Evening star., 1928-03-20
URGESU. S. FINANCE
PRESIDENCY DRIVES
New York Attorney Would
Have Campaign Expenses
Paid From Taxes.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Federal funds for financing presi-
Genital campaignS--le., appropriations
Tor oua6rennial national contests from
taxpayers money---would be voted by
Congress. If a novel plan Just suggested
10 Washington political leaders were
carried out 1t originates, apropoS the
Sinclair oil-G. Q. P revelations with
T. W. D. Duke. a well known member
of the New York bar.
Mr.. Dukes project would call for
deduction of a round sum from income
taxes paid into the Treasury and It's
division in equal parts. in preSioen-
tial wears. between the two major par
JieS. Expenditure would be limited by
]sw. surplus would be repayaole 90
Gays after election. and supervision
would be in the hands Of responsible
PARTY committees which would report
10 the Federal authorities. The New
Workers SUGGESTION has just been
brought 10 the attention of Senator
Cspper. who is now calling for rigid
congressional regulation of campaign
barrels"
Duke Explains Plan.
Nr Duke in discussing his unique
enterprise with this writer. describes
1878 as the ideal moment 10 carry 1t
out. because of current events. and he
during the remaining weeks preceding
the two national conventions. For the
initial experiment and the first super
vtSing committee" says Mr.. Duke, 1t
would be dificult 10 conceive of two
men entitled 10. or commanding, more
respect than Charles E Hughes and
John w. Davis The details OF admin
lstration could be left 10 SubordinateS
but the country, as whole. would
have the utmost confidence in these
Two gentlemen The Republican party
would benefit from such an arrange
raent. for il would free the orgsniza-
Tlon from the imputatlon OF victory
due largely 70 superior financial back
ing. The Democratic party would bene-
n, because for the first time 1t would
probably have an adequate campaign
fund. OF course. some people would
insist that the financial interests we're
balving both parties. but all contrlbu-
tions would be matter Of public rec
ORD and any improper procedure would
be readily apparent"
"Just what would be the modus oper-
andi Of your plan for Treasury grants
for presidential campaigns?" Mr.. Duke
was asked.
We begin with the assumption that
modern conditions neceSsitate expendi-
~. therefore. propose that q single cam
paign fund be raised 10 which the Re-
publican national committee and The
Democratic national committee would
each be entitled to one-hah. Contri-
buttons 20 such fund could be made
deductihle from income tax returns by
appropriate legislation. and any unex-
pended balance thereof existing. say
three months subsequent TO election
day. could be paid over TO the United
States Treasury.
Handling of Accounts.
Each party could thereupon pledge
Itself 10 limit its expenditures to its
proportionafe share OF such fund. and
al Withdrawals therefrom should be
made By duly authorized vouchers,
which would be properly audited by
some firm OF nationally known account
ants. Such fund should be intruSted
to committee selected from the two
par1seS~
Mfr Duke admits that any immediate
tr1al If his scheme might develop faults.
but II the experiment we're ATTEMPTED
N the 1923 presidential campaign and
proved workable. the New York law
yer thinks it could Be modified in the
light OF experience. He also believes
h&aAA ~ NNA2A eventually Dc 6l&DNE0 101
Use IN State campaigns
Al the end Of February, and almost
fun month before Senator Capper,
Republican, Of Kansas. hurled his re-
cent bombshen at the ~oil Smudge. I"
which he asserts *smears the Repubii-
car trail" the Democratic national con-
gyesSional committee issued 10 its MEM
bers throughout :he country a reprint
of book published exactly a year ago
By Perry Belmont The latter. for
many years a prominent Democratic
member Of the House Of Representatives
from New York. and now a resident OF
washington. emphasized the necessity.
following the Pennsylvania and Illinois
senatorial glush-fund scandals, Of deal
ing with national party funds. He ad-
vocated the enactment by Congress Of
publicity law applicable TO primaries
before. the 1929 presidential campaign.
Publicity Plan Explained.
Publicity laws such as Mr. Belmont
proposes would not contemplate. he says,
any limitation of campaign expendi-
t1res OF denoaInce or seek 10 punish
crime, as such. They would 20 no
further" Nr. Belmont writes In his book
0H the subject. than 10 compel the
turning On Of the light. leaving 70 pub
lic opinion. 70 State legislatures and 10
Compress In separate acts. the power
and responsibility Of dealing with that
which is disclosed By publicity
fCoDyrIght. 1923
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