The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-13
FOR Pure
ELECTIONS
Provisions OF the Bill Of Sena.
III tor Barksdale..
IA SWEEPING E: MEASURE Z J Re:
Improperly Executed viii Forbid Use I,
Of Money In Elections Except for
Purely Legitimate Purposes
Advocates Happy VI
SWEEPING N. MEASURE E. S! J e

VI. Advocates Happy Z, II. j3,
Senator w. p. Barksdalc, OF Halifax
and those who stand with him for pure
elections. were delighted last night over
the passage OF his bill through both
7 branches OF the General Assembly by an
almost Unanimous vote. 355 ny s1
While strong efforts were made In tho
House to amend the bill by inserting the
word "corruptly, in forbiding the use Of
!, money, they fell to the ground absolute
i,iy, and 1.-THE blu went through with
S1wloop'
II will go to tho Governor for His Ex-
( ccllencys signature, and will no doubt
shortly become the law Of the State on the
subject.
sWEEPING IN PROVISIONS.
The bill is sweeping In It's provisions
& and forbids that any candidate for any
office in the State from State to munic-
Sipal ito "expend. pay. provide or loan any
money or other valuable thing to In
fluence voters In his behalf" or to permit
the Same to be used In his behalf in any
election, sprimary8or nominating conycn-
tlon. .Tho penalty for violation IS fixed
AZ fine Of from $500 to IS COZ. and con-
flnemcnt in jail Of from ono to twelve
&mdnths. 5 IS Ii jss
Every person who r1nssssss office as de-
scribod above ls<aeuGired under drastic
oath to submit statement OF actual
necessary expenses to the authority issu-
Ing certificate OF election within thirty
days after, said election. Afine OF not ex-
ccedlng sop is provided against any per-.
son failing TO comply with the section
relating to the certificate OF expenses.
II any person IS elected to office and
upon contest It shall appear that no has
\ violated the provisions OF the act he shall
forfeit the office to which he was 50
elected and new election shall be held.
q TEXT oF5THE BILL.
The bill, as passed by the two houses.
Is as follows:
B 1. BE It enacted by the General Assem-
I bly, OF Virginia, That no candidate for
q Congress- or any State, county, district or
municipal office shall expend. pay, promise
or loan any money or other valuable thing
to influence voters In his behalf. or permit
the Same to be so used with his knowledge
by his friends or adherents In any cleo
d ton, primary or nominating convention.
2. That no person shall expend, pay,
Il promise or loan any money or other val
1 liable thing in behalf. OF any candidate for
I office at any election. primary or nomi-
mating convention held in this Common
wealth; any person or candidate violating
either Of the above sections OF this act
shall be subject to q fine Of not less
than five hundred nor more than five
thousand dollars, and confined In jail not
4 months, '
FILE CERTIFICATE.
g. Every person who shall be O candi-
date before any caucus or convention or,
ut any primary election or at any cleo
ton for any State, county city. township,
, district or municipal office. or for Senator
or Representative in the General Assem-
bly, OF Virginia, or for Senator or Repre-
sentative in the Congress OF the United
States, shall, within thirty days after
the election held to fill such office or
place, make out and file with the officer
or board empowered by law to Issue GER
EtiDcates Of election to such Office or place,
and duplicate thereof with the clerk
; OF the County Court for any county In
which such candidate resides, O state
ment In writing, which statement and du-
plicate shall be subscribed and sworn to
Z By such candidate before an officer author
lied to administer oaths, setting forth
In detail oil sums Of money contributed,
4 hisbursed, expended or promised by him..
1nd to tho best OF his knowledge and
a belief by any persons or person In his
behalf, wholly or In part, endeavoring to
Jecure or In any way in connection with
4 his nomination or election to such Office
or place in connection with the election
DG any other persons at said elections,
oh ha yStoou tfa.
10 whom and the purposes for which all
such sums were paid, expended or prom
lsed. Such statement shall also set forth
that tho same Is as full and explicit as
Militant is able to make It: and he shall
also. before some officer qualified to ad-
with said statement the following oath:
DRASTIC OATH.
Eg do solemnly swear that the statement
herewith filed embraces all money spent
BY me or in&my behalf with my knowl-
edge by my adherents and friends; that
y have neither directly or Indirectly ar
ranged, encouraged or connivcd at the
Z ppendlng OF any money other than as
5Shown in my said statement; that ! have
pot repaid any money SO spent or claimed
20 have been so spent. and that will not
10 so. and that have not violated any
tpf the provisions OF this act In letter or
/, in spirit. So help me God.
I, No officer or board authorized by law
( TO issue commission or certificate OF cleo
ton shall issue such certificate or COM
mission to any such person until such
statement and oath shall have been so
made, verified and filed by such persons
with said officer.
Y s. Any person failing to comply with the
above provisions by falling to file said
statement and oath In tho manner and
form above prescribed shall be liable to
a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars,
to bo recovered In an action or motion
brought In the name OF the State by the
Attorney General or by tho Commons
wealth's attorney Of the county OF the
candidates. residence. or by any person
suing In the name oftthe Commonwealth
tho amountNof said fine to be fixed within
Tho above limit by tho jury, and to DO
paid into tho school fund OF said county
FOLLOWING 1T UP. N
6. No person shall enter upon the duties
pf any elective office until he shall have
Nled the statement oath and duplicate
provided for In this act, nor. shall he re-
teiye any salary or any emolument for
any period prior to the fling Of the same,