Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-09

Political Assessments.

No poor man may aspire TO the office Of
mayor Of Scranton, Pa, on the Repub-
hcan ticket, owing to the system Of poIiii-
cal assessments which has been adopted
by the Republican organization Of that
city. For an aspirant TO the Republican
nomination for this Office must, first OF all,
pay a heavy assessment 20 the organiza-
ton, in order 70 be registered as q candle
date At the primaries. The Philadelphia
Press says this assessment is $780, the
Philadelphia Record says Il is $1,000.
The smaller amount would be an OUT
ragcous imposition, while the larger amount
would be positive robbery.
The system Of assessing candidates for
political nominations TO public offices is
nothing now; in fact,it finds place in nearly
every community And there is a reason
for ia oxeistence,as primary elections are
attended by certain expenses which must
come out Of the political funds, even where
legalizod primaries are the rule and the
actual expenses Of conducting the election
are net out Of the public funds But
there is no reason for making the assoss-
ments cxtortionate.
As a comparison We may say that in
this city, where primary elections ac con-
Quoted under the supervision Of law, the
assessment Of candidate for the mayor
atty nomination would not be mon than
$40 and might be as low as S. There
IS vast difference between the hrgor Of
these sums and the lower Of the amounts
mentioned in connection with the Scran-
ton Republican mayoalty nomination,
5000.
As those assessments are 10 certain
extent necessary, il might be well to estab-
lish them by law, which could readily be
done by fixing a maximum limit. The
amount of the assessment, for both pri.
maries and general elections, could b,
fixed on the basis Of the salary of tn,
office, and an aspiants would thus b,
treated equally There would be it'll,
room for complaint about the assessment
excluding capable men by reason Of theii
poverty, as the actual needs for campaign
purposes, at both primaries and elections
arc not so large as to afford any cxcus,
for what might be termed prohibtiv,
assessments.
II elections, both primary and general
could be conducted without oxpense. OF
If the entire expense could be provided foi
out Of the public purse, there would be no
occasion for assessments Of candidates
But both primary and general election.
are expensive, and legitimately So. Anc
that portion Of the expense which is not
covered BY public Appropriation mus
come from private pockets Therefore
it might be well for the law to specify th,
limit OF assessment for each Office. for IN,
primary election and for the general cleo
ton Candidates would then know ex
actly what they would have 70 pay, 70
legitimate party expense, when the,
aspired 70 Office, and no candidate coul,
be deprived Of his fair opportunity O
appealing TO the voters by any designing
politicians who otherwise might hold hin
up for the purposes Of blaczmail.
Under the system which prevails II
New Castle county, the easements 70
both primary and general elections an
regulated by the county committees Of tn
political parties, and there has been M
complaint Of extortion at any election
since the Primary Election law went int
operation. Occasionally there has bee
grambling on the part Of those who fel
that the road TO political proierment shout
be as free as the road 20 salvation. but
is doubtful il any instance Of actual extoi
tion can be cited. Tho system has worke
well, and as the primary elections are reg,
lated by law in the most acceptabl
manner-how violations may be Dur
ished severely was attested at recer
session Of court-there would seem to Z
no good reason why the law should n,
also take cognizance Of the matter
assessments Of candidates for legitimat
campaign expenses, and regulate them