New-York tribune., 1906-04-16
TO CURE BILLS DEFECTS
Wainscnght Has Important Amend-
ments for Corrupt Practices Lac.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune.


Albany, april 15.-Important amendments to the
Corrupt Practices bill viii be presented by As
semblymsn Wainwright when that measure comes
up Tuesdays calendar in the Assembly 1t has
been advanced to the order Of third reading In the
shape in which the Judiciary Committee reported
it-that combination of the measures introduced
for the Association for the Prevention OF Corrupt
Practices at Elections and the Belmont Puohcity
bill Serious criticism of the resulting biii "hiSi
is fathered by the Judiciary Committee, mas re-
suited however, and il is TO remedy these defects
that Mr.. Wainwright has drawn his amendments.
At present the measure provides for general
accounting OF moneys spent by any political COM
mittee, but makes two important exceptions 10
this general rule. No committee receiving con-
tributions aggregating less than 5000 need file
statements Of its expenditures and no committee
need account for amounts OF less than $40. These
details Mr.. Wainwright will strike out In his
amendments. compelling any committee or associ-
ation no matter how email its contribution list. to
account for all the money spent. and to account
for each item. fraction Of a dollar.
The trouble With the bill in its present FORM
said Mr.. Wainwright. explaining his amendments
rs that 1t leaves the guards open at both ends
These sections-practical exemptions from the
general accounting regard as very dangerous
II We 10 have a workable bill they must be
eliminated. Why this bill is designed TO prevent
the buying of voters. Now. any practical politi-
clan knows that seldom is than $40 spent on
one voter. With this SO limit by the hun
ureds might De DrlDed. ana the committee couid
just say that its expenditures in amounts
less than So
with the 500 limit IL would work about the same
way. Any number of political committees cam
paign clubs could be formed. none of which would
have more than $500 total gifts. Each could
filing its statement by declaring that the aggregate
OF its contributions was less than 500 l slncerely
hope these amendments will be adopted. The need
for them must be clear to every one VINO desires
thorough accounting for money spent IN poilucal
campaigns"
This loophoe in the bill recently was called to
the attention of Senator Brackett. chairman OF the
Senate Judiciary Committee and Mr.. Cox, head OF
the Assembly judiciary Committee, by Seth Low,
Of the Corrupt Practices Association. Since the
committees bills have been reported various other
sections have been pointed out in which defects
exist in the opinion of those who have studied the
bills. One of these is that which provides that II
no statement is filed. or an Inaccurate or incom-
plete statement of expenditures is offered the SUI
preme Court any justice of that court may
compel, by an order in contempt proceedings the
filing of a proper statement. on the written petit
ton of the Attorney General district attorney,
candidate at the election in question, or any hve
voters at that election This II is said. would work
out unsatisfactorily and suggestions have been
made that any individual be allowed to bring pro
ceedings IL he files an undertaking to indemnify
the persons or committee against which the pro-
ceedfngs were brought IL he lost his case