Evening star., 1938-11-04

By the Associated Press.
The Senate Campaign Expendi-
lures Committee approved today the
action of Senator Van Nuys, Demo-
crat, of Indiana in turning over to
the Indiana Democratic State Com
mittee s2,492.15 contributed to his
reelection campaign by "a Federal
employees.
Chairman Sheppard said Senator
Van NuyS' move was accepted by
the committee as evidence of good
faith" in complying with its ruling
that it is against the law for a
senatorial candidate or his cam
paign committee to receive political
donations from Federal employees.
Senator Van Nuys communicated
with the committee, Chairman
Sheppard said. as soon as he learned
OF the ruling, and held the funds
separate until he was informed that
the committee would approve his
turning them over to the State
organization.
The committee has ruled that
there is no prohibition against Fed
eral employees contributing to State
or national party committees.
Similar approval probably would
be given Chairman Sheppard added,
should Senator Bulkley, Democrat,
of Ohio, also a candidate for re-
election, follow Senator Van Nuys
course.
Senator Bulkley recently wrote the
committee urging that the ruling not
be made retroactive before October
18, when it was given wide publicity.
The committee had been informed
that approximately so Federal en-
ployes contributed to a "Bulkley-for-
Senator" Committee.
Senator Sheppard pointed out to-
day, however, that the Senate Com
mittee originally issued similar rul-
ing in August when it found that
several Federal employees had made
contributions to the campaign of
Senator McAdoo, later defeated by
Sheridan Downey in the California
Democratic senatorial primary.
Two members of the Sheppard
committee expressed the opinion
earlier that its investigations have
reduced the possibility of political
corruption in next Tuesdays elec-
ton.
Chairman Sheppard declared the
committees work had been "a
healthful and restraining influence
on excessive political contributions
and misuse of public funds and
official influence"
Senator White of Maine, the only
Republican member of the commit
tee, said:
Il don't think any one can say
that we have purified the election,
but it certainly is not as bad as it
might have been if the committee
had not been active"
The committee yesterday sus-
tained charges that in some in
stances w. P. A. funds had been used
to further Democratic political in
terests in Pennsylvania.
1t also reported that in at least
one instance business firm had
hired employees who said they under
stood they must support the Repub-
lican ticket in Pennsylvania to get
their jobs
The committee said these three
charges by Senator Davis, Republi-
can nominee for reelection, had
been substantiated:
That some w. P. A. workers were
ordered to change their registration
from Republican to Democratic and
were discharged when they refused;
that some w. P. A. truck operators
contributed to Democratic cam
paign fund after solicitation, and
that w. P. A. employees joined in
selling Democratic rally tickets to
other relief workers.
The committee said there also was
evidence tending to indicate the
truth of charges that Luzerne Coun-
ty w. P. A. employees were ordered |
by postal card to report to Demo-
cratic headquarters where they were
solicited for donations; that work
cards on w. P. A. and State highway
projects were given to children who
were paid but didn't work, and that
work cards for some highway prof.
ects financed partly with Federal
money were distributed through
Democratic political clubs.