Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-01-06
PROPOSED BILL
TO CURTA|L CASH
FOR CAMPAIGNS
NEW MEASURE LIMITS EACH PAR.
TY TO THE SUM OF
$1,5oo,ooo.
DRASTIC FEATURES ARE MOOR
PoRATED IN THE PRoPoS.
ED MEASURE.
LEADERS OF BOTH SIDES AGREE
TO PASS BILL IN BOTH
HOUSES.

committee would be limited to one
and one half cents per capital of the
total population of the United States
in the revised corrupt practices bill,
placed before the Senate Wednesday.
Senators Reed, Walsh AMI Kenyon
drafted the bill in collaboration with
Senator Owen, author of the original
measure debated in the Senate before
the holidays. Senator Owen says
leaders of both parties had agreed to
| expedite passage of a bill along the
lines proposed.
The percaplta basis would limit
total contributions to any national
| committee in a presidential campaign
to approximately s1,500,000. No indi-
vidual would be permitted to contri-
butte more than $4,000 and contribu-
tons by corporations to any campaign
fund would be prohibited.
| Election Even Contributions cared.
| Another important provision would
| prohibit contributions to a national
| committee within ten days of a gen.
| eral election and require a complete
report of contributions and disburse-
ments to be filed with the clerk of the
House of Representative ten days
before the election Election betting
and advertising of betting odds would
be made felony. and drastic provi-
sions are proposed with relation to
political advertising in newspapers
and other publications The bill pro-
vides that any person or corporation
withdrawing or threatening to with
draw patronage advertising or other
wise from any publication for the
purpose OF influencing its attitude
shall be guilty of felony
Newspapers or periodicals charging
for political advertising in excess Of
normal commercial advertising rates
or refusing non-libellous political adj
yertising offered at such rates when
1t opens its columns to other politi- |
cal advertising would be denied the
use of the mails for thirty days.
Gratuitous Articles Signed.
Further, the measure provides that
no publication shall publish gratui-
tously any political matter during a
campaign except that written by its
own employees unless the matter is
signed by the real name of the author
and that no political advertising mat
ter intended to influence an election
shall be published unless marked as
paid advertising matter" with the
name of the candidate or committee
presenting it attached
Financial contributions to State
and county political committees also
would be limited on a per capita pop
ulation basis. State committees would
be restricted to five cents per capita
up to the first 100000 inhabitants,
three cents up to the second 100000
and two cents per capita over the first
million. County committees would be
limited To three cents per capita for
the first $4,000. two cents per capita
in excess of $4,000 to 10000 and one
cent above 100000.
Limit of Expenditures.
Candidates for United States SEN
ator and Representative at Large
would be limited to campaign expen-
ditures of $500 each in States of less
than 100000 population, and not to
| exceed two mills additional for each
| inhabitant in excess of Loco, 600 Dis
trict candidates for the House of
Representatives would be limited to
an expenditure of $4,000 in all cases.
Senatorial and Congressional candi-
dates, however. would not be required
to accept for personal expenses which
would include travelling, hotel, post
age. stationery, telegraph and tele-
| phone charges.
The bill would limit all personal
| contributions to Congressional or
Senatorial campaign to 800, and all
other individual political contrbu-
tions to anything but recognized po-
litical committee to $50. 1t would be
unlawful for candidate to make
promises of appointment to political
( office.
Transfer to Funds Limited.
Transmission of State. political
funds from one State to another
would be limited to $1,000 for each
Senator and Representative and mem
bers of Congress would be prohibited
from soliciting campaign funds. State
Committees would contribute to ma
tional committees provided the contri-
buttons did not swell the national
fund above the legal limitation.