Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-02-27
PUBLICITY BILL
RE.COMMITTED
COnStitutiOnality Of Act Re-
quirlnG Statement Of Cam
paign Expenses Questioned
GORMLEY SAYS ACT IS
FAIR TO BOTH SIDES


committed Representative Gormlcy's s
bill providing for publicity Of cam
paign funds and expenditures, point
OF constitutionality having been raised
by Representative Wilson.
Representative GOrmley explained
that while the bill dealt with candi-
dates for office IL was not a party
measure but applied equally to all par
ties. He said it. required that a candi-
date within fifteen days after pri-
mary or election shall file an account
on his campaign expenditures and that
political parties within thirty days af-
ter the election shall file a statement
of receipts and expenditures. 1t also
prohibits any political organization
. from contributing money to any candi.
date or candidates at primaries.
Continuing Mr. Gormley said. IL
think that is a very good section. II is
a step in the direction of clean, pure
elections. While we i'm Delaware have
been much maligned as to our politics
6 and electiOns--whether we deserve II
or not ! do not know-this will be a
step towards removing the stain"
Mr.. GOrmley said that similar law
has been in operation in Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey and Maryland, and
has not worked any harm.
COnStitutiOnality of Act Attacked.
Representative Wilson raised the
q point of constitutionality as to the
requirement that candidates shall
make oath as to their expenditures.
and quoted section fourteen Of the
State constitution TO he effect that
no other oath, declaration or test
shall be required of any candidate
assuming Office except fidelity TO the
State, and 10 the constitution, and also
the oath that he has not used money
unlawfully at the registration or cleo
ton
Representative Hoffecker said that
he yielded TO no citizen i'm his desire
to see our political methods improved
and put on the highest moral ground
but lit seems TO me-" he continued
there is plenty of law ON the statute
, books regarding elections. IT is
, question whether this would stop IT,
, fractions by a certain grade Of poll
ticians. If the law isprigidly en-
, forced by al parties regarding cleo
tious It is sufficient to wipe out an.
stigma or stain
'Clap Trap Says HOffecker.
? Representative HOhecker referred
TO some newspaper stories in the
Philadelphia and New York papers
about election conditions in Delaware
and described them as clap trap.
God save Delaware when she gets
as corrupt as Pennsylvania or Now
York he said. / don't think any law
should be enacted from prohibiting a
man from pOpularizing himself as q
candidate. Let him buy cigars and
give turkey dinners If he wishes. even
if he spend half a million dollars. II
seems 10 me that we are going so far
in some things that We are getting
like the mother who said of her boy
''nasty nice"
Representative White moved that
the enacting clause of the bill be
stricken out. Representative Wilson
said he thought the question was en-
tirely on cOnsututiOnality and did not
favor the White motion.
Representative Conwell suggested
that the bill be recommitted 10 hav,
t its cOnstitutionality passed on by law
b yers
, Representative Gormley said he was
g not a lawyer and therefore not com
T petent to pass on its constitutionality
I He said that the motion TO strike out
s the enacting clause was not fair and
( thought that the members should vote
8 for or against tho bill. He said that
r It did not prohibit any candidate from
- popularizing himself 1t required the
q candidate to file a statement of eX-
B pendimres.
/ Bill is RecOmmitted.
e Representative White withdrew his
I motion TO strike out the enactini
NaNn HNnaaa Id Ia
4 recommitted.
: Representative r. 0. Cooper and
, Representative Johnson wanted e
4 know if the motion TO recOmmit was
> in order 20 have the constitutiOnality
of the bill passed upon and were as
sured that it. was.
Il am I'm favor Of the bill, said Mr.
Johnson Il was then recOmmitted
= Republicans I'm Conference.
Republican members of the House "a
a conference this morning discussed
party measures They will have thes
, conferences at frequent intervals il
l order TO line up the members on Ger
. tain political measures that are pend
= ing. One of the measures discuss q
this morning was the repeal of th'
voters assistant law and il is under
stood that the Republican members
n viii oppose it.
4 Representative Pool. Republican
= who has introduced the bill TO repea
Il the Voters Assistant Law declined 4
a participate in the conference as he sail
he desires 70 vote as he pleases OF
that bill and does not care TO be boun,
by caucus.
Amend Pilot Law.
The House passed the Senate bil
amending the pilot law and making
it uniform with the laws of Pennsyl
vania.
The House also passed the Housl
bill changing the opening Of the -ab
e bit and quail season from NOyembe
= 10 to November %: the House bil
making an open season all the yea
roInd for wall-eyed pike and othe
fresh water fish in Sussex county; tn
o Senate bill providing that the Laure
e school districts may increase tn
p amount to be raised by taxation .
$4,000.
Favorable Reports in House.
In the House favorable reports werl
5 made on the following bills: Hous
s joint resolution providing for a por
trait Of tho late Ambassador Thoma
. Il. Bayard TO be placed I'm the capital