New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-11
BRIBERY WIDESPREAD.
Ea-Mayor Seth LoSc Talks on Cor
rupt Practices Bill.

Elk Mayor Seth Low gave out a long state
ment in reference to corrupt practices at eiec-
tions last night. He said the Association 10
Prevent Corrupt Practices at Elections, OF
which he IL chairman, trying to strike at
the same evil" the movement headed by MIR.
Belmont. The fact that there should be COM
mittees organized for the same purpose" he
said shows how widespread and strong the
feeling is that something radical must be done
Probably it is good thing that the subject
should be approached from more than one point
of view"
When asked If he thought the practice OF brio-
cry is widespread. he said:
1t certainly is. It is believed that over consid-
cradle areas many as 90 per cent or tee
voters expect TO be paid in some way Ior lleiF
votes. Those of who have come In close con-
tact with city elections may not be able 10 eX-
press the extent of corruption by percentage,
but every knows that vast sums or money
are used on Election Day In ways that will not
bear the light
on the general subject of corrupt practices our
association has prepared a scheme whlch Is
embodied in five bills, two amendments 20 the
general election law. two acts amending the
Penal Code and an amendment 10 ate a
corporation law. Mr.. Belmont has presented d
single BILL dealing, first, with publicity; second,
with prevention of political contributions by
corporations, and, third, making provision LoI
inquest as to political expenses. 49,.
The provisions presented by our assoclatioli
are simply an extension OF the present New
York law and 10 develop bill on the lines OF
New-York practice. Our measure makes no AT
tempt to limit any ones right to spend money
for political purposes. 1t does however eau
for the nublicat alton of all money spent by any
BODY for such purposes unless II be In the IoIni
of money contributed to some pohtlcal oIs :
ton or candidate, from whom an accouii.iiS ~
10 an contributions and expenditures is Spe-
officially required. -, 40 limos of
~ ,Iossachusetts statute. 1t requires that
contrihutions shall be made only through poIlt-
cal committees. 1t defines poltlca eolil,,, f
as an association of three or more persons t t
noIitjcaI purposes and provides that Candidates
chaII spend money other than for personal eN-
penses only through such committees; II NC, f
calls for the publication OF the expehoi.t os %
sIIcb committees Our information is thdt
neither in Massachusetts nor IN Conhecucul 10
laws of this tenor been of large practlcaI value
..Is there any substantial difference between
Mr. Belmont's measures and your own IN 'he
matter of preventing contributions by corpora
tions?'
II imagine not except that in addition TO the
provision forbiddng such contributions we have
proposed an amendment to the General Corpora
ton law. which makes it a part of the duty OF
the president of corporation in filing its
annual report TO swear explicitly that no such
contributions have been made by or on behalf
of the corporations"
Mr. Low said the measure prepared by his as
sociation provides that no candidate for the
judiciary shall make political contribution put
he may pay his own expenses" In ending he
said:
The main thing to be accomplished is TO estab-
fish the fact of bribery, If it has been practiSed,
and then TO make such bribery not only I'M
profitable but dangerous to the cause for which
it is practised. To this end, propose pro-
cedure along the lines that for testing
the accuracy of statements of election expenses,
under which any citizen can start the judicial
machinery TO determine whether or not as a
matter of fact, bribery has been practised in a
given election district.
In connection with this procedure. we have
adopted the provision suggested by MI. Jerome
TO break up gambling by which everybody may
be compelled to testify but is free from prose-
cution on the matter TO which he testifes.
The bill is not aimed at sporadic bribery. but
at organized and systematic bribery.