Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-06-02
NEWBERRY FUND
BEING EXCEEDED
Question Raised Why Michigan
Senator Should Be Guilty
When Present Campaign Is
Shown to Be Worse.
RY w s MANN.

WASHINGTON, June 2.-The sem
atoral inquiry into campaign eXpen-
ditures of candidates for the hepup-
lican and Democratic nomination ior
President now underway has reVealeu
the fact that tremendous sums nave
been expended in these pre-conven-
tion campaigns.
The question that naturally arises
from these revelations Is: Why should
Senator Newberry of Michigan have
been indicted and convicted of a crime
by a jury in his state because there
was expended some 100000 or $4O0,-
600 in his campaigns for nomination
and election as Senator, when Major
General leonard Woods supporters
have poured out more than half
million dollars and perhaps a million
In the pre-convention campaign, with
out either the General or his sup
porters running the risk of prosecu-
ton? Why should Governor Lowden
of Illinois, be permitted TO put up
nearly $4,000 of his own money in
the race for delegates to the national
convention and there be no suggestion
of prosecution? Or why should A.
Mitchell Palmer or any of the other
candidates, be allowed TO have big ex-
penditures in their campaigns for the
nomination?
In the opinion of Senator Borah of
Idaho, the man who stirred up the
present investigation, there is no more
reason why the Michigan Senator
should be prosecuted than the cam
didates for the Presidential nomina
ton.
THE only difference between the
two" he said, discussing Senator New
berry's case and the case of the
Presidential candidates, lis that in
the one case is a law to punish and
In the other there is none"
There is federal law that limits
the amount of money that may be ex-
pended by or for a candidate for the
senate or for the House of Represen-
tatives, but there is no law limiting
the amount that may be expended in
convention campaigns, for Presi-
Dental candidates, or for that matter
in the actual campaigns for the cleo
ton of Presidential and Vice-Presi- =
Dental electors
y In the opinion of many members of
congress, particularly since the spot
light has been turned upon the huge
expenditures of the present candi-
dates for the presidential nominations,
there is every reason for the enact
ment of a law which shall limit these
expenditures in the future. Senator
Borah himself is the author of a bill
now before the senate judiciary com
mittee providing for publicity of con-
tributions for the purpose of infiuenc-
ing the election of delegates to nation
al conventions at which candidates for
President are to be selected. He plans
to press for action upon il.
There Is some doubt, however, as to
the right OF congress to enact legisla-
ton dealing in any. way with the Sc
lection of presidential electors, for
they have been held by the. courts at
various times. to be state not federal
officers. Under the Constitution. Con-
gress. 1t is contended. has no jurisdic-
tion over them, and any laws limiting
in their elections would
have to be enacted by the various
states.
The Borah bill. in addition to pro-
viding for full publicity of contribu-
tions in preconvention campaigns, pro-
vides that no candidate shall expend
or cause to be expended or contribut-
ed more than 310.0 900 in any one state.
This would limit the total sum, If the
were expended In each
state, which might be expended for a
presidential nominating campaign to
S480,000. Personal expenditures of the
candidate for travel and subsistence,
and stamps. printing ex-
cept in the newspapers. and a number
of other items are not to be included
in this total. A candidate who has
publicly protested against expendi-
lures in excess of the limit allowed. is
not to be held criminally liable under
the proposed law. All information re-
garding contributions and expendi-
lures is to be filed with the Attorney
General. Punishment for violation of
the include fines of not more than
$25, 900 or Imprisonment for not more
than three years. or both.
Continued on page 81