Evening star., 1932-03-07
NYE AID ASKS NEW
VOTE LEGISLATION
Effective Act Needed Badly,
Prober Tells Woman's
Democratic Club.

Pressing need for the passage Of a
new and effective corrupt practices
act" before the adjournment of the
present session Of Congress was de-
clared by Basil Manly, special investi-
gator and advisor of the Nye Senatorial
Campaign Committee, at luncheon of
the Woman's Democratic Club today.
The Nye committee has prepared bill
dealing with corrupt practices which
has been introduced in the Senate by
Senator Nye of North Carolina.
After pointing out the huge expendi-
lures which have been made in recent
political campaigns for the nomination
of Federal officers, including members
OF the Senate, and their election, Mr..
Manly said:
The unusual political situation with
which we are now confronted offers an
almost unparalleled opportunity for the
corrupt use OF money to accomplish
substantial control over national policies
during the next four years. In the Re
publican party there is no presidential
contest and it will be relatively easy,
therefore, for selfish and corrupt groups
to take advantage of the lack of public
interest in the doings of that conven-
ton to write into its platform whatever
policies they may desire.
Democratic Situation.
In the Democratic party there is
also situation which invites activity
by corrupt wealth to promote it's own
ends. Here We have a multiplicity of
candidates and a confusion of issues,
which makes 1t relatively easy for any
well organized and well financed group
TO secure control of enough delegates
to dictate, not only the choice of the
candidate, but the major issues upon
which the party will wage its cam
paign. This situation Is rendered the
more favorable to the corrupt manipu-
trading Of votes by the existence of
the absurd "two-thirds rule" under
which the will of the majority of
Democratic voters may be absolutely
nullifled and thWarted by handful OF
delegates
THE present congressional situation
likewise lends itself to the corrupt in
f1uence of money in politics. Here we
have the control of both Houses OF
Congress hanging in the balance and
offering a great political prize that may
perhaps be gained by influencing the
result OF elections in a few States and
congressional districts. 1t is perhaps
true that there will be less money than
usual available for politics this year
Nevertheless, for that very reason, not
only will every dollar expended produce
10 times the customary effect but that
money is likely to be available only
from those sources which have selfish
or corrupt ends to gain
Provisions Outlined.
Mr.. Manly discussed briefly the pro-
visions Of the corrupt practices bill pre-
pared by the Nye Committee after thor
| ough hearings on the subject The
principal feature Of the bill, he said, Is
that which fixes upon the candidate
| and upon the chairman of a political
committee their full measure of respon-
sibnlty, who are held not only respon-
sible for the filing of complete and &C.
curate reports, which they must per-
sonally approve, but also for holding
the expenditures within the reasonably
generous" limits provided by the bill
In order that they may be able to
exercise this responsibility" said Mr.
Manly, the bill forbids any solicitation
OF contributions or expenditure of funds
except by such persons and organi-
cations as they may designate in writ
| ing. The bill also seeks to provide ef-
fect1ve regulation of political expendi-
lures In connection with primaries az
well as IN general elections"