The movement for publicity was preceded by much vigorous legislation against the bribery of voters and other abuses at the ballot-box, but as these subjects have been abundantly discussed elsewhere they need only incidental mention here. New York led in the movement for publicity proper with a law passed in 1890 (ch. 94), requiring candidates to file statements of their expenditures. This act was very ineffective, no publicity being required for the expenses of election committees. Most of the laws subsequently passed have brought campaign committees as well as candidates specifically under regulation.[73] By the end of 1908, more than twenty states altogether had taken some action looking toward the publicity of expenditures. The earlier laws of this character were very loosely drawn. In many cases they simply required “statements,” and the results obtained were distinguished chiefly by gross inadequacy and heterogeneity. Later statutes and amendments, however, have fixed the form of reports precisely, itemising them in considerable detail. Wisconsin, for example, furnishes blanks especially prepared for this purpose. Vouchers for all sums exceeding five or ten dollars are required in a number of states. Publicity of receipts is not so commonly prescribed as publicity of expenditures. Reports of contributions were first required by Colorado and Michigan in 1891, followed by Massachusetts in 1892, California in 1894, Arizona in 1895, Ohio in 1896. Repeals of the laws first passed in Ohio and Michigan indicate that they were somewhat ahead of public sentiment at the time, although they would hardly be so regarded now. In this connection the New York law of 1906 (ch. 502), was an event of first class importance. It compels political committees to file detailed statements of receipts as well as expenditures, and provides for judicial investigation to enforce correct statements. The great weight of the name of the Empire State is thus placed squarely behind the demand for real publicity of receipts.[74] Under this act, voluntarily accepted by the national chairmen in 1908, publicity was given to the finances of a presidential campaign for the first time in the history of the country.