South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-02
CAMP A|GN FUNDS
MAY Be LIMITED
Drastic Changes in Election
Bill Advocated by Sen
ate Committee.
WASHINGTON. Jan. Cam

paign contributions TO a national
political committee would be limited
10 one and one-half cents per cap
tia of the total population of the
United States in the revised corrupt
practices bill completed Monday
night by a senate elections sub COM
mittee to be referred to the full
committee Tuesday and placed be-
fore the senate Wednesday.
Sens. Reed. Walsh and Kenyon
drafted the bill in collaboration with
Sen. owen. author of the original
measure and debated in the senate
at length before the holidays. Sen.
owen said Monday night leaders Of
both parties had agreed TO expedite
passage of a bill along the lines
proposed.
$4,000 Individual Limit.
The per capita basis would limit
total contributions TO any national
committee in a presidential cam
paign TO approximately $1,5OO,0 900;
no individual would be permitted 10
contribute more than $4,000 and
contributions by corporations TO any
campaign fund would be prohibited.
Another important provision would
prohibit contributions 10 a national
committee within 10 days Of gen.
eral election, and require a complete
report of contributions and disburse-
ments 10 be filed with the clerk of
the house of representatives 10 days
before the election. Election betting
and advertising of betting odds
would be made a felony, and drastic
provisions are proposed with rela-
ton TO political advertising in news
papers and other publications. The
bill provides that any person or cor
poration withdrawing or threatening
to withdraw patronage, advertising
or otherwise. from any publications
for the purpose of influencing it's
attitude shall be guilty of a felony.
Regular Rates Must Prevail.
Newspapers or periodicals charg-
ing for political advertising in eX-
cess of normal commercial advertis-
ing rates or refusing non libelous
political advertisements offered at
such rates when it opens its columns
TO other political advertising would
be denied the use of the mails for
80 days.
Further. the measure provides
that no publication shall publish
gratuitiously any political matter
during a campaign except that writ
ten by it's own employees unless the
matter is signed by the real name of
the author. and that no political adj
vertising matter intended to in
fiuence an election shall be publish
ed unless marked as paid advertis-
ing matter. with the name of the
candidate or committee presenting it
attached.
Financial contributions to state
and county political committees al
so would be limited on a per capita
population basis. State committees
would be restricted TO five cents per
capita up to the first 100000 in
habitants. three cents up TO the sec
ond 100000 and two cents per cap
tia 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 U.s.
600 to 1OO.OO and one cent above
100000.
Candidates for United States SEN
ator and representative at large
would be limited to campaign eX-
penditures of $4,000 each in states of
less than one million population and
not to exceed two mills additional
for each inhabitant in excess of one
million. District candidates for the
house of representatives would be
limited 10 an expenditure of $4,000
in all cases. Senatorial and con-
gressional candidates. however,
would not be required to account for
personal expenses, which would in
clude travelling, hotel. postage, sta
tionary, telegraph and telephone
charges.
500 Limit for Congressman.
The bill would limit all personal
contributions TO a congressional or
senatorial campaign to 500 and all
other individual political contribu-
tons TO anything but a recognized
political committee to $50. IL would
be unlawful for a candidate to make