The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-03-10
PUBLICITY OF
ELECTION
EXPENDITURES
PERRT BELMONT In
N0rfb AmerieaH ReVietU
Far FfEyHary
Continued from last week.

tOus was strongly recommended IN tht
last annual message OF the Governor OF
West Virginia.
IT appears. therefore that at least fif-
teen States have adopted corrupt prac-
tices acts and that I'm several states con-
tributiOns by corporations 10 political
campaign funds are prohibited The first
corrupt practices act requiring publicity
Of candidates expenditures was passed I'm
1890 and I'm 1891 corporations were for the
first time prohibited from making cam
paign contributions so the development
OF the law on this subject must be CON
sidercd exceptionally rapid and satisfac-
tory. II seems probable that In their OPP
eratlons such laws. by curtaillng the
amounts expended In campaigns. have
proved obnoxious 10 a certain type Of pro-
fessional politicians. ln the few cases
where they have been repealed Interests
adversely affected by them were enabled
20 take advantage OF temporary and pure
ly local conditions In overriding com
parativcly unorgnnizcd public sentiment.
Al the time Of the repeal of IN" ohio
Garfield law. Mr. James H. Garfield its
author, said he had hoped the Legislature
would amend rather than repeal a.
few Of its provisions were unnecessary
and could easily have been cut out Of tho
bill An amendment favored by Mr.. Oar
field had been prepared. but II was defcat-
ed Even township officers elected with
out the expenditure Of money were com
PEELED 20 make statements; these and 9th
or slight defects In the law encouraged "a
determined effort on the part of certain
politicians 10 dscredit its operations. In
SprlnEficld the Mayor was oustcd from
oficc on account Of the operations ~ its
provisions. and n Probate Judge lost his
office Mr. Garfield believed TINT "lt put
n check upon the wholesale spending ~
money I'm campaigns n was an excel
lent law and should have been continued
I'm an amended form n was plainly con-
stitutioual aud had been thoroughly test
cd n every point by the Supreme Court
OF the state
The inception. the development. the r..
tnrding the progress and effect or these
laws resemble closely the circumstances
and tho beneficial results attending the
ultimate triumph OF the civil Service laws
The English Corrupt and Illegal Prac-
tlcc Prevention Act NG md Il Victoria. ch
80 has Influenced the course Of lcgisla-
tlon In this country, embodying In sub
stance first a strict limitation on the
amount which can be expended in further
ance Of the election OF ~ Member OF Par
liamont: second. the manner In which
such funds may be expended; and. third,
publicity hs 90 the sources and dlsburse-
mcnts OF the funds so employed.
A candidate may net as his own cleo
tion agent but the almost universal prac-
tice is 20 appoint some one. usually so
iicitor ana often n nonresident Of the
borough for which the candidate Is stand
ing. To- assume entire charge OF the eN-
pCnditurCs.
IJpon the election agent Is rcposcd the
responsibility of the appointment of cv-
cry poiling agent clerk and messenger
employcd ON bdhlf of the candidate NJ an
election. and the hiring of every commit
tec-room used in tie campaign
The Act further provides;
"oS Except as permitted by or in pur-
suance OF this act, no payment shall
ne made by a candidate at an election or
by any agent on behalf OF the candidate
oy by ann other peTsOR al ann time. WhcthCI
brforc duriRo OF after spch election In re-
spect of any expenses incurred on nc
count OF or I'm respect of the conduct OF
management of such election otherwise
than nv or through the election agent &c.,
and all money provided 10y any person
other than the candidate for any expenses
Incurred on account of or In respect OF
tho conduct or management OF the cleo
tiou. whether iu gift, loan, advance or
dcposit shall be paid TO the candidate or
his election agent and not otherwise
Every payment made 10y an election
agent or a sub-agcnt, must except where
less than forty shlllngs, lac vouchcd for
bv bill stating the particulars and Ivy
receipt.
Contributions for charitable purposes
s,ibs,oupnt to the public announcement of
tho candldatc's intention To stand for
borough Is also discouraged hy the op-
Grafton of the act.
The act limits the personal expenses Of
candidates 20 El00. or which statement
must be made 90 the agent II prohibits
any payment for the hiring Of horses, car
riagcs or for railway fares, or 10 Am elect
or FOR the use OF any house, land, building
or premises for the exhibition Of any ad-
dress bill or notice. or on account or COM
,,,tft I'm of stimulated
number.
The act limits the number OF persons
who may he legally employed by candi-
date ps deputy election agents. polling
clerks. messengers. clerks, etc, in pro-
portion 10 the number Of electors In tho
borough or county for which the candi-
date stands.
Expenses I'm respect to miscellaneous
matters other than those enumerated In
schedule forming usrt of the act, may
not exceed in the whole the maximum sum
of EsOO. The maximum expenditure IN
borough for all purposes other than
personal expenses and sums paid 60 the
returning officer for his charges, is limit
cd In proportion to the number of electors
ou tho register. The maximum of cNpcnd-
iturc Is E330 I'm case the number OF elect
Ors on the register exceeds 2.O0, and Tor
every complete 1000 electors above 1000
nm additional Co u a county. tho maxi
on tho register docs not exceed 1000 Is
EG0 iu England aud Scotland. and $500
I'm Ireland. 81 the number of electors cN
Goods 2.OuO tho maximum Is EilO I'm Eng
land and Scotland and G5p I'm Ireland,
and an additional ECO I'm England ana
Scotland. and $40 I'm ireland for every
complete 1000 electors above 1000,
Clause Fot see. ar proridcs that q statement
must %, made ~ uN subscriptions r,cCircd hV ne
election agent for am purpose. on account ~ me
conduct or management ~ the cisction, pith a
statement ~ the name ~ sr'rU person from
uhoh ne sumo has been received.
IhiS claus, bSlircS ne fltll,S publicity IN rc-
spCct t0 huU contributions made 10 Pdrl'unsu
tdrV campaign fuId.
The Legislation of SO many states. thus
reviewed has heretofore possyss,d local
rather tnuu national significance. and has
followed l recognition ut evils p,culiar to
those Sfrtcs Conditions prevailing IN
Presidential cpmunipn. have now made
the problem national
/ Tn, Constitution provide tIlt each
State sh1ll appoint Pre-ilyufii eie'tur~ boz
such mnuner as its Lcgislotur. s'U'l di-
rect While. therefore. iu theory it n.uN
| be- cout.0d,J that the choir, ot Pr,si-
| dental. electors b. o. state function. el'c-
| tious Ht which tnvy are chosen ave h,ld
| Dt tho same time as the Copg groS~luuai
| elections. h1N, become Fcd'rui W ,r1rgc-
| ter and. as such the subject of Federal
| regulation Tho express power 90 CON.
| grcss ,o cffDct such gulatiops ur, dcriv.
| ed from the fourth section or th' first ar-
! ticlc ot tho Constitutions:
''rho timcs. places. and manner of hold
! ms all elections for Seiaturs and Repre-
| soutativcs shall bc prescribed IN each
/ 90 IHn 4 uHaf sf.s