Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-09-02
JOKER FOUND IN
PUBLICITY BILL
Supposedly Drastic election Expense
Law Does Not Require That Pay
ments BE Made Public.

washington, Aug. 3l.--Primary cleo
ton expense statements from Sena.
tors Martin and Swanson. OF Virginia,
the first to be filed under the new
publicity law that went into effect on
Aug. 10. reached the office of Mr.. Ben
nett. the secretary of the senate. In
the absence OF Mr. Bennett, his office
force declined to make them public.
Following this declination. fareful
examination of the new publicity law
resulted IN the startling disclosure
that in the act, presumed to be most
drastic, there Is no requirement for
publicity of the individual statements
filed by candidates for the senate or
the house of representatives..
The law requires the filing OF indi.
vidual expense statements and pledges
Of appointments. but 1t is apparently
left to the discretion of the secretary
of the senate or the clerk OF the house,
as the case may be, to decide whether
these statements shall be given to the
public.
The publicity law OF 1910 requires
that the expenses OF campaign com.
mittees shall be a part of a public
record In the Office of the clerk of the
house, "aEd shall be open to public In
spection.'
The statements received from Sena.
tors Martin and Swanson will be for
warded to Secretary Bennett In New
York What construction he will place
upon the new law is not known. II
was generally understood during the
preparation Of the new law, amending
the act of 1910, that the amendments
were designed TO give actual publicity
to the individual expenses OF candi
dates for the senate or the house Of
, representatives. Much surprise was ex
pressed when It was realized that thu
law was eatireIy silen. on the auos
ton Of making these private expense
statements public
The law reTll.es that expenditures
By committees In the election of rep
resentatives shall be part OF the pub
lie record of the house. co.
Two of the candidates In the Ylr
ginia senatorial PRIMARIES 70 be helt
Sept. have not yet reported thell
expenses to the secretary Of the sen
ate and apparently stand In violation
OF the law. The requirement. Ia that
the first expense statement shall be
filed not later than ten days before the
primary election.
Tuesday was the last day I'd which
statements could be deposited In the
mail to comply with the law. No re
ports had been received from Con
gresham Glass ard Congressman
Jones. who are contestants in the Vir.
ginia race against two senators. Fail.
ure TO file statements within the re
CURED time before election II done
wilfully. carries with 1t the penalties
Of the law of 1910. namely, a fine not
exceeding $1,000 or !1p isonment for
not more than one year, or both
South Trlmble. clerk Of the house OF
representatives. said he would not feel
justified in making pgolir any records
Of this character in the absence Of d
specific prohibition in TIE bill.
with many suggestions coming forth
as to what the intent of congress was
In passing the law, Il Is reported that
the secretary OF the senate will refer
the law to the attorney general for m
opinion as to the secretary's duty tn
der the enactment, -. $1,000