The New York herald., 1922-09-03
PUTS Limit
ON CAMP Align FUNDS
Fixes $4,000 for Senatorial
Candidates and 1000 for
Those Of House.
FLAWS CITED IN DEBATE
Aspirants Not Required to In
clude Personal Expenses
Prison Penalty Provided.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. Sept. 2.

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. Sept 2. }
Without a dissenting vote the Sem
ate to-day passed the Pomerene bill
designed to regulate expenditures in
connection with the nomination and
election Of Senators and members of
the House this autumn and thus pre-
vent "Newberryism."
The bill provides that the maximum
sum any candidate for the Senate can
spend at the coming election is S10,-
900, while candidates for the House are
limited to $1,000 each. Those sums,
however, do not include money which
might be spent by the candidate for
his necessary personal expenses, for
travel, subsistence, stationery and
postage, writing or printing (other
than in newspapers) and distributing
letters. circulars and postage. A fine
of $1,000 or Imprisonment of a year,
or both, are provided as penalties for
violations Of the act.
Senator Edge On. J.). offered an
amendment. which was rejected, provid-
Ing. for the elimination of the ban on
newspaper Advertising He pointed out
that while 1t would be permissible under
the bill fora candidate to spend huge
sum for the distribution Of circulars and
for posters to advance his candidacy.
the only fair medium for getting .
proposition before the public Is barred.
Edge shows Inequality.
The New Jersey Senator also pointed
out that under the measure editors and
publishers who are candidates for office
would have a distinct advantage, since
they could use their news columns ex-
tensively to urge their election while the
opposition would have no chance to
make an effective answer through the
same newspapers so as to reach the
same constituency. Again. he argued
editors and publishers would be In
position to boost their friends in their
newspapers while the opposition would
be barred.
While he voted for the bill. Senator
Robinson (Ark.) pointed out what he
considered vital flaws. He declared the
proposed statute could be easily evadeo
"and did not accomplish much"
To sustain his position, he argued
there Is nothing in the bill to prevent
contributing an unlimited sum to aid
a candidate and that such an individu-
al would not be forced to make any
accounting.
Senator Walsh (Mont) supported that
construction of the bill and Senator
Pomcrene admitted such a violation OF
the proposed law would be possible.
Senator Robinson pointed out that the
restrictions as to contributions and re-
rav1fa q
and political committees and does not
in any way reach the individual con-
tributor.
Hns No Retroactive Feature.
Again he argued there Is nothing
in the law requiring an accounting OF
funds which might be contributed TO
aid candidate prior to the time the
proposed bill becomes operative. Since
the measure Is not retroactive In that
respect. he pointed out the possibility
OF some candidates spending barrel
before the bill becomes law.
While admitting that the bill Is far
from perfect Senator Pomerene ex-
pressed the belief that II will act as
check and may go far toward bring
ing a wholesome situation this fall.
He explained that many States have
drastic corrupt practices laws and the
present bill applies only to those States
where there is no such legislation.
Senator Dillingham; (Vt). acting
chairman OF the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections. in charge OF the
bill. opposed the Edge amendment. say
ing that if It were adopted n candidate
with immense wealth could spend
Hundreds OF thousands" In newspaper
advertising to the great disadvantage
of his poorer opponent.
The Vermont Senator added that the
proposed bill Is only makeshift TO
meet the emergency of the hour. lie
said a subcommittee consisting OF Sem
ators Calder IN. W, Watson Und),
Shortrldge (Cal). Pomerene co.. and
Walsh tMont.) had been appointed TO
work out bill covering both the prim-
aries and the general elections. That
committee is instructed to make its re-
port by January /, 1923. He thought
that the defects found in the Pomerene
bill. would be reinedied In that meas
TIRE.