The New York herald., 1922-08-09
Senators Suspect Understand
ing i'm Committee to Let
Regulation Die.
TO DEMAND SHOWDOWN
Predict Campaign Scandals
Unless Limitation Is Put
on Expenditures.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALp
New York Herald bureau.

SRe~tut GSputtb 70 idG NEW Aohh &An&AA-8
New York Herald bureau.
Washington, ID. C., Aug. 8.
Senators who are insisting that soma
form of Federal regulation OF campaign
Senatorial expenditures should be insti-
tuted as a substitute for the Corrupt
Practices act invalidated by the recent
Supreme Court decision in the Newberry
case, to-day gave up hope OF voluntary
action by the Spencer subcommittee OF
the Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections
These Senators propose to put 1t up to
the Senate Itself to determine whether
there is a tacit understanding among
members to dispense with regulation OF
campaign funds. Efforts TO induce Sefia-
tor Spencer (Rep.. MOI to call a meet
ing OF his subcommittee have been met
with one excuse or another.
Although bills which aim to remedy
the situation and avoid a scandal in elec-
ton expenses this year have been in
the hands OF Senator Spencer for more
than two months. the Missouri Senator
continues to claim il is impossible TO get
the members of the subcommittee to-
gether. Yesterday Senator Ernst (Rep.
Ky.) happened to be out OF the city, and
this fact was described by Senator
Spencer as indicative OF the difficulty he
is having in getting the committee to-
gether.
Scandal From Inaction.
Senator Pomerene (Dem., Ohio) and
others who are urging action apparently
take this explanation with a grain OF
salt, and unless the situation in the Sen
ate prevents. Senator Pomerene will ask
unanimous consent tomorrow for con-
sideration of the measures now before
the subcommittee.
Senators Borah (Rep, Idaho), Harri-
son (Dem.. Miss.). Ashurst (Dem.
Ariz) and Pomerene are determined the
Senate shall commit itself on the prop
osition. While It VIII require unanimous
consent to obtain consideration of the
question Of campaign expenditures. un-
der the tariff agreement Ii is believed
unlikely any Senator win assume the re-
sponsibility Of blocking action.
The Senators who are revolving
against the do nothing policies OF the
Spencer subcommittee point out that
the scandal resulting from inaction viii
increase as the time for election ap-
proaches. One-third OF the Senate is
to be elected next November, without
the slightest Federal limitation upon
campaign expenditures either as to the
nomination or election. Reports have
reached the Senate TO show that an orgy
of campaign expenditure Is already
started or is contemplated. Some OF the
elections are to be held in Western min
ing States, where the populations are
small and where the misuse of money
was a public scandal previous 10 the
enactment OF the corrupt practices act
several years ago. which act Is now de-
clared unconstitutional IN its applica-
ton to Senatorial candidates.
buying Electorate.
The same situation. Il Is claimed. IL
now reproduced In some States which
made the Daley-Clark feud In Montana
matter OF nationwide interest some
years ago. The only difference. they
point out. IL that instead of the possi-
bility of corrupting legislatures ii viii
be possible now to give the man in COM
mand OF huge campaign funds n dis
tinct advantage with the electorate.
Several OF the candidates for Senator on
both Republican and Democratic tickets
are reputed millionaires.
The Senators who are leading the re
volt against the do nothing policy Of
the Spencer subcommittee express
doubt that wealthy candidates who may
happen TO be in the Senate now will
venture to object 10 remedial legislation
In view OF the publicity which such sc-
ton would attract.
Senator Pomerene is facing hard
fight for reelection in Ohio. He has al
ways stood for limited campaign ex-
penditures. The States in which Sena-
torial elections are 10 he held this year.
with the present incumbents, are as fol-
lows:
Arizona. Ashurst (Dem) New York.
Calder (Rep) Pennsylvania. Crow
(Rep). deceased: Texas. Culberson
(Dem.) Delaware. Du Pont (Rep.)
Maryland. France (Rep.) New Jersey.
Frelinghuysen (Rep.) Rhode Island.
Gerry tDem.) Maine. Hale CRep.)
Nebraska, Hitchcock (Dem.) Callsor-
MIA, Johnson (Rep.) New Mexico. An
drieus A. Jones CDem.) Minnesota.
Kellogg (Rep.) Wyoming. Kendrick
(Dem.) Utah. King (Dem.) Wiscon-
sin. La Toilette tRep.) Massachusetts,.
Lodge CRep) North Dakota. McCum-
Der, (Rep) :; Tennessee, McKellar
Sem.) Connecticut. Mclean (Rep.) !:
Montana. Myers (Dem.) Indiana. New
Rep.) Vermont. Page (Rep.) Nevada.
Pittman (Dem.) Washington. Poin-
dexter (Rep.) Ohio. Pomerene tDem.)s
Missouri. Reed (Dem) West Virginia.
Sutherland CRep) Virginia. Swanson
(Dem.) Michigan. Townsend (RepD
Florida, Trammell (Dem) Mississippi.
Williams (Dem.).