New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-06
COCHRAN on A CRUSADE.
Wants AH Campaign Contributions
of OUer $50 Made Public.

Iron THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.I
washington. Dec "a bill requiring that all
campaign contributions which exceed $50 in
PRESIDENTIAL and Congress elections shall be pub
hcly certified either by the giver recipient.
by both. was introduced to-day by Representa-
tive Bourke Cochran. of New-York. In effect the
measure provides that all contributions made
by person. firm corporation or society shall be
embodied in statement to the clerk Of the
district court, and that in this statement must
be included the amount OF the contribution. the
name of the giver and the person or committee
receiving it. In the event of the giver of the
contribution failing to comply, it is provided
that the person committee receiving the
money shall make the statement immediately
and that the facts shall be published in at least
two newspapers supporting the opposing candi-
date in the district, For failure TO comply with
the provisions of the bill penalty of from one
to three years Imprisonment is provided.
Representative Cochran. in another bill in
troduced to-day, seeks to ascertain through a
special commission appointed for that purpose
the amounts of money expended by both parties
from 1892 to 1904 inclusive. for the election OF
Presidential Electors and Representatives in
Congress. The bill provides that the commits
sion shall be composed of the senior associate
justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States, the junior judge of the Circuit Court Of
together with two Senators of different political
affiliations to be chosen by the Senate and two
Representatives in Congress of different political
Affiliations to be chosen by that body. Its main
object is to ascertain the sources from which
such moneys were derived, the purposes for
which used, the persons to whom they were paid
or given and the manner in which they were
disbursed. The terms Of the bill require that the
finding OF the commission and the testimony
taken shall be reported to Congress on or before
January /, 1906.
In discussing this proposed LEGISLATION Mr.
Cochran said:
tons of money by private persons and Interests to
the expenses OF political parties have become i'm
tons 1t must be clear that the extent to which
nrod LUNGS are USED the sources from which they
given. and the objects for which they are expended
therefore. be known to the whole people. with
respect 70 the use Of money at elections. would
be prohtless to inquire whether party is in a
position TO throw stones at its opponent 1t is very
decisive factor that men charged with the man
of their position to seek the largest funds which
can be obtained by threats. entreaties promises
contests are TO be declsivey affected by the amount
tons can no longer be decided by nationaI con-
science quickened and enlightened through intelH-
INTO sordid auctions. where the largest funds will
niece SSarlly prevail
To ascertain lust how far this sinister condition
exists is the object of the bill introduced to-day,
providing for a special non-partsan commission
to inquire how much money has been raised on both
sides In the last four Presidential campaigns and
the objects for which IL expended.
Mr.. Cochran outlined the duties of the COM
mission, which. he insisted. because of its make
up. must carry out the purposes of the act with
rigid impartiality.
1T is not intended by my bill to restrict con-
tributions or to regulate them" continued Mr..
Cochran. but simply to make them known 1t
does not even prohibit subscriptions by corpora
tons. 1t is not to effect a complete cure of all
the corruptions which have debased our politics.
but ii is hoped that it may prove a first step
toward the publication of our political system
by letting in light upon places heretofore kept
dark There be objection to contribu-
tons. provided they not made secretly. Tn
to political expenses should be a roll of honor
on which every man would be proud to have his
name inscribed"
Mr.. Cochran contends that subscriptions from
sources that VIGOROUSLY bad or from per-
sons who clearly anxious to obtain favors
from government are injurious to the party re-
ceiving them.
These measures not intended TO secure
any party advantage concluded Mr.. Cochran
but to arrest a tendency which, if not checked
must result in such decentralization of both par
ties that their destruction will become necessary
to the progress IL not the very existence of civ
ilization, and few doubt that If party or
CARNATIONS perish republican government will
be engufed in their ruins"