Methods of Reform. 
273 
large constituencies ranged from $10,000 to $35,000 for each 
candidate, and men of moderate means were as thoroughly ex¬ 
cluded from parliament as from our United States Senate. 
At the first election after Sir Henry James’s act became a law 
the expenses at once declined from $15,000,000 to $3,900,900, 
but little over one-fourth as much, and corrupt practice was 
charged in only two cases instead of ninety-five as at the last 
preceding election. 
At the next election, in 1886, there was a still better show¬ 
ing, and the aggregate expenses of the election in England 
were but little over one-half the maximum allowed; in Wales, 
less than one-third. In this election there was not even a 
single charge of corrupt or illegal practice. 
After the next and last election, that of 1892, there were 
seven petitions alleging corruption in England and three in 
Ireland. Three of the English petitions were successful and two 
of the Irish, the latter both on account of the interference of 
the clergy. 
According to Sir Henry James’s best memory, no member has 
been unseated for bribery under this law and not a solitary 
victim has been entrapped and no difficulty has been found 
in following and carrying out the prohibitory provisions of 
the act. 
Canada, in chapters 8, 9 and 10 of her revised statutes of 
1886, has admirably followed the English precedent and with 
excellent results. 
These acts cover eighty-nine pages and though in some re¬ 
spects different, follow the main lines of legislation on these 
subjects laid down by the home parliament and with results 
most satisfactory. 
The several states of our own country have for many years 
had upon their statute books formal and useless enactments 
against bribery in elections. They simply denounce a penalty 
against the offense but make scant provision for their own en¬ 
forcement, and call for no publicity in election expenditures and 
for no reports from candidates or committees. They have 
proved about as efficient as the moral sentiments in a copy 
book or a worsted motto on the wall. 
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