Evening star., 1941-03-07
Campaign Probers
Urge Rigid Curbs
On Election Funds
Two Major Parties Spent
Almost S22, 600, 900 During
Election, Report Says
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The Senate Campaign Investigat-
ing Committee, reporting that the
major parties had spent almost
$22 900 900, at minimum, during
the 1910 presidential contest, recon-
mended today that Congress fix
rigid limits on political funds and
tighten up other Federal election
laws.
Republican groups were credited
with expenditures of almost SIS, 900, =
600 and Democrats with more than
Sc, 900 900.
The special committee submitted
a 10-point political reform program
in its 191-page final report, which
included separate, sharply -worded
minority statements from Senator
Tobey, Republican, of New Hamp-
shire.
Senator Tobey, in his reports,
asked a congressional investigation
of Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey
City, N. j., powerful Democratic
leader; charged that Oliver A.
Quayle, Democratic National Com
mittee leader, had lied brazenly and
unhesitatingly" to the committee;
questioned $500, 900 loaned to Demo-
Gratis by r. J. Reynolds, and crit
icized primary expenditures by Sena-
tor Radcliff, Democrat, of Maryland.
Offers No Legislation.
Rejecting prolonged dispute
among the five Senators appointed
to police last years election, the
special committee offered no specific
remedial legislation" but cited 10
"objectiveS" to be attained and sug-
gested that the regular Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections
frame actual legislation.
The majority found that existing
Federal laws seeking to limit ex-
penses of a presidential campaign
to 100000 and individual con-
tributions to $1,000 in one year had
been largely ineffective"
It's tabulation showed reported
expenditures of $22, ,740,313 and con-
tributions of $24, ,174,223 in 1910 and
the committee conceded that total
expenditures will never be known"
because of lack of complete report
requirements.
1t found that congressional at
temptS to limit contributions and
expenditures of national commit
tees to 100000 a year under the
Hatch Act had resulted in "mush-
room" growth of independent COM
mittees," each claiming the right to
raise and spend $3,000.00O The re-
port said 130 of these independent
groups operated during the last
campaign, with most of them sup
porting the Republican presidential
candidate.
The committee also criticized the
Hatch Acts $1,000 limit on individ-
ual contributions because it ex-
empted contributions to State or
local groups. In this connection the
committee majority cited family
contributions" of s186,78o by the
Du Points, $l08525 by the Pew fam
lily and $4,000 by the Rockefellers,
all to Republican-aff1lia groups.
The first three committee "ob-
jectives" were aimed at these con-
ditions with suggestions to fix def
mite limits both on the total amount
that may be spent for national can
didates and on individual contribu-
tions of all kinds.
Other Suggested Reforms.
Other suggested reforms included:
A curb on false, libelous and
scurrilous campaign literature;
A bar on "pernicious political
activities" by the thousands of
farmer committeeman who admin
lister Federal farm program (the
Agriculture Department contends
these farmers are not covered by
present acts):
A prohibition against coercion
of voters by private employers or
corporations complaints were made
against numerous corporations and
insurance companieS);
A prohibition against direct or in
direct political contributions by pub
lie utilities or their officers;
A prohibition against political
activities by national banks (cam-
paign advertisements by some banks
were proteSte6;
Action to prevent "abuses of the
congressional franking" or free-mail-
ing privilege Several complaints
were made);
A prohibition against use of
surplus commodities or other re-
lief benefit for political purposes.
Senator Gillette, Democrat, of
Iowa was chairman of the special
committee. Other members were
Senators Tobey, Adams, Democrat,
of Colorado; Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama, and Reed, Republican, of
Kansas.