Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-05
LAW TO REGULATE
ELECTIONS URGED
Board Believes Measures
Would Prove to Be
Constitutional.
Continued From First Page.)

NCOIuHueQ from clfSI Page.D
the hearing will be held later in the
week
Prof Beard told the committee that
troublesome question to handle was
that of deficits in political campaigns.
IF Congress would follow the New
Jersey law and forbid campaign man
ayers to encourage expenditures for
which they have no money, begin
ming might be made" said the wit
ness. Perhaps some better device for
curing this disease might be discovered
by inquiry"
Prof. Beard declared that the Fed
eral law relating to elections is hope
lessly deficient on the side of enforce
ment. He said that new legislation
should provide for a joint agency OF
the two Houses, equipped with an ade-
quate staff to receive reports of con-
tributionS and expenditures and see
that the respective candidates and COM
mittees actually made such reports.
Doubtless some teeth could be given
to the law" continued the witness, by
providing that whenever a candidate
elect is unseated the candidate stand
ing next to him at the poll is to have
the vacancy. At present candidate
defeated by corruption has no incen-
tive to attack guilty party unless the
balloting was close and there is chance
for victory at the second election"
Prof. Beard expressed the opinion
that too much emphasis cannot be laid
on limitation in the amount Of campaign
expenditures. He said that he differed
from one group Of specialists, who are
inclined to the view that the amount
does not matter as long as adequate
publicity Is provided. He said that
every student of American politics knows
that, of the expenditures made for cleo
tions, enormous sums go to hiring So
called election workers by the thousand.
FavOrs Low Limit.
He advocated fixing a maximum ex-
penditure In congressional campaigns
but said that the election laws Of a
State, when they fix limit of eXpendi-
ture below that fixed by the Federal
law, should be allowed to remain in eff
feet. He suggested that or cents
per voter in congressional elections
would be a proper amount, although, he
said. the lower the limit the better. He
advocated, however, permission TO can
didates to spend as much money as they
required for travelling and hotel ex-
penses.
Prof, Beard I0lQ Tine cOHmltCee ItldC,
despite the wide publicity given to some
campaign expenditures in this country,
I'VE spend less on the whole in con-
gressional legislation than do candidates
in Japan and England for election to
the legislative bodies in those countries"
Mr.. Bard expressed the opinion that a
new Federal corrupt practices act
should be passed without further delay.
He favored comprehensive law, not
merely providing for limitation OF ex-
penses, but also providing for thor
ough investigation Of campaign ex-
penses. Like Prof. Beard. Mr.. Bard said
That the new law should apply to pri-
mary elections and he, too, expressed
the view that the present Supreme
Court would sustain such law.
Opposes Fixed Amounts.
He said that fixed amounts for cam
paign expenditures were open to serious
objection, since they could not be
applied fairly to the different States.
He said that fixing a few cents per
voter was as good formula as could
be devised.
Mr.. Bard told the committee that
he believed paid political advertise
ments in newspapers should be in
lures. He also advocated strict al
location OF contributions and expendi-
lures to individual candidates running
on a party ticket within a State.
The witness recommended to the
committee the creation of a permanent
| investigating body to pass upon the re-
ports of campaign expenditures at con-
gressional elections.
mo Senator or Representative" he
said, should be burdened with the job
of examining all these reports. Such
work should be done by experts