New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-13
CALL SECRECY Il MENACE.
Belmont Urges Campaign Fund
PubEcity-Gompers Speaks.
10 &c Tribun. Bureau ]

Washington. March 12-The House COMMITTEES
on the Election Of the President. Vice-President
and Representatives in Congress to-day began
consideration Of the various bills introduced at
this session 81 Congress 10 prevent corruption In
elections and % regulate contributions TO cam
pslgn funds The advocates of publicity as a
cure for these evils were before the committee
On force.
Samuel Gompers. president Of the American
Federation OF Labor. addressed the comrhittee
on the subject OF abuses I'm political campaigns,
md Perry Belmont, Of New-York. president of
the National Publicity Bill Organization, with
several officers Of the organization, spoke ear
s1estly in favor Of the bill introduced by Repre-
Sentative Mccall. Of Massa chusetts, which pro-
Nides that all political committees engaged In
Sromotng the election Of Representatives, or
delegates 10 Congress, or Presidential electors
shall report the contributions received 10 the
-Clerk Of the House OF Representative The bill
was prepared by the National Publicity Organl-
Fation. and was the one principally considered
by the committee this morning, though there are
snsny others hearing the same subject before
she committee. Representative w Bourke
Cochran spoke in advocacy Of two measures in
sroduced hy him. one Of which provides that
secord Of contributions 20 political campaign
FUNDS must he filed with the clerk OF the District
Court IN which the campaign is held, the list to
be published I'm al least two newspapers OF the
district The other provides for the appointment
or > commission 10 investigate and report on
uampaign fund contributions IN national cleo
lions since 1892.
Mr. Belmont said that the secret and corrupt
,,se Of money I'm national elections was a dan
ferous menace. He asserted that the first and
snost important measure OF relief was the pas
sage of a national act requiring the disclosure
under oath OF every contribution OF money and
every promise Of money IA national campaigns.
and in case Of evasion providing for exposure
and punishment as set forth I'm the bill prepared
by the organization of which he is president.
This organization, he said would oppose any
legislation which looked like interference with
state regulation Of elections. He believed the
enactment Of the legislation proposed would
greatly assist the state laws the books
and those which are in process OF formation.
There was no doubt Mr.. Belmont said. that the
NeN-York Legislature would pass a bill regulat-
iue campaign contributions by corporations be-
fore adjournment. The present law, which mere
Iy cou'pels candidate for public office to make
publication Of his own expenses, had not been
Fatsfactor-. He pointed out that William Ran
dPph Hearst had filed a statement showing that
ne spent $4,000 in his campaign last fall while
William Travers Jerome declared he spent moth
ins This was undoubtedly true so far as Mr.
Jeromes own money was concerned. Mr. Bel
mont remarked, but there had been a committee
which had done the spending end this commit
Tee did not come under the provisions of the
resent Aew-York law
have teen Informed by Representative
Srlggs' VI Georgia, The newly elected chairman
of The Democratic Congressional Committee"
selo MI Belmont, that he is willing TO make
puphc al the contributions received bv the COM
mlllee under such law as We are advocating
Robert Luce, chairman Of The Committee on
ELECTIONS OF the Massachusetts House Of Repre-
Eeniatives. told the committee Of the Corrupt
Practices law in that state. All the committees
hoth state and municipal, were reporting under
a. he said, and there was no reason 10 believe
shat any substantial amounts were being con-
Uealeo
James . Wilson, OF Wilmington Del: Frank
a Foster, Of Boston, and ex-senator Chandler.
~ AeW-Hampshire, spoke in advocacy Of the
National Publicity Organization bill.