Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-21
TO CHANGE THE LAWS
Cemmitie That is Handling the Corrupt Practices Law Wnl
 So Recommend
WILL BE TEN CHANGES
Commission Has Worked Diligently Since Appolnted--To Limit Num- Der oi Paid Workers at
 the Polls.

r
 the Polls.
 New Haven, Dec 21.-The commits
 sion appointed in July of last year.
 by special act of the general assem-
 bly,. Ito take into consideration the existing laws relating to primaries and
 the laws prohibiting corrupt prac-
 tices at elections, both in this state
 and elsewhere, and to report to the
 general assembly of 1907, such bill
 or bills. or such proposed legislation
 as in their opinion are required and
 are best calculated to secure fair
 nominations and elections, and to
 prevent corrupt practices at pri-
 maries and elections" Is reported to
 have agreed unanimously upon ten
 changes in the existing corrupt prac-
 ttces law, and to have drawn con
 servative direct primary act with
 which to begin the experiment of di-
 rect nominations.
 The commission consists of Judge
 John H. Perry of Southport, chair
 man; Colonel Theodore H. MacDon-
 aid of New Haven, secretary; Charles
 Hopkins Clark of Hartford, Frank T.
 Brown of Norwich and Colonel N. C..
 Osborn of New Haven. The commits
 sion has been contsantly at work
 since It's appointment and has gone
 carefully into every law in existence
 bearing upon these subjects. It is
 said that the reports will cover the
 ground and make 1t easy for mem
 bers of the general assembly to judge of the conclusions reached with the least amount of trouble. The fact that the commission is said to be unanimous in its conclusions proves that its members. among whom are practical politicians as we'll as theor- ists. have agreed only after the most thorough examination of all laws in existence and human experience un- der them.
 The only information which can
 be had at present relates to the cor rupt practices law. There are still phases of the direct primary act to discuss and determine. Among the recommendations. which 1t is said the commission will make. is one for bidding corporations and all judges. except judges of probate, to con tribute to political funds. Judges of probate are excepted because they are elective officers at present, and since the commission admits the right of candidates for ofiice to use money, under expressed limitations. to bring their candidacies to the notice of the public. 1t would be inconsistent to in- clude judges of probate under the prohibition.
 A second recommendation seeks to limit the number of paid workers at the polls without unfairly impairing the efficiency of political organiza-
 ton. Any voting district may em- ploy i've workers for the distribution of ballots and pastors and for service in committee rooms, and one addi- tional worker for each 200 of the registered voters in that district. The object of this recommendation is two fold. In the first place 1t will meet effectively that subtle form of bribery which is successfully undertaken un-
 der the guise of hiring men to work.
 when the real object is to control their votes, and in the second place, 1t will place . premium upon volunteer work. which in the opinion of the commission will stimulate essential political activity and promote . lar |. ger political intelligence.
 A third recommendation carries the law requiring returns In the form of sworn statements back of candidates for election to candidates for nomi- nation. If the election machinery is to be protected at all. 1t must be pro- tected at It's source of power. A same information of delegates to nominating conventions. who shall In addition shall state who. if anybody, paid their travelling and other cx- penses. or who reimbursed them. If anybody did. after they had paid their own. This recommendation strikes q blow at the practice of can didates for once meeting all conven- tion expenses. which in effect Is a brtbe. A fifth recommendation de fines -couveyance charges" as the uece<safy means of bringing to the polls the sick and the infirm. It for bids the use of conveyunces for any other purpose. unless the conveyance is a volunteer conveyance in every sense of the work
 Tn undertaking the limit. the amount Of money candidates for pub Ic of7,re may expend. in order that it uav terome possible for citizens of moderate means to aspire 10 public o6{rc- inc commission ss eah fo have workei the problem cut. independeni- iy of an other experim<nfs thougn the scheme they recommend nas ozn Its trial eisevhere- It reUrus eacn candidate with reference to the num- i her of voters to be appealed to and p~rmIfx each ezndidate to expend fhe suu Of SIS for each one thou<ansl xofers oualIfed to vote for the cGr< fr erection. Had the saisfy of the | c<sc~ brea faken as . basis inrtesd | of rroulsfjou. q nsnife<f mtDtce | vcuLi lave ben dose those who ars 1 csn1 Iiofes fer stafe onre as cen- l MI uffh fhose whs ore can6I1et<z | fur Siserscf e0re: sfoee socer no 2 I Iarxrr oel1 oe co<tR 0nn . elsnk' ewwrnmnn eR CfDfo o1n1gf- fsf ex- nmnna. 0 G1 1u11uuf e4 = <s9- \ m1~1m. nn Uuun1GnuA uH1 Gu<1