Evening star., 1939-06-27
Hatch Analyses Bill
To Take Politics
Out Of Relief
Senator in Forum Talk
Says Highest Public
Good Is Objective

DrOdQCaSJ over NaClOnal bTOaQ-
casting Co. network. His address
follows:
In addressing this radio audience
this evening, am glad to be able
to say that stringent measures,
prohibiting the use of relief or re-
lief funds for any political purpose
whatever, have already been en-
acted and will shortly become per-
manent law of the land.
When it is realized that only one
year ago the Senate of the United
States voted down by the slim ma
jority of one vote most mild
amendment to the then pending re-
lief bill, what has now been accom-
plished seems almost beyond belief.
After the Congress had refused
to write into the relief bill the
mild prohibitions proposed last
year. the issue was presented again
in the early part of the present
session when the deficiency relief
bill was being considered. At this
time far stronger amendments were
proposed. The Senate Appropria-
tions Committee and the Senate ac-
cepted them with only a few per-
fecting changes. The House of
Representatives agreed to them, and
they became part of the deficiency
relief appropriation bill.
Last week the House Committee
considering the regular 1910 relief
bill wrote into it the same strong
prohibitions against the use of re-
lief for political purposes That
measure Is now pending in the Sem
ate
Bill Drafted BY Senators.
Early in the session, bills were
introduced separately from the ap-
preparation bills, making permanent
laws against the use of relief funds
for political purposes. They also
relate generally to certain other
proposed reforms in elections. Those
various bills were referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions. After much work and dis
cussion in that committee, the Sem
ator from Texas, Mr.. Sheppard;
the Senator from Vermont. Mr..
Austin, and joined in drafting a
new measure which we introduced
in the Senate and which is now
known as Senate Bill 1871. OF that
bill and it's provisions I would speak
this evening. Time does not permit
a detailed explanation of each sep
arate section of the bill, but I must
mention a few of its provisions.
They include the same restrictions
which we're written into the relief
appropriation bills to which I have
REFERRED except in the pending bill
the provisions are in many re-
spects stronger and cover wider
scope.
Section of the bill, drawn to pre-
vent the intimidation or coercion OF
persons on relief, contains prohibi-
tions broad enough to make 1t un-
lawful for any person to intimidate
or coerce any person for the purpose
of interfering with the right of such
other person to vote as he may
choose. Under this provision, con-
dition which has long been COM
planned of in this country will be
corrected. When this section of the
bill is finally written into the law,
no longer will any laboring man fear
threat, intimidation or coercion from
those who employ him, and his right
to vote freely as an independent
American citizen will be protected
and safeguarded as long as this Sec
ton remains a part of the laws Of
this country.
1t is also provided in the bill that
no person can promise any employ
ment or benefit made possible by
any act of Congress to any other
person as favor or reward for po-
litical activity. In addition to this
prohibition, the bill makes it unlaw-
full for any person to deprive or
threaten to deprive any person of
employment or benefit made possible
by any act of Congress as punish
ment because such person did not
happen to vote as some one else
might think he should have voted.
House Committee Complimented.
An important section of the bill
Is the one making it unlawful to
solicit campaign contributions from
any person receiving relief. Here I
must compliment the House Com
mittee on the Judiciary for this Sec
ton of the bill, as it passed the
Senate, did not altogether meet the
situation. The Senate bill only pro-
hibited the soliciting of campaign
contributions from relief workers. l
think 1t should also prohibit the re-
Nf joy, vi
from those unfortunate citizens COM
PEELED to receive relief from the Gov
ernment. When this situation was
mentioned to certain members of
the House committee, with one ac-
cord they agreed the bill should be
amended to make it unlawful to re-
ceive such contributions from the
relief worker. I consider this most
important provision, for no matter
which party may receive the bene-
fits of such campaign contributions,
1t is my belief there can be nothing
more vicious than taking the nickels
and dimes of persons on relief for
political campaign purposes So far
as my own party is concerned, the
great Democratic party, it does not
need and it will never need such
contributions for its successes. It
the time should ever come when the
Democratic party depends upon
levying assessments on relief work.
ers for its success, then 1 am willing
for my party to be defeated. De-
feat would be far better than victory
won by such methods. But such
conditions will not confront either
party if Senate Bill 1871 becomes
law, for then such practices would
not be possible If any violations
of the law should occur, am sure
every district attorney in the United
States would be eager to prosecute,
and the courts and juries of the
land would gladly punish all such
law breakers.
AS indicated in the beginning,
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