ASSESSMENTS
\ɐsˈɛsmənts], \ɐsˈɛsmənts], \ɐ_s_ˈɛ_s_m_ə_n_t_s]\
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A term used in a political sense to denote contributions levied upon office-holders and candidates of different political parties by Congressional, State and municipal committees to defray the expenses of canvasses and elections. The precise date of the introduction of this practice into politics is not known, but it is now a general custom, and is in some States, as New York, thoroughly systematized. The first specific instance of this sort of assessment was found in the Swartwout investigation before the House Committee of the Twenty-fifth Congress. A deputy collector of New York testified to having been called upon to contribute under pain of being reported to the general committee of Tammany Hall. It is now the custom for political committees to send circulars to all public officers requesting a certain percentage of their salaries for election expenses. The Republican campaign of 1880 was largely aided in this way. The main motive for payment seems to be fear of losing office. There has been no radical remedy for this system proposed by Congress, though in 1881 a bill was introduced "to prevent extortion from persons in the public service, and bribery and coercion by such persons."
By John Franklin Jameson
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