Evening star., 1938-10-08


ployes and told them he intended to
vote for Representative Lewis and
against Senator Tydings.
The committee promises to make
recommendations for more stringent
laws governing the use of money and
influence in elections, when Congress
meets again. 1t virtually has threat
ened to lay before the Senate the
case of Mr.. Magruder-and also the
case Of the postmistress at Salisbury,
Nd, who went to work for Mr.. Lewis
after the President had recommended
his nomination for the Senate.
So far the committee has had no
report on the case of the Salisbury
postmistress. That is now before the
Department of Justice and Postmas-
ter General Farley. Mr.. Farley gives
no indication of making any report
to the committee before the coming
elections in November. Whether the
committee can pry anything out of
the National Democratic chairman in
regard to this matter remains to be
seen.
w. P. A. Charges Presented.
The Senate committee has repeat
edly laid before Harry L. Hopkins
specific charges that the w. P. A. was
being used for political purposes. All
the satisfaction it has had out of Mr..
Hopkins, however, is report he has
looked into these charges and, with
the exception of single case in Ken
lucky, has found the w. P. A. blame
less. Mr.. Hopkins, Furthermore, took
no steps to remove this one official
who was found guilty.
1t looks today as though the Senate
committee would have very little
effect upon the use of influence" a.
1t is operated by the New Deal ad.
ministration in the coming election
The Treasury Department, through it.
head, has defended its employe who
was found to have violated the spirit
il not the letter of law prohibiting
Federal ofdceholders from using in.
fluence upon the voters The Post
ONCE Department has done nothing
whatever so far about one Of its EN-.
ployes although the case was wide
open, and in the opinion of the Senate
committee clear violation Of the law
And 50 far as the w. P. A., the great
relief organization of the Fedora
Government, there is absolutely NJ
check, apparently.
As long as there are expenditures
for relief, relief expenditures will
play their part in politics and elec.
tions. That was the frank statement
of veteran Democratic Senate,
yesterday. He was equally assertivt
that relief money and employees or
relief should be entirely outside Of
politics. This Senator has his owr
philosophy regarding the political &C.
tivities of United States marshals, in.
ternal revenue collectors, United
States district attorneys, etc. If such
officials are appointed to Office or
his recommendation, he expects them
to get busy and help him when elec.
ton time comes round. That, he in.
sists, has been the custom whether
Republicans or Democrats are in con.
troll and in Office. But he shakes his
head over the charges that relief
money. is being used in elections
That, he says, is a horse OF another
color.
Frowns on Public Hearings.
The Senate Campaign Investigating
Committee could give the w. P. A. q
real check-up-and a real under.
standing of what it should not do-ii
it would take the leap and hold public
hearings in Pennsylvania, for example
or one Of the other States II
which charges have been made that
the w. P. A. is used politically. But
the committee has been unwilling tt
go to such lengths. It may yet be
persuaded that only through the wild.
est kind of publicity can an effective
check be put on the political activities
of the w. P. A.
The Democratic high command