New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-15
PUBLICITY BILL PASSED
Campaign Contributions Meas
ure Gets Unanimous Vote.
DEMOCRATS IN A TANGLE
Speaker Clark Strengthens Out
Snarl and Minority Members
Turn Legislative Somersault.
IFrnrn The Tribune Bureau.


From The Tribune Bureau.l
washington. April H.-After many OF the
House Democrats had marched up the hlll
an then marched down again, cxtricatins
themselves by the use of the steam roller
from an embarrassing situation. the House
to-day, by a vote Of 500 to 0. passed the
hin providing for publicity OF campaign
contributions both before and after ma
tional elections. No member. Republican
OF Democrat. opposed the bill on its merits.
II was TO he expected that the untrted
House Democracy would attempt some IN
rovations in tho way Of parliamentary pro-
ccdure. But seasoned members are will
inS 20 concede tonight that the height OF
legislative jugglery was reached to-day
when the Democrats, in order to rid their
hill Of a merltorious Republican amend
ment inserted with the aid OF ifty-two
Democratic votes. forced recOmmitment
Of the bill I'm order that The amendment
Objectionable 10 them might he stricken
out and the original form OF the measure
restored.
This amendment provided that there
should 10 publicity of contributions made
in the primaries as well as in general
elections r was designed especially 10 Sc
cure publicity in the Southern States. where
the real contests come i'm the primaries.
and tho elections arc largely perfunctory.
II was proposed by Representative Jack
son. = new Republican member from Kan
sss. and carried by vote Of 172 TO 13l,
bringing great satisfaction 10 the Repub-
leans who conterded that campaign
publicity law I'm order TO ne effective should
includt primary elections.
Democrats Scent Danger.
Concerned over the prolonged Repuhli-
can applause. and seeming danger if the
federal government kept an eve on pri-
mary elections in the South the Democrats
scurrod about tho chamber 10 round up
those Of tho majority who had straycd
from tho reservation. Meanwhile Mr..
GuCker. in charge Of the bill. made the
Unprecedented proposal that the bill should
n sent hack 10 his committee with in
s;ruc'ions to eliminate the section which
had 4 few moments before hccn added by
majority vote Of the House.
: parliamentary tanclc and an unneces.
Say rolcaU or so followed Tho situation
finally became so complicated that Demo-
Gratis began to arise and ask. What are
We voting on?''
Speaker Clark. throwing aside the &C
ceptod method Of putting legislative ques-
tons, got down 10 plain English and empha-
sized tho compleVity of the situation with
the following remarkable explanation:
Those who favor the Jackson amend
ment arc 10 vote NO on this rollcall:
those who oppose the amendment will vote
Yes"
Thereupon moro than twoscOre Democrats
turned a legislative sornersault and voted
directly contrary 10 their views of a few
minutes previous. The Democratic leaders,
in the interim. had been doing missionary
work and had Informed tho boilers OF their
mistake in voting for Republican amend
ment. which broadened tho scope and e.
fcctiveness OF the publicity bill.
jackson Amendment Eliminated.
The unusual motion TO recommit was car
red by a vote Of Isl to 149. Then Chairman
Rucker of the Committee on Elections. No.
s. held an executive session with himself
and solemnly informed the House. without
leaving his seat that his committee re-
ported back the bill with the Jackson
amendment relating 10 the primaries elimi-
mated. Another rollcall was had and once
moro the erring Democrats were forced TO
posody revamped bill that had come from
. the committee with the Jackson amend
NJ mont amputated.
VI on each of these rollcalls Speaker Clark
had his name called and voted with the
temporarily distressed majority.
Iaving had their fun with the Democrats
tie Republicans to a man voted for the bill
on its final passage. not vote being
q 10 cgs .,
should be full publicity Of campaign con-
trihUuons.
The appropriateness OK the jackson
amendment Was explained by Representa-
tive Crumpacker and other Republicans,
Mr.. Crumpacker saying: The bin you have
dawn is Inadequate. In the South par
tcularly the real elections arc made at the
primaries and the money is spent there 1t
costs sou Democrats nothing to get elect
Cd once you have the nomination. This bill
should include tho primaries"
The jackson amendment provided that
every candidate for Congress should file
with tho House sworn statement of the
amount contributed - his nomination con-
tcet as wen AZ 10 his general election.
KePrcs NATIVE Konop. OF Wisconsin, Sc
cured an amendment providing that adj con-
public The hill as drawn by the Demo-
Gratis placed the amount at 500.
lnsurecnt Democrats.
The Democrats who stood out against the
efforts Of party leaders to dispose OF the
Jackson amendment were:
Akin and George tNev York;. Alexander
and Bcriand missouri, buchanan and
s5orc Dllinois); Bulkley. Sherw God and
Whltscre tOhioD; Burke ana Konop WIS
con-in1. Cox and Gray GndianaJ: Dupr,
Esiopinal. Pujo. Ransdell and Wi kline
louisiana, Goodwin arkansas: HamiH
Townsend and futile (New JeIsey): HARDY
(TeXssJ; Pepper Gowaj. Raker Cali
fornia). Sweet (MichganJ. Thavor MAS
sschuscttsl, and Wilson PENNSYLVANIA.
The Fucker bill. as finally passed. makes
more stringent the campaign publicity law
passed in 1910. That law requires publicity
Of funds after election. The Rucker bill
will require publicity of funds by the cam
psien committees ten DAYS previous to cleo
ton. and the fling of supplemental state
nents every three days thereafter until
Election Day.
Representative Good Of Iowa, caused a
small sensation during debate on the Ruck-
or bill by DECLARING that the largest single
contributor 20 tho Democratic campaign
fund In Iowa ives the confidential man for
J. Pierpont Morgan g Co" lie said w g. |
Beer. former resident OF Iowa had made
the contribution. lie urged an amendment
OF the law that would show the true source !
of all contributions.
Representative Good added tina, Beers
contribution was made 20 the Democratic /!
National Committee