The Hastings Standard Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21, 1896. ELECTION EXPENENSES.

Hastings Standard, Issue 151, 21 October 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21, 1896. ELECTION EXPENENSES.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the <;ood that we can do*.

The cost of making an American President forms the .subject of an article, in Frank Leslie's popular monthly for August. The Presidential election is a tremendous affair because of the autocratic powers enjoyed by the temporary king. The policy or ticket of the rival candidates is much canvassed, and is felt beyond the borders of the United State-. At the present time the McKinlev ticket, with its gold standard and high Protection, is more acceptable to the outside world than the Bryan policy of free coinage of silver and Freetrade. Under any circumstances a Presidential election is a disturbing factor in commerce and industry, but just now, owing to the great uncertainty as to the issue, business in and with America is paralysed. From files to hand by the last mail the financial position was painted in the blackest character. The money market was very stringent —rates rising to 15 per cent, on the 27th August, llow the situation was viewed in Canada may be gathered from the fact that the Bank of Montreal was refusing in exchange United States bank-notes or silver. Other banks were taking the notes at 1 per cent, discount. Brokers were accepting the bills at 1 jier cent, discount, and United States silver money at a discount of 5 per cent.

But to return to the expenses of making a President. This is estimated at from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000d01. In 1880 the Republican National Committee received in the way of subscriptions some 450,000d01. In the campaign of 1884 some 500,000d01.

were raised, and at its close, it is said on good authority, B. F. Jones, Chairman of the National Committee, made good from his own purse a deficiency of 100,000dol. In 1888, SOO.OOOdoI. were disbursed, and in 1892, Senator Carter had the disbursement of I,ooo,ooodol. —the largest sum ever raised and spent by a National Committee. In every campaign the Democrats have raised and spent as much money as the Republicans, and these figures do not represent all the moneys raised and expended in a Presidential election, for the various State committees collect and disburse large sums. It would be extremely interesting if it were possible to make a caculation of the cost of making a Now Zealand Parliament. Roughly speaking we should say the amount would not fall far short- of ,£IOO,OOO. If we put down the aveni ge expense of each constituency at £SOO we shall probably be within the mark, and this added to the expenditure by the State in printing rolls, fees to returning officers, poll-clerks, &c., will run up to about £70,000; and if we add to tliis the private expenses of enthusiastic supporters of the various candidates our estimate would we think be reached. These triennial " bursts " are expensive, and it is a question whether the country obtains fair value for the money. Is Parliament worth the money spent in electing members'? If the number of bills passed and the amount of political gush discharged by members have any value then we may reckon our Parliament is cheap.