The Washington times., 1908-04-13
MIRACLE HENACES
INNOCENT HOUSE
Measure Prohibiting Cam
paign Contributions Keeps
Committee Awake.
UnintsreSted Senate Not
Apt to Consider Bill
This Session.

A miracle is about to be pulled on in
the broad daylight by the members Of
the House Committee on Election OF
President and Members of Congress.
Some day in the near future, beneath
the penetrating rays OF a MONDAY sun,
without the aid OF a confederate, with
its sleeves rolled Up and without the
aid of concealed wires. the committee
will demonstrate to an innocent and IN
suspecting public how TO purify the
BALLOT and yet keep a grip on the cam
psign contributions
The committeeman are confronted
with the task Of reporting TO the House
for passage a bill for publicity concern
ing all campaign contributions. the idea
being that this publicity will prevent
giant corporations and bloated pluto
Gratis from getting a lions share of all
the political pa rites in the country.
Last week they gave hearings 70 emil
nent men. among them being Former
Senator William Z. Chandler, Represen-
tative Cochran OF New York. and Rep
resentatives Mccall and Peters OF Mas
sachusetts, all OF whom had different
ideas about the mater.
Points Way to Dodge Law.
The committee announced that It
would deliberate on the subject.
It has been assured by one speaker
that 10 attempt 70 have the Fed
erai Government interfere with the
operations OF State camps ign commit
tees would be unconstitutional, and they
have been told. with equal gravity. that
10 enact a law having TO deal with ma
tiouaI committees would be ineffective,
as the national committees would evsde
the law by operating through State
committees
Thus, it has come 20 pass that the
committee. yesrning for a pure ballot.
sits intentionally on the dilemma OF
imposslbilities. on The one side they
are confronted with frowning Unconsti-
tutionality. and on the other they face
ineffectiveness.
what VIII They Do?"
what viii they co.'' shouts the small
boy IN The peanut gallery. who realizes
the time has come in the performance
when the popular cry for a pure ballot
must DC met.
The committee hears the cry. i viii
bring out q bill. q bill that v-iu provide
for purity IN elections. But TIE bin viii
have its teeth drawn and its claws cut
Rumor has Il that the dentistry and
veterinary work necessary to make il
palatable viii be done IN great shape.
As a matter OF fact, there seems to be
no way in which a bill that win meet
the situation can be enacted by Con-
sress- Members OF the committee are
inclined 70 the belief that it is a matter
Tor state regulation.
Senate Will Not Act
That there viii be no action by the
Senate this season on the subject
/ is quite apparent Two bills are
! pending before she Committee on -7rivi-
/ icEes and Elections. one is by Senator
/ nIlman and the other Is by Senator
1 Culbersou- The committee held a meet.
/ ing, but was unable 20 set a quorum
/ and nothing was accomplished. Tn.
I bills were informally discussed but nc
/ Crysts lEZs ton OF sentiment was appar
| ent.
| II is quite clear that members OF The
| committee are not sufficiently intsreste e
/ in the subject 10 report a bill this Ses
I sion. Chairman Burrows finds IL din
| cult, as do some of the other chair
( men. TO get q quorum TO consider thi,
! and other matters before the committee