The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-09
Senator Bailey Will Lead In
Effort to Keep Bill Intact
CHANGE IS INTENDED
Bill Publishing Contributions Be-
fore Election But Democrats
Favor This Section
BY wATTERsoN sTEALEY

be made by the democratic leaders in
Congress to defeat the effort of the
senate reactonaries to prevent the pub
lication of campaign expenditures and
contributions before instead of after
the congressional elections are held.
The campaign contribution publicity
bill, as passed by the House on April
Is, requires the publication of all con-
tributions and expenditures 15 days be-
fore an election.
No open objection to this feature OF
the bill was voiced when the bill was
under discussion in the House, but the
Senate committee on privileges and
elections, of which Mr. Burrows of
Michigan is chairman, yesterday agreed
to report the bill to the Senate with
an amendment striking out the anti
election provisions of the bill and re-
quiring the publication of contributions
and expenditures within Is days after
an election is over.
This will not satisfy the democrats
nor other friends of the measure who
have for a number of years been ad-
voca ting the enactment of such law.
Senator Bailey of Texas, who is a
member of the committee reporting the
bill, is opposed to the change which
was made in the Burrows committee
and has reserved the right TO make a
statement to the Senate when the meas
ure comes up for discussion.
e Bailey viii Lead Fight
Mr.. Bailey will move the restoration
of the feature which was eliminated
He regards it as extremely important
that the publicity provtsad for by the
measure should come before ana uro'
after the election. 1t Is his intention
to lead a fight In that direction In the
senate. Champ Clark, minority leader
In the House, said today: Il think II
would be a mistake to delay the pub
lication of contributions and expendi-
lures until after the election.
This smacks very much of locking
the stable after the horse is gone. The
bill is a good one with out that pro-
vision, but nothing like as good as 1t
would be with the House provision re-
inserted"
Judge Rucker of Missouri, through
whose efforts the bill was pried out of
tn House committee on election of rep
resentatives in congress, and who Is
also the father of the idea of requir-
ing contributions to be given publicity
before election, said this evening that
he would join with Minority Leader
Clark and other. prominent democrats
in endeavoring N6A have the Burrows
amendment eliminated in the House II
suade their republican colleagues to
do On in the nDner branch
Views of Judge Rucker
II am most strongly against the Sen
ate amendment" said Judge Rucker
this evening. Il think the republicans
of the Senate committee have taken out
of the bill it's most valuable and most
important feature. as,..
Those who have been most strongly
urging this legislation in non-par-
tisan way think an opportunity should
be given to all candidates-democrat
as we'll as republicans-to state before
the ballots are cast just how much
money has been contributed towards
tn cir campaign and from what source
1t comes.
THE argument made in favor of post
poning the publication of these facts
until after the election is declared to
be that advance publication might have
in a way that would be prejudicial to
the public interests.
THAT is all moonshine. If contribu-
ton when once known becomes so impor-
tant as to divert attention from other is
sues, then it seems to me there Is all the
greater reason why that fact of that con-
tribution should become known. There is
no reason why the people \should not
know in advance whether a. corpo, alton
4 t-kl~ toI I'd iexx,
fund.
"If the contribution Is thoroughly legiti-
mate 1t cannot be made successful is
sue / am very much in favor of publicity
In advance. I consider 1t the most valua-
BILE feature of the bill.
"If the Senate leaves this provision out
| shall certainly leave no stone unturned
to have it restored when the bill gets
back to the House
Time for Publicity
Tbs bill provided, as passed by the
House, that contributions should be dis
closed not more than 15 nor less than 10
days before election. This would allow
ample time for complete publicity.
1t would ALLOW" the facts to be published
in the weekly as we'll as the daily news
papers, and giye orators time 10 discuss
any improper Contributions on the stump.
The bill provides for publicity Of contri-
buttons for the purpose of influencing
elections of members Of Congress.
The term political committee as used in
the bill is to include the national commit
tees of all political parties and the ma
tional congressional campaign commit
tees of all political and all committee as
sociations or all organizations which in
two or more states influence the result of
an election at which members Of Con-
gress are to be elected.
1t provides that every such political
committee must have chairman. and
treasurer and that the latter must keep
a detailed and exact account of all money
or its equivalent received by or promised
to the committee or any of its members,
and the name of every person or corpor-
alton from which received, also all ex-
penditures and promises OF payment or
disbursement made by any member of
the committee. N
Amount to BE Nude Public
Every payment made by the committee
in excess of SO must be evidenced by a
receipted bill, stating particulars. and
every record and account must be pre-