Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-02
WOULD LIMIT TOTAL
CAMPAIGN FUNDS
Revised Corrupt-Practices Bill
Completed by Senate Elec-
tons subcommittee.
PER CAPITA BASIS AGREED ON
Drastic Provisions Proposed
With Relation to Political Ad-
vertising in Publications.
IRr Assncia:nlI,rnss 4 i

B, Associated Press
WASHINGTON, January l.-Cam-
paiGn contributions 10 national
political committee would be limited
to l-o cents per capita OF the total
revised corrupt practices bill COM
pleted Tonight by a Senate Elections
subcommittee. to be referred to tho
fun committee tomorrow. and placed
before the Senate on Wednesday,
Senator'S Reed. Walsh and Kenyon
drafted the bill in collaboration with
Senator owen. author Of the oriGina!
measure. debated in the Senate at
length before the holidays. Senator
owen said tonight leaders Of both
parties had agreed to expedite passage
Of q bill along the lines proposed.
The per capita basis would lm,
total contributions to any national
committee in a presidential campaign
10 approximately sl.500.000 no indi-
ridual would be permitted To CON
tribute more than $4,000. and contri-
buttons by corporations to any cam
paign fund would be prohibited.
ELECTION BETTING
WOULD BECOME FELONY
Another important provision would
prohibit contributions within ten days
If general election. and require a
complete report OF contributions and
disbursements to be filed with the clerk
Of tho House OF Representatives ton
days before tho election. Election bet
ting and advertising OF betting orders
would he made felony. and drastic
provisions are proposed with relation
ia, nal lion al tot, To-.
and other publications. The bill pro-
rides that any person or corporal ton
withdrawing or threatening to with
draw patronage. advertising or other
wise. from any publication for tho
purpose of influencing its attitude shall
be guilty Of felony Newspapers or
periodicals. charging for political ad-
vertisinG in excess Of normal CONNER
cial advertising rates. or refusing non
libelous political advertisements Of
fercd at such rates when il opens it's
columns to other political advertising
would be denied the use of the mails
afor-thirty days
Further, the measure provides that
no publication shall publish sratuit-
ously any political matter during a
campaign except that written by its
own employees. unless the matter is
and that no political advertising matter
intended TO influence an election shall
be published unless marked as paid
the candidate or committee presenting
il attached
STATE AND COUNTY
CONTRIBUTIONS LIMITED
Financial contributions Ia State and
county political committees also would
be limited on per capita population
basis. state committees would be re-
stricted to cents per capita up to
the first 100000 inhabitants 3 cents up
to the second 100000. and cents over
the first 1000. 900. County committees
would he limited 10 cents per capita
for the first $4,000. cents per capita
in excess Of $1,000 10 100000, and
cent above 100000.
Candidates for United States Senator
and Representative at large would be
limited To campaign expenditures OF
$4,000 each in States of less than
100000 population. and not to exceed
= mills additional for each inhabitant
in excess Of 100000 District candi-
dates for the House OF Representatives
would be limited to an expenditure Of
$500 in all cases. Senatorial and con-
gresstonal candidates, however. would
not be required TO account for personal
expenses. which would include travel
ing. hotel. postage. stationery. tele-
graph and telephone charges.
The bill would limit all personal con-
tributions to congressional or scna-
toriai campaign to Slco. and all other
individual political contributions 10
anything but II recognized political
committee 10 $50.
UNLAWFUL TO MAKE
PROMISE Of OFFICE
II would be unlawful for a candidate
to make promises OF appointment 10
political Offices.
Transmission Of State political funds
from one State to another would he
limited 10 $1,000 fer each Senator and
Representative. and members Of CON
gresS would be prohibited from solicit
Ing campaign funds. State committees
could contribute to national commit
tees. provided the contributions did
not swell the national fund above the
legal limitation.
The purposes for which diSburse-
ments Of campaign funds may he made.
as set forth by the bill. include travel
ing expenses OF candidates. speakers.
members of political committees aud
their assistants, fees for entering can
didates on the ballot clerk hire. telc-