A more substantial difficulty is that one of the forms most
frequently assumed by election expenditure is that of subscriptions to
local charities, or other local objects; and it would be a strong
measure to enact that money should not be given in charity, within a
place, by the member for it. When such subscriptions are bona fide,
the popularity which may be derived from them is an advantage which it
seems hardly possible to deny to superior riches. But the greatest
part of the mischief consists in the fact that money so contributed is
employed in bribery, under the euphemistic name of keeping up the
member's interest. To guard against this, it should be part of the
member's promissory declaration, that all sums expended by him in
the place, or for any purpose connected with it or with any of its
inhabitants (with the exception perhaps of his own hotel expenses),
should pass through the hands of the election auditor, and be by him
(and not by the member himself or his friends) applied to its declared
purpose.
The principle of making all lawful expenses of a charge not upon the
candidate, but upon the locality, was upheld by two of the best
witnesses (pp. 20, 65-70, 277).
There is scarcely any mode in which political institutions are
more morally mischievous-work greater evil through their spirit-than
by representing political functions as a favour to be conferred, a
thing which the depositary is to ask for as desiring it for himself,
and even pay for as if it were designed for his pecuniary benefit.
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