The Washington times., 1922-05-14
NEWBERRY|S
AGAIN SCORED
IN HOT DEBATE
Mckellar and Pomerene Urge
Limitation on Expendi-
tures.
TOWNSEND IN DEFENSE
Row Develops Among Minority
Over State Rights in
Elections.
BY II. X. REYNOLDS.
international News Service.

ing over the open dissension that
has developed on the Democratic
side as a result of a rough and
tumble political debate yesterday
which started out with a de-
nunciation of lavish campaign ex-
penditures, shunted into another
attack on Senator Newberry and
ended with the Democrats rowing
among themselves.
Close LoophOles.
The trouble began when Senator
Pomerene Oem) of Ohio and Sena-
tor Mckellar Dem) of Tennessee,
charging that seats in the Senate
were open to the highest bidder"
put in two bills to prohibit cdndi-
dates from spending more money in
primary or general election than
the laws of their respective States
permitted.
Both bills were designed to close
loopholes revealed in the corrupt
practices act by Attorney General
Daugherty's ruling that the decision
or the United States Supreme Court
In the Newberry case made it IN
necessary for candidates to file
statements of their expenses with
the Secretary of the Senate.
Republican leaders blocked q de-
mand by Senator McKellar Dem.)
OF Tennessee, for immediate action
on his resolution amending the
rules of the Senate by Incorporating
the provisions of the existing corrupt
practices act, which the Supreme
Court virtually nullified
Senator Moses of New Hampshire,
objected when unanimous consent
was asked to discharge the Rules
Committee from further considera.
tion of the resolution and to pro-
ceed with consideration of the meas.
ure in the Senate. Senator Nc.
Cumber, North Dakota, then moved
to lay on the table a motion to the
same effect by Senator McCumber.
McCumber withdrew his motion,
however, and Senator Curtis Kan
sas, Republican whip, forced the
resolution over a point of order.
The filing of expense statements
would be required under the Nickel
lar and Pomerene bills, and candi.
dates would be limited to a personal
expenditure of $4,000.
Senator McKellar opened the at
tack by declaring seats in the Sen
ate were open to purchase"
Open to Auction.
"They are open to the highest
bidder" McKeller said. Seats can be
bought in the primaries just the same
as in general elections. Something
should be done to end this scandalous
condition"
enator Pomerene said his bill pro-
Vided the same restrictions and regu.
lations of election OF Senators by
popular vote which were contained In
the corrupt practices act of 1911.
applying to election of United States
Senators by State legislatures.
Disagreement within the Demo
cratic ranks cropped up then for the
first time during the debate when
Senator John Sharp Williams of Mis-
sissippi expressed the belief the
state and not the Senate should be
the judge of the amount of money to
be expended in an election"
williams contention was supported
by Senator King DemocraD Of Utah,
who declared I'VE are taking away
too much power from the States"
There were indications, also, that
many Senators held the belief that
campaign expenditures could be con-
trolled more effectively by giving
wide publicity to expense statements
rather than by setting down hard and
fast rules in national legislation.
Assails Newberry.
The discussion Of campaign expen-
ditures finally drifted-as it nearly
always does these days-into an at
tack of Senator Newberry of Michi.
gan, Senator McKellar charging that
the people of Michigan had failed in
their duty as citizens" in not having
rejected Newberry.
Senator Townsend, Newberry's Re-
publican colleague, came TO his feet
Immediately to defend the integrity"
of his constituents from what he
termed the "unwarranted attacks" of
McKellar.
IT resent the Senator's remarks"
Townsend said. "as an insult to the
people of my State"
McKellar replied by pointing out
that Newberry was indicted in the
Federal court, but said mot one per-
son in the State of Michigan ever
started any court action against New
berry in the State courts"
Il refer to the men in position to
take action against the violator,
Mcclellan continued. "A seat was
purchased in this body. That seat
was purchased by your colleagues.
You upheld him by your vote"
McKellar RetOrts.
Senator Spencer of Missouri, the
Republican chairman OF the Senate
committee which recommended that
Newberry be permitted TO retain his
seat when charges were made against
him, projected himself into the de.
bate by protesting to the chair--Sen.
stor Robinson Democrat) of Arkan-
sas-against McKellar's 'unparlia.
mentaTy language.
McKellar said that any ruling
Aould also apply to Townsend, be.
cause Of the latters "discourteous re-
marks" and reiterated that he re.
ferred to those in authority" as dis.
tinguished from the people of Michi.
gan"
The tilt continued, with Spencer
asking Mcclellan why the State OF
Tennessee had not indicted him for
. bribery. McKellar replying that
they hadn't indicted him because he
was not guilty, whereupon Spencer
.,id that uyaa tho reagOn tho State