Evening star., 1938-07-16

con1nltttees to Investigate all
charges of illegal electtoneering
practices. Unusual load of such
inquiries developing this year as
candidates rush into print ,Dtth &C.
cusations Of misuse OF public funds.
Senate committee has met almost
daily since Congress left last month.
By the Associated Press.
The Senate Campaign Investigating
Committee today undertook to deter
mine the truth of charges that public
funds were being n1isused In ths
heated Kentucky primary contest be-
tween Senate Majority Leader Barkley
and Gov. A. B. Happy" Chandler.
Chairman Sheppard, asserting the
committee would make thorough in
vestigation, said the inquiry would be
completed before the Democratic pri-
mary August 6 and would cover this
entire situation there"
Senator Sheppard's statement was
accepted generally as meaning ths
committee would include in its inves-
tigation the handling Of relief funds,
disregarding the earlier inquiry by the
Works Progress Administration. After
the w. P. A. inquiry, Administrator
Harry Hopkins said only two minor
instances Of improper political activity
by w. P. A. employees were disclosed.
Considers Investigator.
The Senate Committee was consid-
ering today an investigator for the
inquiry. Senator Sheppard said "the
best man possible" would be selected
and given authority to question any
officials, subpoena witnesses and con.
duct hearings
The committee decided on the Ken
lucky investigation yesterday on its
own initiative. At the same time, it
voted to inquire into charges Of an
undisclosed nature regarding the PENN
sylvania senatorial campaign.
It disclosed, too, that an investiga.
ton already was under way in Ten.
nessee, but committee members would
not discuss what prompted 1t.
Senator Berry, Democrat, Of Ten.
nessee Is opposed for denomination by
a field that includes Tom Stewart,
Winchester; ]. Ridley Mitchell, Cooke
vile; John r. Neal, Knoxville, and
Edward w. Carmack, Murfreesboro.
In the Kentucky primary. support
ers Of Gov. Chandler have charged
Federal funds were being used to pro-
mote Senator Barkley's candidacy,
while the Senator's friends have as
serted that State funds, and Federal
money administered by State agencies,
have been handled to aid the Gov
ernor.
Before the Senate Committee met,
the Social Security Board had an
nounced 1t would look into the charges
that old-age pension checks were being
delivered by State agents, rather than
by mail
Senator Barkley asserted in a recent
speech that this had been done and
that the pensioners were told the
checks would stop If Gov. Chandler
was not elected to the Senate.
Members of the Senate Committee
said their decision to inquire into the
Kentucky race was a militant notice
that the committee was ready to 90
anywhere.
Prestige at Stake.
The administration has much politi.
cal prestige at stake in the contest.
President Roosevelt, on his recent
train trip through the State, made it
plain he wants Senator Barkley re-
turned to the Senate.
In addition to Chairman Sheppard,
Senators O'Mahoney, Democrat, Of
Wyoming; Walsh, Democrat, of Massa-
chusetts, and White, Republican, Of
Maine, approved the Kentucky inquiry.
Senator Harrison, Democrat, of Mis-
sissippi, remaining committee member,
was out of the city.
Senator Sheppard said there had
been complaints from several individ-
uals about the Pennsylvania campaign
and that some involved the primary
held May II. He did not disclose
their nature.
Gov. George H. Earle won the
Democratic senatorial nomination
when a ticket backed by the State
Democratic organization defeated can
didates supported by Senator Guffey,
Democrat. of Pennsylvania and John
L. Lewis, c. I. o. leader. Gov. Earle
will oppose Senator Davis, Republican,
of Pennsylvania in the election. He
said in Harrisburg he welcomed any
investigation.
Drops Two Inquiries.
The committee dropped its inquiries
into the North Dakota and California
contests. It said investigators found
some evidence of minor violations of
State law, but no misuse Of Federal
funds, in the North Dakota Repub-
lican primary in which Senator Nye
defeated Gov. william LANCER.
The committee went over a trans
script Of testimony by former POST
master James B. Ogden Of Catalina
Island, Calf, that he had been coerced
into contributing part Of his salary
to Democratic campaign funds, but
decided it had no authority to investi-
gate. Senator Sheppard said it ap-
peared the contributions were made
in 1885, or earlier, and the commit
tees authority was limited to the 1898
contests.