The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1911-07-19
U. S. SENATE PURGING ITSELF
Passes a Law Limiting Cam
paign Expenses for National
Legislators

WASHINGTON, Jvly 1.-THE most
drastic campaign publicity legislation
ever passed in either branch of congress
was adopted by the senate today prac-
ticaliy without dissenting vote. U.s.
ing the prediction publicity bill passed
by the house Of representatives as q
basis, the senate constructed a proposed
law with the following important feat
ures:
mo candidate for the senate or the
house shall spend in the election more
than sum equal to ten cents for each
voter in his nstrict or state.
mo senatorial candidate shall spend
total of more than $40, 900 in the pri-
mary and general election; and no can
didate for the house shall spend more
than $1,000.
Publicity must be given to all prima.
ry campaign contributions and expendi-
lures.
"All general election expenses must
be made public before the election, be-
ginning fifteen days before election, and
making publication each six days.
"All promises Of political Jobs must
made public"
The bill further makes it illegal to
promise political places in order to Sc.
cure support, or in order to influence
the election of any one.
The bill probably will be the subject
of prolonged conference between the
two houses. IL originated in the lower
house as part of the Democratic pro-
gram and was designed to require tho
publication of expenditures of election;
which is not required by the present
publicity law.
The Republicans in the house unsuc-
cessfully attempted to extend the bill
to cover primary election expenses. In
the senate the primary election amend.
rhent, coupled with more radical amend
ments, were adopted with little opposi-
tion. The senate amendments, author
ized by the committee on elections, res
quired publicity of all primary election
expenses and all pledges of political
jobs or favors.
Some objection was made on the
ground the primary elections are not
within the control of congress. The
amendment was finally adopted by q
vote of 80 to z, Senators Bacon, Bailey,
Bankhead, Johnston, Bryan, Overman
and Taylor voting against it.
The more rigid portion of the bill,
limiting the amount the senatorial
or congressional candidate may spend
on election, prohibiting the making of
all campaign pledges was proposed by
Senator Reed, of Missouri, and adopted
only after long debate. Senator
Sutherland admitted that the house con-
ferees might force elimination of this
from the bill.
Senator Reed referred to the cam
paign expense statement filed by Sen
ator Stephenson, of Wisconsin, show
ing expenditures of approximately
$l07, 900, and to other large sums spent
by senatorial candidates. He finally
offered an amendment putting the total
expenditure by any candidate at a sum
not to exceed ten cents head for the
voters in the candidates state. Sena-
tor Borah said this would permit q
senatorial candidate in New York to
expend nearly 100000 in his election
while the candidate in Nevada, could
spend only about $1,000.
The Reed amendment was defeated
once, but was renewed and adopted.
At one time he had the limit of ex-
pense at $4,000 for senate candidate,
and only $500 for a house candidate;
but at the suggestion of Senator Owen,
of Oklahoma, this was increased to
$40, 600 for the senatorial candidate and
So, 600 for the house candidate.
Il Il