The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-22
PUBLICITY BILL PASSED.
MOST DRASTIC CAMPAIGN LEG.
IsLaTioN ADOPTED IN con-
GRESS.
Measure, "a Adopted by Upper House.
Puts Congressional Expenditures
at $1,000; Senatorial. $4,000.

Washington. July 1.-THE most
drastic campaign publicity legislation
ever passed I'm either branch of con-
gress was adopted by the senate today
J practically without dissenting vote.
Urging the prediction publicity bill
passed by the house as basis. the
senate considered during the day a
proposed law. with the following i'm
\ lportant features
No candidate for the senate or
house shall spend in the election
more than a sum equal to ten cents
for each voter I'm his district or State.
No senatorial candidate shall spend
total OF more than $4,000 in the
i, primary and general election: and
J no candidate for the house shall
spend more than $1,000.
Publicity must be given 10 all
primary campaign contributions and
expenditures.
All general election expenses must
be made public before the election.
Obeginning 10 days before the elc-
ton and making publication each six
days until election.
Al promises OF political jobs must
be made public. The bill further
makes IL Illegal to promise political
\ places In order to secure election sup l..
port. OF TO aid in influencing the
election Of any member OF State
legislature.
The bin will be the subject Of a
probably prolonged conference be-
tween the two houses. II originated
In the house as n part OF the Demo-
tcratic legislative programme and was
designated To require the publication
OF expenditures before election. which
Is not required by the existing pub
licity law.
The Republicans In the house un-
/. successfully attempted to extend the
bill To cover primary election ex-
penses. In the senate today the
primary election amendment. coupled
with more radical amendments. was
adopted with little opposition.
The senate amendments authorized
A BY the committee on privileges and
y elections required publicity of all
primary election expenses and all
pledges OF political jobs or favors.
Some objection TO this was made on
the ground that primary elections
were not within the control of con-
gress. The amendment was finally
- adopted. however. by a vote of so TO
~. Senators Bacon. Bailey. Bankhead.
Johnston. Bryan. Overman and Tay-
lor voting against IT,
The more rigid portion OF the bill.
limiting the amount senatorial or
congressional candidates may spend
Tin any election and prohibiting the
making OF all campaign pledges. was
proposed by Sc, .or Reed of Mis-
souri,. and adopted only after a long
debate.
Senator Reed referred TO the cam
paiSn expense statement filed by Sem
= ator stephenson OF Wisconsin. show
ing expenditure OF approximately
$4,000 and TO other large sums
spent by senatorial candidates. He
finally offered an amendment putting
the total expenditure by any candi-
date az a sum not to exceed ten cents
4 per head for the voters In the candi-
: dates State. Senator Borah said this
would permit senatorial candidate
in New York to spend nearly $500. 600
In his election. while candidates in
Nevada could spend only about 81, 900
each.
|, The Reed amendment was defeated
once. but was renewed and adopted.