The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-09-02
JOKER" IN LAW SAVED BY BOY HERO
Queer Kinks Found in the
Publicity Act.
ELECTION EXPENSES HIDDEN
The Supposedly Drastic Election Ex-
|. pense Law Does Not Require
That Payments be
Made Public.

Washington, Aug. 3l.-Primary cleo
tion expense statements from Sena
tors Martin and Swanson. OF Virginia,
The first TO be filed under the new
publicity law that went into effect on
Aug 10. reached the Office of Mr.. Ben
nett, the secretary of the senate In
the absence of Mr. Bennett, his Off c
force declined 10 make them public.
Following this decllnation, a fareiul
examination OF the new publicity law
resulted in the startling disclo ufe
that in the act. presumed TO be most
drastic, there Is no requirement for
publicity Of the individual statements
filed by candidates for the senate or
the house OF representatives.
The law requires the filing Of indi-
vidual expense statements and pledges
OF appointments, but 1t IS apparently
left to the discretion OF the secretary
Of the senate or the clerk of the house,
as the case may be. to decide whether
these statements shall be given to the
public.
The publicity law Of 1910 requires
that the expenses Of campaign com
mittoes shall be a part Of a public
record" In the Office Of the clerk Of tie
house, and shall be open to public in
spection.'
The statements received from Sena
tors Martin and Swanson will be for
warded TO Secretary Bennett In New
York. What construction he will place
upon the new law Is not known. II
was generally understood during the
Preparation OF the new law. amending
the act Of 1910. that the amendments
were designed to give actual publicity
TO the individual expenses OF candi-
dates for the senate or the house OF
representatives. Much surprise was ex-
pressed when II was realized that the
law was entirely silent on the ques-
ton Of making these private expense
statements public.
The law requires that expenditures
by committees In the election OF rep
resentatives shall be a part Of the pub
lie record Of the house.
Two Of the candidates In the Vir-
ginia senatorial primaries to be held
Sept. have not yet reported their
expenses to the secretary OF the sen
ate and apparently stand in violation
OF the law. The requirement Is that
the first expense statement shall be
fled not later than ten days before the
primary election.
Tuesday was the last day in which
statements could be deposited In the
mail to comply with the law. No re-
ports had been received from Con
gresham Glass and Congressman
Jones. who are contestants in the Vir-
ginia race against two senators. Fail.
ure TO file statements within the re-
CURED time before election II done
wilfully. carries with 1t the penalties
of the law OF 1910. namely, a fine not
exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment for
not more than one year, or both.
South Trlmble clerk Of the house OF
representatives. said he would not feel
Justified in making public any records
OF this character in the absence OF a
specific prohibition in the bill.
With many suggestions coming forth
as to What the intent Of congress was
in passing the law. II IS reported that
the secretary Of the senate Will refer
the law to the attorney general for an
opinion as to the secretary's duty un-
der the enactment.