Evening star., 1940-03-14
Senate Votes
$4,000 Limit on
Political Gifts
Motion Wins, 40-3S,
As Several Members
Change Positions
By ], A, O'LEARY.

a 5000 limit on the amount any
individual may contribute to polit-
ical campaign fund.
Offered as an amendment to the
Hatch bill, to bar from political
activity all State employees paid with
Federal funds, the motion carried
by the narrow margin of 40 to 80.
1t represented the first victory Of
opponents of the Hatch measure to
broaden its scope.
Senator Bankhead, Democrat. of
Alabama, who failed yesterday in a
similar effort to establish a $1,000
ceiling on contributions, came back
with the higher figure today, and
won over several Senators from the
majority that has stood firmly for
more than week against virtually
all amendments, because of a fear
the measure may never become q
law If it covers too wide a scope.
Reconsideration Tabled.
A change of one vote would have
resulted in a tie, and the Hatch
opposition group moved quickly to
seal its victory by Offering a mo-
ton to reconsider and then having
that motion tabled. On a second roll
roll call the reconsideration was ta-
bled, Al to 38. which nails the
$4,000 limit into the bill.
The amendment makes it viola.
ton of law for any one to contrib
ute more than $5,0OO under PEN
atty of 5000 fine or imprisonment
for five years.
Only few minutes earlier the
Hatch supporters had beaten, by the
decisive vote of so to %, another
effort to strike out the provision
banning State employees from ac-
tive participation in politics, and it
appeared their lines would hold
against all amendments until final
passage.
The Bankhead campaign contri-
button limit expresses one of the
main arguments of the opponents
OF the bill-namely, that it seeks
to keep "the little fellow on a
State pay roll out of politics with
out curtailing the activity Of large
private contributors to campaigns.
Two Change Votes.
| The Bankhead motion at first ap-
peared to be going down to defeat
as the clerk called the roll, but
Senators Shipstead, Farmer Labor
lite, OF Minnesota and OMahoney,
Democrat, of Wyoming, after first
voting against it, announced be-
fore the call was completed that
they wished to be recorded for the
amendment.
Senator Hatch, Democrat. of New
Mexico told newspapermen later
that, without imputing improper
motives to anybody, the purpose Of
the amendment was to antagonize
the Republicans" who have been
voting solidly for the bill.
| The New Mexico Senator added
he did not believe it would have that
result. On the contrary, he sug-
gested it may pick up votes for
final passage of the measure Sena-
tor Hatch said he voted against the
limitation on contributions because
of the purpose for which he believed
it was offered. He declared he was
willing to 60 even further in curbing
contributions.
Senator Pepper, Democrat, of
Florida offered the motion to leave
State employees free to take active
part in political campaigns. The roll
call showed that supporters of the
new Hatch bill have gained ground
since a similar effort to delete q
major feature of the measure was
beaten last week.
Meanwhile, a. move to write into
the Hatch bill a more specific defini-
ton of forbidden political activity
was developing today.
Brown Considers Move.
Senator Brown, Democrat, of
Michigan made known he may ofier
an amendment that would place in
the bill the complete set Of rules
followed by the Civil Service Com
mission in keeping Federal workers
out Of politics.
One OF the arguments Of the op-
position has been that the bill as
it stands is too vague in merely
prohibiting State employees paid in
part with Federal funds from TAX
ing "any active part in political
management or in political cam
paigns." They have contended this
| placed too much discretion In the
hands of the Civil Service Com
mission, which would administer the
new bill. Commenting on the sug-
gested Brown amendment, Senator
Hatch said:
Il never have had any objection
to any amendment which would
strengthen or clarity the bill, but
I have objected strenuously, and
will continue to oppose, all amend
ments offered for the purpose Of
killing the bill"
Later today Senator Minton,
Democrat, of Indiana, q leader of
the opposition, may call up his
amendment to cover into the civil
service Immediately all non-civil
service workers in the Federal Gov
ernment affected by the original
Hatch Act.
The Indiana Senator, who aired
his reasons for opposing the bill
while lunching with President
Roosevelt yesterday, declared that
II these Federal employees are to be
denied participation in political
campaigns, they should have the
protection and privileges of civil
service status. There are approx.
mately 271 900 non-civil service EN-.
ployes.
Mint0n Plans Amendment.
Senator Minton viii follow this up
with an amendment to prohibit pri-
vate employers, or those who lend
money at interest, to influence en-
ployes politically or engage In polit-
ical activity.
| Near the close Of yesterdays de-
bate, Senator Minton again stressed
the solid support the Hatch bill ID
| AA{ Srs<, -