Evening star., 1952-02-17
|honroney May Seek
Policing Group Aimed
|Af Cleaner I ! ! c aI1lpaigns
By The Assoeiu,ed Press

"a 0hidllu1lld, SdlQ yGStGIQay ne
may propose the creation Of q
national fair elections commission
to try to clean up presidential and
congressional campaigns.
Senator Monroney told newsmen
such q committee should be BIZ
partisan. have members Of the
standing Of Bernard M. Baruch
|or Owen D. Young, and have pow
|ers similar to those of the high
commissioner of baseball.
The Senator said he also was
considering suggestion to boost
the limit on Presidential campaign
spending In the Corrupt Practices
Act to IL or Is million dollars for
each party. This would include
money spent by all satellite groups
The ceiling now is So million
for the spending Of any one group
such as q party national commit
tee. But the same amount car
be spent by a veterans group. q
labor group, business group and
SO on indefinitely. The results
lis that there is no real limit, SEN
ator Monroney said.
New Law Being Drawn.
The Oklahoman Is a member
OF a Senate Elections subcommit-
tee which is planning to offer a
bill on election reforms soon. II
hopes to act in time to have new
legislation in effect for the 1855
Campaign. Its decision to seel
reforms grew out of its inyesti-
cation Of the Maryland and Ohio
1850 Senatorial elections.
Chairman Gillette OF the SUBJ
committee has asked the I'VE
members to submit suggestions II
writing as to what the law should
include. These may be taken ur
at the groups meeting nexi
Wednesday.
Senator Monroney said the ma
Itional fair elections commission
might be given authority to dis
courage scurTility in any cam.
|paign for Federal ofIice; issue cam
Ipaign criticisms Of the methods
of an individual or party; and
serve as a permanent investigating
body for congressional elections
Ceiling On Spending.
Senator Monroney said he also
was thinking Of proposing a more
realistic spending figure in
Senate campaigns. The present
ceiling on personal expenditures
jim the Federal law ranges from
$4,000 in small States to $25.-
900 in the largest ones. Some
States have even lower limits In
their own laws.
But here, too, supporters oi
candidates can spend money il
their behalf. making the legal
total meaningless.
The Senator suggested the limit
might be made 10 cents for each
vote for Senate In the preceding
election up to a top Of $500, 900
This would include all expenses BY
or. for q candidate.
Senator Monroney also sug.
gested that q candidate shoult
be held responsible for all acts oi
agents in his behalf, both il
financing and in issuance OF lit.
erature This is not the case now
Ban Colnlsosite Photographs.
He said he is considering these
other proposals: .ss L.
Outlaw composite photofraIhs
Such photograph showing for.
Imer Senator Tydings, Democrat
of Maryland. and Communist Ear
Browder was used in the 195l
Maryland campaign In which Ml
Tydings was beaten.
Require all individuals who con
tribute more than 500 to a can.
didate, a political agent or q 20
litical organization to report it t.
the national commission.
Require all State or count,
party groups to report to tn
national commission money PAL,
to candidates for the Senate an,
House.
Change Senate rules so tina
scurrility and defamation in
campaign will be judged as on
|of the bases for fitness to serv,
in the Senate.