Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-22
|Keck Donation
TO Eisenhower
backers Hinted
Oil Mons Records
Subpoenoed in Probe
Of Campaign Gifts
By J. A. OLEARY

by j. A. O'LEAhY
Senate investigators were re-
ported today to have uncon-
firmed information that one of
the recent political contributions
of Howard B. Keck, the oil man.
was to the National Citizens for
Eisenhower Committee.
Members of the special COM
mittee inquiring into the offer
of $4,000 contribution to SEN
ator Case, Republican of South
Dakota. while the natural gas
bill was pending, denied any
knowledge of the new report.
The committee has been told
that the money which Senator
Case turned down came from
personal funds of Mr.. Keck.
president of the Superior Oil
Co. Of California, through two
of the company's lawyers.
Meanwhile, the Senate pre-
pared to act on the resolution
to authorize a full-scale inquiry
into lobbying and campaign con-
Itributions. not limited to the
natural gas bill.
Records Subpoenaed
The personal checks and bank
records Of Mr.. Keck have been
subpoenaed by the special COM
mittee.
Chairman George Of the spe-
cial committee said he has not
personally examined Mr.. Keck's
checks and does not know what
they showed. He said his COM
mittee would be interested only
to the extent of determining if
there was any pattern Of con-
tributions made by Keck."
Sponsored jointly by Demo-
cratic Leader johnson Of Texas
and Republican Leader Know
land of California. the resolu-
ton calls for a new bipartisan
committee of four Democrats
and four Republicans. with broad
authority to inquire into any
improper attempts to influence
legislation.
In preliminary move. the,
Senate last night extended to-
March 10 the time in which an
existing committee may complete
the separate inquiry into the
activities of John M. Nef a.
lawyer for the Superior OIL Co.
of California. It was Mr.. Neff,sI
offer Of q $500 campaign con-
tribution TO Senator Case, Re-
publican Of South Dakota. while
the natural gas bill was pending
that spanked demands for the
more comprehensive inquiry.
No Opposition
No outright opposition has de-
veloped to the johnson Know
land resolution, but for an hour
yesterday Democratic Senators
Lehman Of New York and
O'Mahoney of Wyoming ex-I
pressed misgivinss over some
phases of the plan.
Senator johnson repeated his
hope that the broad probe will
lead to recommendations for re-
vision of the Corrupt Practices
Act. the lobby registration law
and election controls. Although
the new committee will have un-
til January 81, 1857. to make its.
final report, Senator johnson
said 1t could make interim re-
ports from time to time, sug-l
'gesting new legislation.
But Senator O'Mahoney made
a plea for action before the end
of March on the Hennings clean
elections bill, which has been
on the Senate calendar since last
June. The Wyoming Democrat
served notice he does not want
the new investigation to be made
"the peg" on which to hang
a postponement of the Hennings
bill
Senator Lehman said he was
disturbed by press reports that
Senator johnson might place on
the new committee some mem
bers chosen from the Democratic
and Republican Campaign Com !
mittees. These committees collect
and disburse funds for Senators
up for reelection.
Senator johnson replied that
he had merely suggested the new
investigating committee should
include one or two members who
have had some experience on
the Campaign Committee. but
not to be chosen as representa-
tives Of those committees.
Has Gore In Mind
Senator Lehman said the
naming of Campaign Committee
members would bring into ques-
ton he non-political character
tof the committee.
Senator johnson replied that
he had in mind appointing Sena-
tor Gore, Democrat OF Tennessee.
who is chairman of the regular
subcommittee which investigates
elections. but who has also had
See LOBBY, Page Az
III 6 Reds Greet