Evening star., 1945-03-15
SUPERHIGHWAY REPORTED CUT BY YANKS
Senator'S Split
On Curbing PAC
Political Outlay
Committee Agrees
Group Kept Within
Law in IA Election
By the Associated Press.
NIL

By the Associated Press.
The Senate Campaign Expen-
ditures Committee split sharply
today over a Republican proposal
to prevent future political spend
ing by unions.
They agreed there was mo clear
cut violation of the Corrupt
Practices Act on the part of the
CIO Political Action Committee in
the 1914 campaign, but suggested
revision OF the act proposed by
Senator's Ferguson, Republican, of
Michigan and Ball Republican, of
Minnesota drew Democratic ma
jority dissent.
The Republicans sought a prohi-
bition against expenditures, as
well as contributions, made in con-
nection with any Federal election
by corporation, bank or labor
organization.
Chairman Green and Senator'S
Stewart, Democrat, of Tennessee
and Tunnell Democrat, of Della
ware disagreed on the grounds
that such an extension of the Cor
rupt Practices Act might limit free
dom OF speech, press and assembly
and Ihat prohibitions and sane
tions fail to prevent "pernicious po-
litical activity"
Senate Gets Campaign Report.
The clash over union election ac-
tivity was bundled up in a $50
page report on the 1914 campaign
filed with the Senate.
The committee, which questioned
Sidney Hillman, head of the PAC,
said its inquiry developed that
while the Corrupt Practices Act
prohibits unions and corporations
from making contributions in Fed
eral elections, it does not extend
the ban to expenditures.
This position, taken by Mr.. Hill
man at the time, later was con-
CURED in by the Attorney General,
the committee asserted. Senator'S
Ferguson and Ball would apply the
/ prohibition to political convention
spending as well. a-
j In &sllengthy, ,docunent.sthe CAM
paign investigating Committee also:
l. Criticized Fulton Lewis, WASH
ington radio commentator, for what
1t said was his refusal to cooperate
with the committee in its effort to
run down his charge that employees
of a Minnesota shipbuilding concern
used threats and coercion" in
soliciting Roosevelt campaign funds.
Removal of Ceilings Urged.
2. Recommended removal as ''ut-
terly unrealistic" of an existing
Hatch Act ceiling of 100000 on
receipts and expenditures by politi-
cal committees and a 5000 Hmita-
ton on individual campaign con-
tributions.
The committee said that while the
Republican National Committee re-
ported spending $2,828,651 and the
Democratic National Committee s2,-
056, ,12l, groups supporting the ma
tional tickets spent as follows:
Democrats: Independent commit
tees, groups or individuals, S2,327.-
659; intrastate independent groups,
81 ,024, ,648, and State committees,
50 2,033, $40.
Republicans: Independent COM
mittees, groups or individuals, $685.
291: instrastate independent groups,
$493, ,905, and State committees, $9,-
26O, O,528.
8. Reported it had referred to the
Attorney General testimony con-
corning complaint by Senator Taft,
Republican, of Ohio against dis
tribution by the Ohio CIO State
Council OF campaign pamphlet en-
titled, He wanted to do business
with Hitler and Hirohito-the amaz-
ing story of Senator Taft"
Test Case Recommended.
In doing so, the committee said it
recommended test case to deter
mine whether circulation of the
pamphlet could be considered a
Democratic campaign contribution
under the Corrupt Practices Act.
The committee absolved Senator
Taft of CIO complaints that he
spent excessive sums in his Novem-
Der election campaign and that he
used his position to prevent the
CIO from using radio broadcasting
facilities in Ohio.
4. Disclosed it had turned over to
the Justice Department information
gathered in an investigation Of
Texas Democratic Senator O'Dan-
iels weekly newspaper, the w. Lee
ODaniel News. 1t said the publica-
ton collected more than $191, 900
and asked the Justice Department
to examine the matter in relation
to the Corrupt Practices Act.
S. Reported excessive spending In
the Arkansas Democratic primary.
fraud and glaring irregularities" at
the polls there. but not "a scintilla
Of evidence that the election Of
Democratic Senator Fulbright was
Affected in any way.
8. Said it had turned over to the
Justice Department "for consider
alton and study of the proper en-
forcement agency" a transcript OF
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