Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-12-28


opinion by way of n Parliamentary
general election Is costly job. In
the declared expenses of the candi-
dates-and these should be distin-
guished from the estimated expenses
as figured in the biased mind of
Scudder-a British general election
costs the enormous sum of nearly
S6,000,OO0. This works out at prac-
tically 81 for every vote cast
The actual figures of such outlay
at the last contest in January of this
year amounted to S5,60O,921.60, or an
average expenditure of 1914 cents for
every vote polled. The number of
votes recorded was 5,645,1O4.
But the real sum spent on the cam
paign is estimated as more than three
times the total given in these fig
! ures.
Curiously enough, II is more ex-
pensive to poll the frugal and thrifty
Scot than either the English voter
or the Irishman. What is equally
surprising, perhaps. Is that OF the
three partners the Irish costs much
the least.
In Scotland the average cost Of
polling the 611,350 voters who re-
corded their choice in the January
general election reached no less than
s1.0S per vote. The English 4.SS0,073
ballots cast cost 81 cents for each one
of them. But the Irish 153,6Sl votes
cost only $50 cents each.
The difference in the three coun-
tries is still more striking when the
cost of the Individual elections is con-
sidered. In Scotland the cost OF
electing seventy-two members of Par
Lament amounted to $9.225.60 per
member elected The election of the
$50 English and Welsh members ran
up to s9,66650 each, little more per
head than in Scotland. But the 1903
Irish NJ. P.'s averaged an expendi-
ture of only sl,473.23 each.
For the $40 seats in the British
Parliament, 1878 candidates went to
the polls in the great struggle early
this year. According to the official
returns OF their expenses. the sum
spent averaged $4,399 for each aspir-
ant for the honor of being an NJ. p.
These individual expenses varied
remarkably. Some of the Irish Ma
tionalist members returned unop-
| posed paid out only the Returning
| Officers fee OF $50. Irish Unionists
NJ. P.s returned unopposed. like the
ry, spent more. The Marquis got
through most cheaply among them.
He laid out only s5S5.13. At the 9TH
er end of the Irish Unionist list was
Capt. Bryan Cooper, who held South
Dublin County for the Tories at cost
of $5,72l.60.
The next cheapest place is Wales,
where unopposed candidates obtained
the honor of being British Legislators
for $125 to $l55. In England John
Wilson. the veteran representative of
the northern miners. held the mid
division of Durham County unopposed
at an outlay of $3.50. The Speaker OF
the House OF Commons. the Hon
James w. Lowther, popularity known
as Jimmy" returned unopposed for
the Penryth Division of Cumberland
County, spent $3.50 to retain the
chance Of his job.
No one is able TO get off cheaply In
} Scotland. The lowest figure given
was 1926, The next lowest was over
$4,000.
Some Of the sums spent in the in
dustrial constituencies Of England re.
call the bad old days before the pass
ing of the Ballot act, with its penal.
ties for corrupt practices. In those
times of "Merrie England" no electoi
would dream of condescending to re-
cord his vote ut less than $25. The
expenses OF these days do not include
such an outlay as that.
The man whose election to the
House of Commons cost most wal
Sir John II. Bethell who retained the
Romford Division OF Essex, a great
East London district and the mos
populous constituency in England. Tt
poll the 52.9S4 electors, or, rather, the
44.415 of them who voted. cost Sill
John $4,000 and his Tory opponent
4 $4,000. or total Of $SS,760 for the
one seat Sir John Bethel 10 an auc'
tloneer, and by no means wealthy HI
has contested the vast division foul
'limes. His enormous EXPENSES hay.