New-York tribune., 1917-12-17
Wagner to Introduce New
Corrupt Practice Act in
Legislature
Aimed at Fusion Fund
Mitchell Contribution Biggest
Scandal in History, Says
Senator

4 new corrupt practice act Tor the
purpose of regulating campaign con
tributons will be introduced in the
coming Legislature by Senator Robert
+. Wagner. Senator Wagner Satur-
day announced some OF the bills he IN
tended to introduce on behalf OF the
incoming city administration, but add
ed this yesterday as one of the most
important measures Of the new Tam
many programme.
"ln the last municipal election said
Senator Wagner, "the campaign con
Quoted by the so-called Fusion party
constitutes one OF the most scandalou'
episodes in the history Of American
politics. Finances in unprecedented
degree were contributed TO the Fusion
cause. The statement filed by the
Fusion managers after election showed
that they had received and expended
over 81 100000. The accumulation and
disbursement Of this large sum was IN
effect an attempt to purchase the
Mayors Office by the sheer power OF
money.
at is obviously improper and dan
gerous to our political institutions ever
TO permit the use of such tremendous
sums Of money in soliciting the votes
of the people. There is presented the
opportunity TO engage in dishonest
methods on a large scale. II the citl-
zens of New York had known before
Election Day that this attempt TO con-
trcl the polls by money was made on
such a gigantic scale, their Reputation
of the Fusian candidate would have
been even more emphatic than was the
case.
an order, therefore, to make abso-
lutely impossible the occurrence OF
such a scandalous campaign OF money
/ am going to introduce a bill in the
Legislature which will provide that all
candidates and all campaign managers
must file in the Office of the Secretary
of State of New York five days before
Election Day a statement OF the
amount Of money received by them as
campaign contributions, with the names
and addresses Of the contributors and
the amounts contributed By each.
"The statement shall also contain a
recital of the amounts expended, TO-
gether with the objects of such ex-
penditures. Ny bill will then make il
unlawful for any candidate or cam
paign manager to receive any other
contribution after the filing of the
above statement.
"The bill will accomplish two re-
suits: II will supply before election an
open book in which the people may
read who are the real supporters Of
the respective candidates; 1t viii tend
TO keep the use Of money at election
time within reasonable bounds, because
no candidate will be willing TO confess
to the public that he requires or. is
making use Of exorbitant sums IN his
canvass
Subpnnas for some of the managers
Of Mayor Mitchel's campaign were is
sued yesterday by District Attorney
Swami. commanding them 70 appear be-
fore him to-day. Among those sub
ppnaed was Colin Woodward, Republi-
can leader, Of Washington Heights.
Mr. Swami said that it would take
considerable time 10 straighten out the
finances of the Fusion campaign books
and that, while expert accountants were
working on this phase Of it, he and his
assistants would try to ascertain the
sources of the $1,500,000 used by the
Fusionists.
There was talk last night Of john
Doe investigation of the entire affair,
but Mr.. Swami said that until he had
obtained a complete report from the
expert accountants, he would be unable
20 say if John Doe investigation
would be instituted.