The New York herald., 1922-07-06

five cent pieces and s13.207 900
pennies in 1921.
concerning the Newberry case and the
construction placed on that decision by
the Attorney General the corpora
tions can revert to their old tricks If
they see ft.
The possibility of reversion to the
old corrupt practices resorted to by the
corporations has renewed interest in
the Senate In tho pending bills designed
to plug the leaks In the election laws
caused by the decision of the Supreme
Court and the Interpretation placed on
1t by the Attorney-General.
While several bills designed to remedy
defects in the primary and election laws
are pending in Congress there Is slim
chance only that any Of them viii be
enacted into law in time to become
operative at the coming election.
The Senate is on record In favor of
conflning its activities solely to the
tariff. the bonus and the ship subsidy
bill until those measures are disposed Of.
The indications are that when they are
Off the calendar II Will be so late In the
summer II will be impossible to hold
Congress In session. as the majority of
the members desire to get out to their
districts to fix up their political fences.
However. in view Of the discovery con-
corning the possibility that corporations
can again enter politics by the front
door II is likely that Senator Borah
and other leading Senators will fight to
check that possible evil by demanding
the enactment of law which will cor
rect the defect just disclosed.
While viewing with alarm the possi-
biIities for corruption at the coming
elections due to the decision In the New
berry case Senator King (Utah). a
purist In politics, feels that the abuse
by corporations will be checked largely
by the election laws.
However. In New York. Pennsylvania.
Delaware. Vermont. Washington and
Georgia the State Legislatures have
placed no limit on the amount that can
be expended in a Congressional cam
paign. so that II Congress does not pass
an act limiting the amount candidates
In those States can spend all they want.
Under the recent ruling of the Attorney
General they are not obliged to file
with Congress any statement Of expen-
ditures In connection with the nomina-
tion or the election.
In New Jersey under the State law
that amount which may be spent in
aid of the candidacy OF any candidate
for nomination for United States Sena-
tor at any primary election shall not
exceed $50. 900. The same amount may
be spent at the general election by
the candidate.
Need Of Restrictions.
Another abuse of money in politics.
In the opinion OF many of those urging
Congress TO enact corrupt practices
law which will stand the test OF the
Supreme Court Is the lack or restric-
tions In the amount that candidate
may spend for his or her necessary per-
sonal expenses incurred for transpor-
tation and subsistence. stationery and
postage. writing or printing and dis
tributing letters. circulars and posters
and for telegraph and telephone service.
Representative Appleby IN. J.) feels
that any new corrupt practices act should
not be too liberal In that provision.
Discussing its abuse, he said during the
debate while framing the corrupt prac-
tices bfll recently introduced In the
House:
'T want to tell you what happened
in my State One of the candidates for
State Senator spent $4,000 for adver-
tising &C.. which did not come under
the provisions of the corrupt practices
act He advertised just like you were
advertising anytnlnB else. IN OtneT
words, he made It absolutely impossible
fcI anybody to run against him that
was not comparatively wealthy. In my
&C ngressional district last summer a
man came in there who had never lived
there and voted once. He spent $50. 900,
and I think came within eight votes Of
nc minating himself. That Just shows
you with that provision In the act you
can do more toward corrupting tine
voters than you can do in most any
other way"
Representative Rucker (Mo.) took this
view of that provision which has been
left In the corrupt practices bills now
pending In Congress.
"A rich man can get on q train or in
as automobile and he can go from house
to house, town to town, community to
community all over the country. and II
viii not take long time to spend sew
eral thousand dollars. A poor man who
does not have 1t to spend must stay at
home"
Representative Appleby also pointed
out that the propaganda sent out by
Itch candidates is got out as rule by
expert publicity men, men who are ac-
auainted with all the methods Of adver-
tising products for sale, and ! think II
ia the most insidious influence in Ameri-
can life to-day"