The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1911-01-21
CORRUPT PRACTICAL ACT
Judge Duffy Sustains Grand Jury In
View That Sub Treasurers Must Ac-
count For Expenditures

The recent report Of the Grand Jury
for September in Baltimore City, E.
Edmunds Foster, foreman, goes quite
thoroughly into the question OF the
Corrupt Practices Act and makes
some very desirable suggestions for
the amendment OF that Act, so that it
may be "a live law instead OF a dead
letter" When the present much
vaunted Corrupt Practices Act was
promulgated many Seasoned poll.
ticans laughed at it as farce, and Sc
it has virtually proved. If the law is
amended as indicated in this Grand
Jury's report, it may be valuable aid
to the elimination OF the improper use
OF money in political contests We
print the Grand Jury's report on this
subject in full, believing the people
OF the State should be interested in the
subject.
With respect to the opinion Of the
Attorney General that sub-treasurers
are not required under Section I6a
to furnish names OF challengers, mes
SSiiSSlS anu NdlSnClS 10 "IlOlli lllOliSy
has been paid by sub-treasurers, this
body respectfully disagrees with the
construction placed by the Attorney
General upon that portion OF the act
but believes that sub-treasurers are as
fully bound to show names OF a!
parties to whom monies are paid by
them, as are treaSurers or political
agents.
In order that this question may be
definitely decided, an indictment has
been found. charging Mr.. Martin F
Healy, Sub-treasurer for the Fifth
Ward, with violating Section I63 ot
the Corrupt Practices Act. Thi:
action OF the Grand Jury has been
taken with a view to having test
case made. and passed upon by the
court, SO that the community may
know positively whether the Corrupt
Practices Act as it now stands, is a
live law or dead letter
We would recommend to the court
that ii Mr.. Martin F. Healy is found
guilty under this indictment OF vio-
lating the law he be paroled, and not
punished, as we consider that the vio-
lation has been purely technical, and
with no intent to evade or break the
,aw.
Your special attention is respect.
fully called to our recommendation
that all candidates, treasurers and sub.
treasurers and political agents be fur.
nished by proper State officials with
bank forms to be used i'll fling theii
reports, and that these blank form,
be prepared with suitable columns anG
headings to provide in detail for every
and ali receipts and disbursements, in.
cldcnt to the campaign and election
and no other Iorm OF report be ac-
cepted.
We woull also respectfully recon-.
mend that the Corrupt Practices Act
be so amended as to prohibit the wife
or other relative OF the candidate
from contributing money without limit
toward the nomination or election o.
a candidate, as very little will have
been gained to protect the integrity
OF the ballot ii after having limited the
amount which may be spent by the
candidate himself, wife. brother OF
friend OF that candidate is permitted
TO contribute an indefinite amount tC
further the e,ection of the candidate
We hope that the next Legislature
will remedy this defect; and above
all phrase the amendment in distinct
and comprehensive language.
COURT OVERRULES STRAUS
In a lengthy opinion on the Healy
case, referred to above, Judge Duffy
sets at naught the opinion OF Attorney
General Straus and holds that sub
treasurers are obliged to make the
same detailed report a sthe treasurers;
otherwise, as the Court clearly points
out, the very purpose OF the Act
would be defeated The case will be
Carried promptly to the Supreme Court
for final decision.
n 81 rxy..p