The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-18
M ost DrasticL Legislation
Ever A dopted in Either
Branch Of Congress.
MEASURE WILL GO
TO CONFERENCE
Expenditures of Senatorial Can
didates Limited to $4,000 and
House Candidates to $4,000.
Promise Of Political Places
to Secure Support
Made Illegal.

Washington, July 1.-THE most
drastic campaign publicity legislation
ever passed in either branch of Con-
gress was adopted w the Senate late
to-day. practically without 4 dissent
ing vote Using the pre-elect!on pub
hclty bill passed by the House OF Rep
resentatives as basis. the Senate
constructed during the day a proposed
law with the following important fea-
lures:
No candidate for the Senate or House
shall spend in the election more than
a sum equal TO 10 cents for each voter
in his district or State.
No senatorial candidate shall spend
a total of more than $4,000 in the
primary and general election, and no
candidate for the House shall spend
more than $1,000.
Publicity must be given to all pri-
mary campaign contributions and ex-
penditures.
All general election expenses must
be made public before the election.
beginning fifteen days before election,
and making publication each six days
until election
All promises of political jobs must
be made public.
The bill further makes 1t illegal to
promise political places In order TO Sc
cure election support or TO aid in in
nuencing the election of any member
of State Legislature.
Prolonged Conference.
The bill will be the subject Of prob
ably prolonged conference between
the two Houses. 1t originated in the
House as a part OF the Democratic
legislative program. and was designed
TO require the publication of eNpendi-
lures before election. which is not re-
CURED by the existing publicity law.
The Republicans in the House un-
successfully attempted TO extend the
bill 10 cover primary election expenses.
In the Senate to-day the primary cleo
ton amendment. coupled with more
radical amendments, was adopted with
little opposition.
The Senate amendments authorized
by the Committee on Privileges and
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
We're not within the control of Con-
gress. The amendment was finally
adopted. however. by a vote of so to q.
Senators Bacon, Bailey. Bankhead,
Johnston, Bryan, Overman and Taylor
voting against It,
Proposed by Reed.
The more rigid portions of the bill,
limiting the amount a senatorial or
congressional candidate may spend in
any election. and prohibiting the maxi
ing of all campaign pledges. was pro-
posed by Senator Reed. of Missouri.
and adopted only after a long debate.
Senator Reed referred to the cam
paign expense statement filed by SEN
ator Stephenson, of Wisconsin. show
ing expenditures of approximately
sI07 900. and to other large sums spent
by senatorial candidates.
He hnally offered an amendment
putting the total expenditure by any
candidate at a sum not to exceed 10
cents per head for the voters in the
candidates State. Senator Borah said
this would permit a senatorial candi-
date IN New York to spend nearly
5000, 900 In his election while the can
didates in Nevada could spend only
about $1,000.
The Reed amendment was defeated
once. but was renewed and adopted.
Refers 10 Day Portrait Case.
Washington. July IA favorable
report of the resolution of Represen-
tative Dent. of Alabama, arraigning
the State Department emergency ac-
count methods and recommending dis
missal of Consul-General w. H
Michael. Calcutta, and Disbursing On
Ger Thomas Morrison. of the depart
ment was adopted by the House Com
mittee on State Department Expendi-
lures to-day. The Dent resolution de-
clares 1t to be the sense of the House
that the State Department had no
right to take money from the emer-
gency fund to pay for portraits OF
former Secretaries of State, and recon-
mended the dismissal of Morrison and
Michael on account of their connec-
ton with the $500 unaccounted for
on voucher for s2.45o for a paint
ing of former Secretary Day. Michael
was at the time chief clerk of the
department