The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-04-24
S5;a:alfEse=gga;alrdlng
:Tl7lh:leSE:lections
= HE88LEGlsLATlvE AcT WHICH
SEEKS TO PREVENT COR
RuPT PRACTICES

RyPT PRACTICES.
In the extra session acts OF 1908,
which are just out the chapter OF
most interest to the general public
Is probably that to prevent corrupt
practices In elections.
The act takes effect ninety days
after its passage go It will be in op-
GRAFTON May 25. and Will govern
such primaries and conventions as
may be held after that date as well
ns the general election in November.
There is go much OF It that only a
few Of Its salient features can be no
ttced now but later on 1t will doubt.
less be published separately and put
in general circulation. In the
meantime 1t should be carefully
studied by candidates and all mem.
bers OF party organizations 60 that
they may learn at once what they
may do and what they must refrain
from doing under penalty OF lno
and Imprisonment.
Among the things forbidden are
promises to procure for the voter
any private or public employment. So.
liciti4g subscriptions from candidates
for churches. charitable or religious
organizations is also made a misde.
meanor. Contributing money know
Ing that 1t Is to be used for bribery or
to pay for past bribery subjects, the
contributor is liable to heavy penal-
ties. Money may, however, still be
contributed for proper purposes which
IRE defined to be the following. or
such as may be by reasonable con.
%struction included in them:
First-For the personal travelling
expenses of the candidate.
Second - For the reasonable rent
of hall or room for the delivery or
speeches relative to principles OF
candidates in any pending election.
Third--For the payment of reason.
able compensntions to public sneak
ers and musicians at public meetings
and their necessary travelling ex.
renses.
Fourth - Printing and distribu-
ton of list of candidates or sample
tickets. speeches or addresses by
pamphlets, newspapers or circulars
relative to candidates or political IA.
sues or principles. cards. hand bills.
posters or announcements.
Fifth - For copying and classify.
Ing poll lists.
Sixth For making -yass nj vo..
ers.
seventh-For expressage or freight
or charge for over like purpose. AMI
for postage, telegraph. telephone, or
other public messenger service.
Eighth-For reasonable clerk hire
ut the Headquarters or offices OF cam.
naign committees. or ut the Office of
the candidate.
repeating or voting In the name OF
another person subjects not only tho
one doing SO but all who counsel. all
or abet to imprisonment. Contribu-
lions to elections on the part of all
corporations is forbidden under pen
atty OF q fine not to exceed one thou.
sand dollars. And the payment of
the expenses Of voters going to n con-
vention, primary or election for the
purpose OF influencing their votes IL
punishable by n fine not exceeding
one hundred dollars.
The aggregate amount OF money
that any candidate Gun cxnend or
promise to expena in my elections
depends upon the number OF votes
cast. on the Office for which he IS
running. ut the last preceding g
lar election. II such vote was five
thousand or less he may spend two
hundred and fifty dollars. He NAV
expend two additional dollars for each
hundred votes between five Thousand
n twenty-five thousand, and anoth-
er dollar for every hundred votes be-
tween twenty-five thousand and fifty
thousand. When the fifty thousand
mark Is reached he ia limited for nil
additional voters to the rate of fifty
cents a hundred. A candidate OK
pending more than the prescribed sum
becomes liable to a fine of not less
than two OF more than five hundred
dollars.
Within thirty days after the e1oc-
tlon each candidate is required to fle
IN duplicate-with the officer Issuing
election certificate for the office for
which he is running and with tho
clerk Of the county court OF the coun.
ty In which he resides a statement un-
oath Setting forth in detail all
sums OF money contributed. %dispursed,
expended or promised by him to the
best Of his knowledge and belief, by
n other person or persons IN his be-
halt wholly or In nnrt. In anlenrorfnr