The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-10-03
CORRUPT PRACTICE ACT STIFF
lY LIMITS EXPENDITURES.

|
election under the new and rigorous
corrupt practice act. What candidates
may or may not do is limited with
great exactness. That 1t be observed
is important because disqualification
from holding office, fines and even inn
prisonmeet are penalties.
Candidates may make disbursements
only personally, through campaign
committee, or party committee. The
sum each candidate may expend is linn
tied. The names of committeeman
must be reported to the filing officer
OF the candidate.
| Candidates may make expenditures
for hotels and travelling, postage, print
ing, advertising, telegraph and tele-
phone, for charges by the state and
contributions to committees.
Party and personal committees may
make disbursements for headquarters,
hall rental, stationery, clerks, postage,
badges, and banners, handbills and
campaign printing, advertising in pub
lications, wages and personal expense
of campaign speakers, and travelling
expenses of committeeman. Persons
who have bills against candidates must
render the bills promptly, Candidates
are forbidden to pay bills rendered
more than ten days after primary or
election.
Campaign expenditures have to be
filed regularly The first filing must
be made the second Saturday Of each
month thereafter, and on the Saturday
preceding a primary or election. The
rule applies to committees. The re-
ports must designate the source Of
contributions, and tell to whom pay
ments were made, in each case where
the amount is in excess of S.. The
name of no candidate successful in the
primary may be printed on the official
ballot unless he has made these re-
ports.
Any person, regardless OF whether
he is a candidate, who makes political
disbursements within year aggrega-
ting as much as $50, must file report
as soon as the aggregate reaches the
$50 mark. This clause is directed at
Especial interests" which seek to fin
ance the campaign of candidate sec
reilly.
Voters have new obligations under
the law. No one may make demand
upon candidate for any religious,
charitable, or fraternal organization
and candidates are prohibited from
making promises of that nature. Pay
ments for transporting voters to the
polls are illegal.
Politica advertising must bear the
name of the author and designate the
amount paid. A publisher holding
state or United States office, who owns
any interest in newspaper, is requir-
ed to file with the county clerk where
he resides, a statement declaring his
ownership, before such a paper can
publish any matter designed to in
fuence voting at an election. Not only
newspaper advertising, but any other
kind of notice which tends to influence
voting, must bear on it's face the name
and address of the author the name
and address of the candidate and the
name and address of any other persons
causing the circulation and publica-
tion.
Promises of political appointments
are prohibited Employers must not
use threats against employees to in
fuence voting
There is a schedule of expenditures.
Congressman may spend $500; COVER
nor, S5, 900; other state officers, $1,000;
state senator, 800; assemblyman, $3.50;
presidential elector at large, $500; dis
trict presidential elector, 300; county
official, sum not to exceed one-third
of the amount he would receive the
first year were he elected. Besides
these sums the state central commit
tee may make additional expenditures,
not to exceed $4,000 in the general
election
Any elector who believes he has evil
dence of violations may apply to the
county Judge, attorney general or gov
ernor for an investigation by special
proceedings. Trials are in the circuit
court upon showing that there is
basis for action. These cases take pre-
cedence of ali other matters, since it is
necessary to have prompt decisions.
The Judge before whom convictions
are secured may declare the Office Of
the accused person vacant. In event a
legislator is tried, however, the find
ings are transmitted to the presiding
officer of the branch to which the ac-
cused person belongs. The general
penalty clause provides fines and jail
terms.
1t is the duty of the officer with
whom expense accounts should be filed
TO notify any candidate as soon as the
time to make reports has expired, and
the district attorney must be notified
at the same time, so that he may pro-
secute.