The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-03-03
BROWN AND DAVIS SPENT PLENTY IN PENN ELECTION
Four Members of Campaign Funds Committee Re- ported To-day That S6zO,OOO Had Been Ex- cess Baggage

funds Investigating committee re- ported to the senate to-day that ex- penditures of $622.000 on behalf of the Brown-Davis republican ticket in the 1890 Pennsylvania primary election were excessive and mimi cal to the public interest," Such condition" the report continued, "cannot be permitted to continue unchallenged without the most serious consequences to the nation"
 The aggregate of expenditures for the Brown-Davis primary slate and for the republican ticket in the gen. , cral election was reported by the committee as $1,117,649. Your committee" the report said, "is impressed by the total of these expenditures even when due egard is given to the area and po- pulation of Pennsylvania" Chairman Nye and Senators Dale, republican, Vt, Dill, democrat. Wash, and Wagner, democrat, N. Y.. signed the report. A separate report was submitted by Senator Patterson, republican, Mo.
 There was no evidence before the committee" said Patterson, "of any corrupt practices or excessive expenditure that could properly be charged to Senator Davis, either in the primary or general election"
 The committee report said it would be impossible to determine what expenditures should be allo- cated to each candidate on the tick ct, but added the committee did not consider it material whether an ex- cessive expenditure is made on be- half of ] single candidate or a ticket comprising numerous candidates"
 The report said that unless ex- penditure of more than $600,000 on tehalf of the ticket headed by Davis could be construed as ''in itself con- stituting corruption" the committee desired to state the evidence heard does not disclose "any corruption for which he may be held personally re- sponsible." The committee added that nothing had been revealed in testimony relating to the campaign ''reflecting upon the honor or in tegrity of Senator Davis or any other senatorial candidate"
 Francis Skunk Brown, who was defeated for nomination for goV- ernor, was Davis running mate in tlle primary.
 Nye included in the committee re-
 
 demnation and disapproval adopted by the senate with respect to expen- diture of $195,00O in behalf of the senatorial candidacy of Truman H. Newberry in Michigan and the reso- lution in which the senate con- Gemned expenditure of $785,000 in behalf of the Vare- -Beidleman tick ct in Penn: ylvania in 1926.
 Comparing the Newberry, Ware and Brown-Davis expenditures, the committee said the latter were lex ccssive and inviting of serious con- sequences" This conclusion was strengthened, the report continued, because investigation showed "a sums was expended for the employ ment of watchers and messengers
 Tn an analysis for B county re- ports, the committee found 70.4 per cent of the $139,477 spent had been for watchers or messengers"
 Patterson's report pointed out that their employment is legal at SIC day in the city and $5 a day in rural districts.
 In supplemental report which was a part of the majority commit tee report. the statement was made that the expenditure of $622,OOO was Tor the benefit of Davis as much as for, the berefit of any other can didate.
 Nye intended some weeks ago to follow submission of the report with Q motion to unseat Davis, but now says he prefers to permit senators to consider the report during the summer before acting. Any other senator could make the motion to- day.