The Detroit times., 1912-10-28
CAMPAIGN QUIZ
STARTS CRUSADE
FOR DRASTICLAW
Senate Committee Will Urge
That Politics and Business BE
Completely Separated
WOULD SENTENCE
OFFENDERS TO PRISON
New Federal Bureau May Be
Created in Order to En-
force the Statute

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2S.-Dtvorce OF
politics from business, by enactment
OF corrupt practices acts more strin-
gent than any OF the model laws
now in effect in several states, will
be the demand urged upon congress
by the Clapp committee OF the senate.
As vt the members have not met TO
frame any specific recommendations.
Their investigation OF campaign
finances is temporarily halted prob
ably TO be resumed after the election.
But IL became known today that there
would be no partisanship in their ap-
peal TO congress for statutes which
would bar from future campaign war
chests money from corporations. The
committee members represents the
three great national parties and are
unanimous in thir opinion as TO the
needs for political reforms.
There Is now no provision OF any
code, requiring publicity Of pre-con-
yention financing. A few states have
laws requiring reports. which Incl
dentally display use or presidential
funds, but there Is no federal statute
on this point The only law relating
TO campaign contributions refers TO
elections at which senators and rep
resentatives are chosen, which In a
sway involves presidential candidates
but does not specifically include them.
To supervise scrupulously the cleo
ton OF presidents, sena,ors and repre-
sentatives will be the scope OF the
NV laws, the senators indicated today
without hesitation. Here is part OF
what they propose to include:
Prohibition of contributions by any
trust" large or small, or any cor
poration to presidential, senatorial or
congressional campaign funds.
Prohibition of large Individual
contributions TO such campaigns from
any officer or director OF any corpora
ton.
Publication Of campaign reports by
all candidates, including presidential;
to occur four times-during and 30
or so days after the nomination or
primary campaign. and during and
after the general election
Limitation on the size Of contribu-
lions from individuals. Zone sepator
fayors $4,000 as the limit: another
favors $4,000.
flOlCAllOu vi NOW GNGly NChN -
any campaign is spent-the names OF
recipients and detailed explanations
OF the purpose--twice during the pri-
mary and general election campaigns.
Prison sentences, as well as heavy
fines for campaign officials who break
the law.
adjustment OF the law 90 as to
cover both the convention and pri-
mary nominating systems for presl-
Dental and all other candidates.
To impose on each presidential can
didate knowledge of the amount and
sources of his financial support by
recurring the candidates certihcation
to the statement of his finances.
To require not only national cam
paign managers, but state, district,
and even ward or precinct managers
10 report tn emoney received or spent.
Strict accounting of all campaign
promises OF appointments or political
rewards.
Machinery to enforce the new law,
Il Is learned. may cause creation OF
a new federal bureau OF elections.
While the senators are United In
framing an Immediate appeal TO con-
gress for political reform, they are
"spit wide open "ok one feature.
Their several positions preclude unan-
imous or even majority report re-
garding past performances In the
financial ring OF politics. In fact,
there IL no majority" of the commit
tee. II hav Ave members. Senators
Pomerene and Paynter are Democrats.
Senators Oliver, Clapp and Jones are
Republicans. But Senator Clapp. the
chairman, Is an ardent Roosevelt sup
porter--a Progressive. o