Evening star., 1938-09-04

" ChUkP0tyb CAPC NCUt6" GO Ou TCCUu.
Among only q teD of his inquiries
hare been those directed at KEN
tucky and the employees of the
W.P. A.
BY the Associated Press.
Senator Sheppard, Democrat, OF
Texas said yesterday he would urge
Congress to revise and broaden the
Corrupt Practices Act to fix a uniform
limit of expenditures in senatorial
campaigns.
Expenditures in senatorial primaries,
unregulated by Congress since the. Su-
preme Courts decision In the New
berry case in 1924, now range from the
legal allowance Of $1,000 in Oklahoma
to unlimited amounts in at least II
States.
Senator Sheppard said a study of
State expediture laws, completed by
the Campaign Expenditures Commit
tee, OF which he is chairman, had con-
vinced him Of the need of uniform
legislation in this field.
AS the Federal Corrupt Practices
Act now stands, q senatorial nominee
may spend up to $25 200 in hisagen-
eral election campaign. But the Su-
preme Court held that primary elec-
tions were State matters and Federal
control of primary expenditures was
forbidden.
Legal Question Involved.
II Congress broadens the CORRUPT
Practices Act to include primaries, in
an effort to obtain different decision
from the Supreme Court, there still
might be a legal question as to
whether the Federal law superseded
State laws, the Texas Senator said
This question might arise even now
In the case of New Jersey, whose State
law premits senatorial nominee to
spend s50,000 in the general election
despite the $25,000 Federal Limitation
Senator Sheppard pointed out. He
instructed committee aides to look
into the law on this point.
The committees survey showed that
Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana
Maine, Minnesota. Pennsylvania
Rhode Island, South Carolina. Yer
mont and Washington had no State
laws governing senatorial primary ex-
penditures. the Senator reported.
In addition, the committee found
that State election laws in Kansas
Kentucky, Nebraska, New York and
ONO might not be applicable to sena-
torlal campaign expenditures.
In addition to New Jersey and Okla
homa, l3 other States fix definite
amounts that may be spent by sena-
torlal candidates. They are Alabama
Arizona. Colorado, Florida, Idaho,
Massachusetts, Mississippi. New
Hampshire, North Carolina, Tenpes-
see. Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. New
Jerseys limit of $4,000 for the pri-
mary and $50 900 for the general cleo
ton Is the highest in the list. Okla
homa has a limit of $4,000 on pri-
mary expenditures and Utah $4,000
for both elections.
Percentage Sometimes Limit.
In III States expenditures are lin
tied to percentage of a years salary
as Senator. Arkansas and California
permit a candidate to spend a full
years pay, or $4,000. in his cam
paign. Iowa fixes the limit at a
nall years salary in the primary and
the same amount in the general cleo
ton.
In South Dakota the total for both
| elections is limited to half a wears
salary. while In Connecticut the limit
Is one-third. Montana, Nevada. New
Mexico, North Dakota. Oregon and
Wyoming limit expenditures to from
10 to 20 per cent Of years pay for
each race
In Indiana, Maryland, Michigan
Missouri and Virginia the candidates. S
expenditures are restricted by COM
plicated systems based on the votes
cast-in most cases-for the nomi-
nee for Governor in the last pre-
ceding election. West Virginia puts
the limit at s75 per county.
Senator Sheppard also said yester-
day he had asked members of his com-
mittee to meet here Thursday to 20
over an accumulation OF complaints
and reports on Investigations already
under way.
He told reporters the committee
would consider a new complaint from
California. which he could not dis
close In advance. Previously, the COM
mittee looked into charges that Fed
eral employees had been asked to aid
the campaign Of Senator McAdoo,
Democrat, of California, defeated in
primary this week.