The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-12-15
FOR ELECTION REFORM
LEGlSLATE AGAINST CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTION EVIL.
FREE TRADE WITH PHILIPPINES
1t May Not Come This Session-Mod.
crate Tariff to be Continued Against
Sugar and Tobacco - Senator Per.
kins' Remarkable Memory.


Sugar and Tobacco - Senator Per.
kins' Remarkable Memory.
Washington, Dec. 10. -- Special. l.
| Election reforms, especially In the mat
| ter of contributions to campaign funds,
| VIII receive II large amount of nttcn.
| tiou IN congress, although Just how to
pass II satisfactory law covering such
eases Is one of the unsolvcd problems
| Several able lawyers have introduced
| bills designed to reach the evils, but
elections belong to the states almost
wholly. Even the presidential clcc-
| tions are state affairs. The states
| choose the electors and the electors
| choose the president and vice prcIi.
| dent. These electors might hc chosen
| by the legislatures If that course was
| preferable, and in the cnriy days OF
| the nation that was the method pur-
| sued. II may seem anomalous TINT
| the national legislature has no control
over the election of II president of the
nation, but such Is the fact. Congress
| has control over the election of repre-
scntativcs and on that account may be
able to regulate campaign COntribu-
tions and expenses in such elections.
Funds Go to State Committees.
In presidential years campaign funds
are nearly always sent TO state com-
mittccs by the NATIONAL committees. or
course there are expenses for speak
crs, literature, headquarters and crm-
paign parnphcrnnlia but the dsbursc-
mCntS for getting out the voters and
for the Canvasscs of voters In doubtful
states are made through the state or
| ganHatOnS. National legislation can.
not reach state committees, and there
Is some doubt whether II national com
mittcc could be made subject to fed
ernl law.
Reverts to Public Sentiment.
In the opinion Of those who have
| given the most careful attention to the
subject the bcncGDul results which
will follow the Introduction Of many
bills ANA the discussion in both houses
of congress Is the effect on public sen
timCnt. Large campaign funds viii he
discouraged, ana corporations will hcsi-
tate before giving liberal sums rs in
the past. The party workers ana the
men to whom the money is paid will
be rs cIamorous as before, but they
| will have to take smaller amounts.
Free Trade With Philippines.
1t Is not the intention of the Rcpub
leans to allow absolute free trade with
the Philippines during the present scs-
sion of congress, though very few Re
pubIicams have any fear on the score
of damage to American products. Sen
ator Elkins, who joined the beet sugar
men in the fight against Cuban rcci-
prOcity, says that he has not the slight
est fear that Philippine products will
compete with those Of the United
States 50 ~ to do the least damage to
American industries. Other senator's
and representatives feel the same way,
but ont of def renee to promises that
were made when th" treaty which Ced-
ed the Philippines was ratified there
seems TO be disposition TO continue a
moderate tariff against the chief prod
uctS of the island. sugar ana tobacco,
until ten years from the time the ccs-
sion was made. That will be four
years hence.
System OF Memory.
Senator Perkins of California has n
marvellous memory for names and
faces. He never forgcts the name or
face Of man If he Is of any cOnse-
qucncc or importance. He does il by
association. If he is introduced to n
man he learns his residence. If in n
city he ascertains the street and mum
Der, If In the country the town and
county. He associates the mans face
and name with place where he met
him and also with his residence. This.
together with a naturally acute mem
ory, enables him to place men quickly
when he meets them n second time
even after the lapse of many years. IL
could now sit down and name a thou
sand men In California" said the sen,
ator, land give the street and number
and town in which each lives"
Contemporary Of Allison.
The late Senator Mitchell OF Oregon
entered the senate first with William
| ID hlllsOu iONu' nat was III
1873. His service had twice been in
terrupted but he had always been Il
strong man in his state. 1t is doubtful
when reckoned by dollars and cents il
any senator ever procured as much for
his state as Mitchell. Oregon was pc
culiarly situated In its demands. Its
rivers and harbOrs need great deal IN
the way of improvements; public lands
and Indians required legislation; laws
relating to mines, to bridges. to forest
reserves, had to be passed.
There were constant demands upon
Mitchell which required visits to all OF
the departments. Few senators ever
work as hard for their constituents as
did the late Oregon senator.
An Old Story.
Year after year the report Of the
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