New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-18
PUBLICITY BILL PASSED
ConureSs Candidates Limited as
to Campaign Expenses.
PRIMARIES NOW INCLUDED
Root. Lodge, Burton, Sutherland
and Borah Chief Advocates
of Measure.
IRON The Tribune Bureau. ]

rUsshington. July 1.-THE campaign
,ublici,y bill. broadened in scope and SC
amended as TO include primary as well as
other elections. was passed by the Senate
,o.5av after several hours Of debate Def
mite limits were fixed for the amounts OF
money that may properly be spent by can
,pdates for Congressional. offices-S1O q. O0C
,o- senators and $4,000 for Representatives
In addition. no campaign expenditure is 10
he IN excess of 10 cents for each voter or in
cVcsss OF the amount allowed Ly the laws
If the state in which the election is held
The hill as passed by the Senate is far
wore comprehensive than the measure
which the House passed early in the session
&C an evidence Of the Democratic spirit of
I,,forrn. The House did little more than
amend the existing law by requiring that
s,stements Of campaign expenditures be
made before as well as after election. The
senate Committee on Privileges and Elec-
lions added another section making the law
soplicable to candidates as well as commit
tees ard extending its operation 10 give
publicty 20 all campaign contributions and
expenses at primary elections where Con-
eress nominations are made all general
elections where Representatives are chosen.
all primary elections for the nomination of
senator's. general elections al which candi-
dates arc seeking Endorsement and the
election of Senators by legislatures
Several Democratic Senators objected to
broadening The scope of the measure in this
fashion. giving as a reason the further in
yasion Of state affairs by the federal courts
In adiudicating contests arising out of the
violation OF so stringent a law. The amend
n.ents proposed by the Senate committee,
however were adopted by a vote Of so 70
r. the Republicans voting solidly for them
senators Burton and Sutherland secured
also the adoption Of an amendment requir-
inC candidates 10 report all promises of
Office made by the candidates or by their
authorized agents.
Senator Reed offered an amendment fix
ns the limit Of expenditures for aspiring
senator's AT $4,000 and for Representatives
a. s.. 500 on tho appeal of Senator owen.
VINO declared that the sums we're very
small ne amounts were increased 10 s10.-
600 and $4,000 respectively Campaign
expenditures in excess of these amounts
we're made the occasion for unseating the
c-ndidste II successful. according 10 the
first form in which Senator Reed introduced
his amendment. This feature was regard
d as unconstitutional. and that caused its
defeat in the committee Of the whole. II
was stricken from the amendment adopted
ov the Senate proper
N this form the bill. covering the entire
field Of elections and far more comprehen-
siyA than the House measure. was adopted
b. an almost unanimous vote.
The chief advocates Of the measure we're
Senators Root Lodge Burton. Sutherland
and Borsh Senator Root made strong
Plea for the bill on the ground that ade-
Cuate laws against campaign corruption were
necessary IN order that honest candidates
might not have their rights taken away
from them by corrupt men. During the de-
bate indirect references were made to the
Lorirner case and the election Of Senator
Stephenson.
Senator Lodge said that the whole pur-
pose Of the publicity law was 10 Ter the
public know exactly what money was spent
and how il was handled that the theory
Is that money publicly accounted for is
properly spent"
Senator Root said all Senators knew that
there had been much corruption in cleo
tons throughout the country.
We know 10 not only through the news
Dauers.' said Mr.. Root. but through what
has occurred right here in the Senate. We
need adequate laws against campaign cor
~uption. so that honest men may not have
their rights taken away from them by cor
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