Methods of Reform. 
271 
judges, one a Roman Catholic, on account of the interference of the 
clergy in his favor,—among other incidents it being reported 
that a priest refused the sacrament to a dying woman unless 
her husband would vote for Mr. Fullam. 
No payments for bands of music, torches, flags, banners, cock¬ 
ades, ribbons or other marks of distinction are allowed, but voters 
must decide important issues without these intellectual aids 
which we have always deemed essential supports of political 
conviction. Under this clause Mr. F. James of Walsall was 
after the last election unseated, his agent having furnished six 
thousand cards with his picture to the electors, to be placed in 
the hat, inscribed: “Vote for James, we’re bound to win.” 
The agent, who was Mr. James’ son, pleaded that he did not 
know the law, but this was held no excuse. 
All the above provisions are important and salutary, but the 
machinery for limiting election expenses, making them public 
and confining them to innocent purposes, is the particular glory 
of the act. 
In the first place it requires the candidate to name in writing 
an election agent. All contracts as to any expenses in the elec¬ 
tion must be made by the agent, and all expenses incurred or 
moneys advanced for the election must be by him, except the 
personal expenses of the candidate. 
Every payment of over forty shillings must be shown by a re¬ 
ceipted bill giving the particulars. The candidate, however, 
may disburse not over £100 as personal expenses, but anything 
over that must be paid by his agent, and he must furnish a 
written statement, even of his personal expenses, to his agent. 
Within thirty-five days after the candidate is declared elected, 
the agent must file in a public office, a statement of all payments 
by him made, of the personal expenses of the candidate and a 
statement of all money, securities and equivalents of money re¬ 
ceived by the election agent from the candidate or any other 
person for the purpose of the election. 
The candidate as well must make a return under oath of all 
expenditures, and the latter forfeits 100 pounds per diem for 
every day he sits or votes in parliament after failure to comply 
