Evening star., 1936-09-27
HOUSE CANDIDATES.
T0L|ST EXPENSES.
Statements of Receipts and
Expenditures Are Re-
quired.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

VlLA ALINENED4s
Blanks on which some 1900 candi-
dates for election as Representatives
in Congress must file statements of re-
ceiptS and expenditures of campaign
contributions with provisions of the
Federal corrupt practices act Of 1925,
are ready to be sent out on Wednesday
by South Trimble, clerk Of the House.
The list of candidates has been COM
piled on official reports from the secre-
taries of States.
Two sets of blanks are to be for
warded to each candidate-one to be
filed with the clerk Of the House not
less than 10 or more than IS days be-
fore the election, the other to be filed
within 80 days after the date Of the
election.
Trimble emphasized that "the Fed
eral corrupt practices act does not
apply to primary elections or conven-
tions' and quotes the House Commit
tee in its report on the bill as follows:
THE limitation in the bill as to ex-
penditures by a candidate applies only
to the campaign leading up to the final
election. and not to the primary cam
paign."
Provisions Of Law Cited.
In his letter transmitting the blanks
to candidates Mr.. Trimble invited
their attention particularly to the fol-
lowing provisions Of the law:
First In the amount candidate for
Representative may spend-unless the
law of his State prescribes a less
amount as the maximum limit Of cam
paign expenditures, he may spend up
to So, 500, or IAN amount equal to the
sum obtained by multiplying cents
by the total number of votes cast at
the last general election for all candi-
dates for the Office which the candi-
date seeks; but in no event exceeding
$5,000."
illustrating this Trimble pointed out
that in q certain district q total OF
76.422 votes were cast in 1882. This
number multiplied by 3 cents makes
q total Of $2,32266. A candidate in
that district at the forthcoming elec-
ton may spend lawfully not exceeding
$2,50o. But in another district 2O2,S9
votes were cast, which multiplied by
8 cents makes S6,0s6.88. So In that
case q candidate may expend IN ex-
cess of $2,500, but may not expend
more than $4,000.
Second. A candidate must report
the total aggregate sum OF expendl-
lures, but not the items included in
1t. such as any assessment, fee or
charge levied by the laws Of his State;
or for necessary personal travelling
and subsistence expenses; stationery,
postage, writing or printing (other
than for use on billboards or news
papers,, for distributing letters, cir
culars or posters or for telegraph or
telephone service. The total aggre-
gate sum Of these expenditures Is not
included in determining the limit OF
campaign expenditures Of q candidate.
Must Report Total Votes.
Third. A candidate Is required IN
his first statement Go to is days be-
fore the election) to report the total
number of votes cast for all candi-
dates for the same Office at the gen.
eral election next preceding the elec-
ton at which he Is candidate. This
information, based upon the records
Of the proper State ofncial, obtained
and compiled by the clerk Of the
House, is being sent in pamphlet form
by Trimble to all candidates, together
with a printed copy Of the corrupt
practices act of 1925.
While the candidate for the House
Is allowed to expend $2,50o, or In
no case in excess Of $1,000, candidates
for the Senate are allowed to spend
$4,000, or not IN excess Of $25, 900,
when computed by multiplying the
total vote for all candidates by :
cents.
It is unlawful for any candidate to
directly or indirectly promise or pledge
the appointment, or the use Of his in
f1uence or support for the appoint-