Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-07
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES
Perry Belmont Talks on a
Publicity Bill,
REPORTED FAVORABLY
MAY PASS NEW YORK LEGISLA-
TURE THIS SESSION.
Its Object Being to Secure Freedom of
Elections From Undue In
huences.
REPORTED FAVORABLY

Mr. Perry Belmont of New York promi-
nent in democratic circles, is in town. He
| received word today from Albany that a
bill In which he is very much interested
now pending before the New York legis-
! lature has good prospects of enactment
| into law The bill relates to the publicity
of political campaign expenditures, both as
| to the source and object of such expenses.
| 1T is subject in which the people of
| the country are much interested" said Mr..
Belmont today. MANY states have en-
acted laws requiring publicity of campaign
expenditures.
1T is to be hoped that Congress, follow
ing the recommendation of President Roose-
Welt, will pass a law enabling the people to
know who is contributing money for cam
paign expenses and for what purposes 1t is
being used. l believe public sentiment will
compel the passage by Congress of such a
law.
The bill before the New York legislature
has been reported favorably by the COM
mittee on judiciary of the New York SEN
ate and it may pass at the present session,
or certainly at the next session.
Transactions by Corporations.
Public attention has been called in the
past week or two to the financial trans
actions of great insurance companies 1t
would be interesting to poicyholders in in
surance companies and stockholders in
other corporations If they could be ap-
prised through the medium of publicity
act of the uses to which their money was
put for political purposes
Contributions by corporations should be
restricted. The freedom of individuals to
contribute according to their and
inclinations need not be interfered with
by legislation. There is. however no in
herent individual right to secrecy in re-
spect to activities influencing the great
court of public opinion which, as the re-
suit of each national election, passes upon
the rights and property of all. The turn
ing on of the light cannot be deemed an
unconstitutional increase of federal or state
control
Political machinery and party efficiency
would not be harmed should publicity have
the effeee-ef- reducing campaign contribu-
tons Some of the camp followers might
be cut off, but only those whose slight
party affiliations serve no other purpose
than to give occasion for eXtravagant eX-
penditures.
I'VE all appreciate the fact that party or
ganzations are essential to party govern
ment and that they cannot be maintained
without certain legitimate expenditures.
When, however political organiza ations are
sustained by the large subscriptions of the
few their activities become paralyzed by
the development of spirit of dependence
on the few.
Freedom of Elections.
1.-The purport of legislation requiring pub
licity in respect to campaign expenditures
is to secure the freedom of elections from
improper influences. The remedy sought is
one of prevention by indirection. 1t is the
limitation and regulation of possible agen-
cies which is of primary practical impor-
tance.
"At least fifteen states have adopted cor
rupt practices acts and in several states
contributions by corporations to political
campaign funds are prohibited. 1t is quite
probable that in their operations such laws,
by curtailing the amounts expended in cam
paigns have proved obnoxious to certain
type of professional politicians
Mr.. Belmont has received a number of
letters of commendation from prominent cit
iZens of the republic. w. j. Bryan, Carl
SchurZ Seth Low and others have expressed
their approval. Judge George Gray wrote:
Compelled publicity as to contributions
and campaign expenses will be more eff
cient than anything else toward suppress
ing the evil of electoral corruption. 1t will
work automa tically and require no legal
machinery of pains and penalties to enforce
it. l mean that when the publicity is once
enforced the beneficial results flow auto
matically. without the intervention of penal
legislation"