Methods of Reform. 
279 
a $25 fine for each offense. Any threats, fraud or duress to 
compel an elector to vote or refrain from voting in any way, 
are punishable by from one month to one year in the county 
jail. Candidates are forbidden to expend for election expenses 
more than $100 for 5,000 votes and for each 100 votes over 5,000 
and under 25,000, $2; for each 100 votes over 25,000 and un¬ 
der 50,000 $1; for each 100 votes over 50,000, 50 cents, 
the number of votes to be ascertained by all votes cast at the 
last election. 
Every campaign committee and candidate must, within 30 days 
after election, make. sworn return of all expenses of his 
election contributed or promised by him and to the best of his 
knowledge by any one in his behalf. A candidate can have no 
certificate of election until such statement is filed, and he is 
liable to a fine of not over $1,000 for failure to file the same, 
and he can not enter on the duties of his office or receive any 
salary prior to such filing. At any time during the term the 
person receiving the next highest number of votes for the office 
may complain that the expenses of the incumbent for his elec¬ 
tion exceeded the lawful limit, or that votes for him were cor¬ 
ruptly obtained by him or with his connivance or by his agents 
or the committee of his party. 
If the attorney general fail within 10 days to bring the suit 
to vacate the office or to direct the proper county attorney to 
bring it, the petitioner himself may bring the suit. 
If the charges are sustained, the court ousts the incumbent 
and, unless some unlawful practice is proved against the peti¬ 
tioner, awards the office to him. 
No witness is excused from testifying on the ground that it 
will incriminate him. Any two or more persons raising or dis¬ 
bursing money for election purposes are deemed a political 
oommittee, and must appoint a treasurer who must keep and 
file sworn accounts under a penalty of $50 to $500 or of impris¬ 
onment of two to six months in case of failure to report after 
notice. 
It is difficult to see where this law falls behind the English 
act, and in its provision that the candidate next in number of 
votes to the one having the majority may obtain the office by 
