Evening star., 1932-01-03
Gerard Answers Wood Charge
Over New York OUTLAY
in 1923 Race.
VIOLATION OF CORRUPT
PRACTICES LAW ALLEGED
Federal Prosecutor Opens Probe.
G. 0. P. Lists Contributions
Received During 1881.
BY the Associated Press.

by LLle ASSOC1dIeu FIeSe'
Faced by an investigation of Demo-
cratic expenditures in the 1928 Hoover
Smith campaign, James W. Gerard,
treasurer of the National Committee,
said last night all records would be filed
tomorrow in the House of Representa-
tives.
Jacob J. Rosenblum, an assistant dis
trict attorney of New York, began the
inquiry following charges by Represen-
tative Wood of Indiana chairman Of the
Republican National Congressional
Committee. Wood asserted the Demo-
Gratis concealed some of their expendi-
lures through their New York head
quarters and by so doing violated the
Federal corrupt practices act.
II hate to question even Mr. Woods
motives" Gerard said in a statement
through the party's national committee,
but it is extraordinary that this mat
ter should be brought up after this long
period of time. The act provides that
all the bills. receipts and accounts shall
be kept for a period of at least two years
from the date of filing the statement.
Filing Due Tomorrow.
Maybe they thought I had taken ad-
vantage of this provision and destroyed
them Fortunately I have not, and
they will be on file with the clerk (of
the House, early on Monday morning"
Gerard previously had replied to
Woods charges with a declaration that
the Democratic report was prepared by
the same firm of auditors who per-
formed a similar service for the Re-
publican National Committee in 1924.
Wood accused Gerard of trying to
pass the buck" to the auditors, and
pointed out that he charged violation of
the 1925 act, which was not in effect
in 1924 He said Gerards actions gave
strength to the assumption the accounts
were withheld Intentionally.
In his statement the Democratic
treasurer quoted John w. Davis, attor-
ney and former Democratic presidential
nominee, as holding "the previous act,
under which the Republicans acted in
1924 was merely different in language,
but in effect the same"
1T is always bad policy for a Demo-
crat to follow the Republicans. and in
doing SO we seem to have got into the
bad graceS of Mr.. Wood" Gerard said
Pay Roll Copies Sent.
ITO satisfy him I am sending photo
static copies of our pay roll which
find I have, to the clerk in Washington
8 showing the names of all our en-
ployes and the amounts paid to each.
I have also kept the returned checks"
He said they had followed the law,
and "if any criticisms had been made
at the time of filing" we would have
filed the names on our pay roll with
the official disbursements"
Rosenblum, in opening his inveStiga-
ton at the direction of United States
District Attorney Medalie in New York,
said he would also scrutiniZe quarterly
reports of the Democratic Committee
filed since the 1928 campaign The re-
ports show the contributions received
and the expenditures made by political
The corrupt practices
law requires that they be filed with the
clerk of the House.
Mutt Files G. o. P. Figures.
At the same time, James r. Mutt, |
treasurer of the Republican National |
Committee, filed a report with the |
House clerk showing the contributions |
received and expenditures made during |
1881. Expenditures amounted to $685. |
9l8, with contributions totaling $780, !
1881 with balance in excess of $780, |
000 but had balance of $6,425 on De- |
,ember 81
Among some of the larger contribu-
,or were Thomas j. Johnson, chair |
man of the Boston Republican Sub /
finance Committee ,$25 900; the Repub- |
ican Ways and Means Committee of |
Eastern Pennsylvania, $500; Ogden L. |
Mills, Undersecretary of the Treasury, |
$1,000; Mr.. and Mrs. James E. David
son, Bay City, Mich, $5,000 George S. |
New York, $2,500, and Col. |
3. w. Edwards of Cincinnati, $1,000
Robert V. Fleming, treasurer to the |
National Congressional |
Committee, filed report for 1881 show
ng $31,569 had been expended. Con-
ributions are received from Republic
IN Congressman and the National
Committee by this organization.