Formerly, in every campaign, national, state, or local, the office-holders
were assessed all round, as a matter of course. The party committees,
after consultations with the heads of departments, notified office
holders outright what amount--usually about two per cent of their salary
-they would be expected to pay; and at the appointed day they marched up,
paid, and got their receipts. The scandal grew so intolerable that efforts
were made to stop it by…… More »