New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-05-22
ELECTION ACTS SIGNED
HIT CORRUPT PRACTICES
Belmont and Bracket Bills Noe on
Statute Books.
fBy reiegraph to The tribune. ]

TBy Telegraph to The Tribune.
Albany May 2l.-Two corrupt practices acts
acre signed by Governor Higgins to-day-the
b.II drafted by the judiciary Committee of both
houses from the Perry Belmont Publicity bill
and from the bills submitted by the Association
10 Prevent Corrupt Practices at Elections and
senator Brackets bill defining legitimate ex-
penditures at elections With the special insur-
ance committees bill forbiddng campaign con-
fribuiions by corporations. they present a rig
orous legal bar 10 debauchery Of elections and
their enactment into law. their friends believe.
viii go far to prevent the open buying OF votes
in the interests Of corporations which they de-
nounced in urging the bills for passage
While the bill fathered by the Assembly Ju-
liciary Committee has been criticised somewhat
because its provisions apparently left loopholes
by which fun publicity to contributions and
expenditures could be avoided, it acl5nowl-
dyed on all sides as beingia great improvement
On any existing statutes bearing on election
,orr11ption The Bracket bill supplemented It
By setting forth exactly the legitimate uses for
money in campaigns. and penalizing misuse of
money, a feature not included in the other
measure
The measure commonly known as the Corrupt
Practices act is virtually the Belmont pub
lcIty bin. similar to the one bearing the same
name now before Congress. save that ii was
mOOlfeQ IN some OF us FnfaSlllB III uSicIShSS ~
the arguments OF the association of which Seth
Low was the head. It provides for the filing os
all expenses incurred by campaign committees
with the Secretary Of State Defining cam
paign committee, the bill provides that each one
shall have a treasurer. who must keep accurate
account of all expenditures and receipts. Within
fifteen days OF the close of an election the treas
urer must file a sworn statement showing ali
disbursements in the Office Of the Secretary of
State. Any individual spending money to infiu-
ence the election Of any party or candidate also
must file a statement Of his expenditures; but
where a committee has received an aggregate OF
contributions less than 5000 no statement Of ex-
penditures need be filed, and when individual
expenditures have been less than SO no voucher
for such disbursements need accompany the
statement Elaborate procedure is established.
by which, on petition. through the District Attor-
ney or the Attorney General. the Supreme Court
may hold hearings in case no statement was filed
by any committee and compel the filing Of the
required statement, under penalty Of $1,000 fine.
or Imprisonment for not more than one year. or
both
This provision excepting the committee recev
ing less than $500 contributions and the one
exempting disbursements Of less than $40 from
the requirement to vouchers. came in for
much criticism when the bin was under discus
sion. In the Assembly Mr.. Wainwright offered
amendments striking out these exemptions, ar
guing that in the buying Of votes nobody ever
paid more than SO for one vote and the ex-
emption would make it almost impossible to
catch such transactions. but the amendment
failed. The Senate passed the bill just as the
judiciary Committee reported it. Identical with
the bin from the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
But the Senate also passed Senator Brackets
amendment to the Penal Code. defining legiti-
mate expenditures which, with a few modihca-
tons was one of the more drastic bills advo-
Gated by ex-Mayor Low and ex-Justice D. Cady
Herrick. It provides that.
Any person who, directly or indirectly, by him
self or through any other person, IN connection
with in respect Of any election:
First-1Tyes or provides, or causes to be given or
meal. drink tobacco. refreshment provision. to
FOR any person other than part of the travel
ling expenses of candidates. political agents, COM
miitees and public speakers. or
promises to pay lend or contribute any money Or
other valuable consideration. for any other purpose
than the following matters and services their
reasonable. bona hde and customary value is guilty
No candidate for a judicial Office may contribute
directly or indirectly any money, but may pay his
than direct contributions. Expenditures legal under
payment Tor speakers and music for meetings. with
advertising the meetings and other incidental
ners and literary material with compensation Of
persons TO prepare newspaper advertisements and
payment OF newspapers for advertisements met
ures reading matter additional circulation; the
expenses or preparing and circulating campaign
literature; rent OF clubrooms and necessary clerk
ire; fees OF lawyers for services actually required
n connection with the election; reasonable travel
ing expenses OF committeeman, agents clerks end
speakers; kilograms and telephone fees and post
age expense OF preparing and circulating petition
FOR domination; compensation and food for poll
watchers and election officers, and the hiring of
carriages for sick or infirm voters item of much
Importance in elections up the state.
The penalty for violation IS imprlsonnent for not
more than one year fine of from 500 TO $780, or