29
FOR CLEANER POLITICS
That Is Object OF Bill Now
Before the Iowa Leeis-
lature.
Modelled Largely After the Ohio
Corrupt Practice Act =. Its
Provisions.
Puts Limit on Amount Which
Candidates May Expend in
Campaigns.

Campaigns.
Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, March 29.-The house
committee on elections today reported
out for passage the bill by Mr.. Kerr,
of Grundy, which is to prevent the use
of large sums of money in elections
and in influencing voters. The bill
lis said to be almost like the Ohio cor
rupt practices act, and covers the
whole ground of preventing corruption
/ of the voters. 1t is provided by this
bill that no candidate for representa-
tive in the congress of the United
States, or for any public Office created
| by the constitution or laws of this
state, to be filled by popular election,
shall by himself, or by or thru any
agent or agents, committee or organ
ization contribute or expend, or offer
or agree to contribute or expend,. any
money or other valuable thing, in order
| to secure or aid in securing his nonlin-
alton or election, or both such nomin-
alton or election, or to defeat or aid
in defeating the nomination or election,
or both the nomination or election of
any other person or persons, to be
voted for on the day of the same cleo
ton, or in support of or opposition to
any measure or proposition submitted
to popular vote upon the day of the
oil in rf q CHI To,
be determined upon the following
basis: For 5000 voters, or less, 500.
For each one hundred voters over
5000 and under $4,000, $780, For each
one hundred voters over $4,000 and un-
der $4,000, $1.00, and nothing additional.
for voters over $4,000. Any payment.
contribution or agreement or offer to
pay, contribute or expend any money
or thing of value. in excess of the.
limit prescribed by this act, for any
or all of such objects and purposes
is hereby declared to be unlawful, and
to render void the election of the per-
son making it. But this section shall
not apply in cases where such nominal
ton Of such candidates, or Of any rival
candidate for such Office shall have
been made to the taking effect OF this
act.
There are provisions for the proper
payments to committees and expenses
Of caucuses and primaries and banks
for the proper returns to be sworn to.
1t is provided that every person who
shall be candidate at any election
for any public Office which, under the
constitution or laws of this state, is to
be filled by popular election, or for the
office of representative in the congress
of the United States. shall, within fif-
teen days after election held to fill
such Office, make out statement in
writing and file the same withsthe
clerk of the county in which he re-
sides, and make out and file dupli-
cate thereof with the board, officer
or officers, II any, empowered by law
to issue the certificate Of election to
such Office or place. Such statement
shall set forth in detail each and all
sums of money and other things of
value contributed. expended or prom
Used by him, and Ito the best of his
knowledge and belief by any other
person or persons by his procurement, |
wholly or in part, in endeavoring to
secure or in any way in connection
with the election of any other person |
or persons to any office to be voted |
for on the same day of election, or In |
support of or in opposition to any |
or proposition submitted to |
popular vote upon the same day of |
election, and showing the dates when,
the persons by and to whom, and the |
purposes for which each such contri- |
button, expenditure or promise was |
made. Such candidate shall subscribe |
and swear to such statement and du-
plicate before an officer authorized by
law to administer oaths.
The attorney general must bring suit
for violations of this law where proper
are filed, or suits may be
brought by the county attorney in GER
tain cases, and the election may be de-
clared void If the charges are proved.
to the disbursement of
money by the committees the bill pro-
vides:
Every two or more persons who shall
the purpose, wholly or in part, of d.
recting the raising, collection or dis
of money, and every two or
more persons who shall cooperate in
the raising, collection or disbursement
VI iIlOueS uScu Oh 10 pS uSeu 10 Iurtner
or defeat the nomination or election of
any person or any class or number Of
persons to public Office by popular vote,
or ~ further or defeat any measure or
submitted to popular vote,
shall be deemed q political committee
within the meaning of this act.
Every political committee shall ap-
point and constantly maintain a treas
urer. who shall be a resident of the
state, to receive. keep and disburse all
sums of money which may be collected
or received or disbursed by such COM
mittee. or by any of it's members, for
any of the purposes mentioned in sec
ton Ia of this act, and unless such
treasurer is first appointed and there
after maintained, it shall be unlawful,
and a violation Of this act, for po-
litical committee or any of it's members
to collect, receive or disburse money
for any such purpose. All money col
lected or received or disbursed by any
political committe, or by any member
or members thereof for any of the pur-