Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-12
By MARY McGRoRY

RJ MANI NAC0LNOAsl
The Democrats are apparently
relying on Republican National
Committee Chairman Leonard
w. Halls comforting assurance
that the money always comes
from somewhere" in a political
campaign.
This seemed an unacceptable
conclusion after two days of
seminar-type hearings conducted
by Senator Cores special sub
committee on election spending.
On Monday the committee
heard Democratic National
Chairman Paul Buffers revela-
ton that the Democrats were
$4,000 in the hole as Of Sep
TENDER /. The Republicans on
the other hand have total of
$664,625 written in black, in
their bankbooks.
Yesterday, it was reported
that the Democratic Senatorial
Committee, even with the pro-
ceeds of the dinner for Senator
George, has $61,541 in hand,
while the Republican senatorial
committee has just about ten
times as much, namely, $685., S49.
Contracts In Big Money
Yet the television executives
who testified at the final session
of the open hearings showed that
the debt-ridden Democrats are
planning to spend almost as much
money getting their candidates
on the television screen as their
more affluent rivals.
To date. the Republicans have
contracted for $1,107.750 worth
of television time; and the Demo-
Gratis for $1,030,750 worth. To
this must be added approximate
ly 10 per cent more for produc-
ton costs.
All time must be paid for 48
hours prior to the broadcast, so
it seems Democratic angels"
must materialize soon.
Both parties have gone in
heavily for the new Madison
Avenue gimmick, the 5-minute
spot telecast. One television ex-
ecutive, Joseph Mcdonald, vice
president of the National Broad
casting called this bargain rate"
political telecaSting. The figure
cited by Richard Salant of the
Columbia Broadcasting System
disclosed just what a bargain
is in television circles. For 5
minutes of prime night time
over Isl stations, CHS charges
$10,601.
Finales to Programs
The Democrats have con-
tracted for 81 of these Ave
minute spots, and the Repub-
licans for 35. They will occur as
f1nales to such programs as
Dinah Shore. Perry Como and
Tennessee Ernie. especially in
October.
To date, both parties have
run up television bills that are
only half Of what they were in
1852.
According to Harold Fellows,
president of the National Asso-
citation of Radio and Television
Broadcasters. some Sc million
went into televislon costs during
the last campaign, about 81 mil
lion of it for national candidates.
But Mr.. Mcdonald, who said
he assumed they would spend
much more and was reluctant to
guess now much, estimated it
might be anywhere from IS to
so per cent more.
All the television representa-
tiveS were vehement in their an
tipathy to the suggestion, sup
ported by the Democrats Mr..
Butler. that the networks make
free time available to political
hopefuls.
Likened to appropriation
Mr.. Mcdonald said it was
"unsound, like an appropriation
Of our property" Mr.. Fellows
called it no only discriminatory
but unrealistic. unavoidable and
unconstitutional" Ernest Lee
Jahnke, jr.. vice president Of the
American Broadcasting Co., said
that if the networks had to take
on such an added financial bur-
den they might not be able to
provide such public services as
bringing the two political con-
ventions to the television screen.
And Richard Salant of CHS
said, "A chance to appear before
millions of people with no cost
at all to themselves might well
prove an enormous temptation
to a great many soap-box orators
and publicity seekers"
The Gore Subcommittee will 60
into executive session today to
consider ways and means of car
rying out its project of conduct
ing a weekly inventory of outgo-
ing and incoming funds at the
party headquarters.
Wants Uniform System
Chairman Gore expressed the
hope that some uniform system
Of bookkeeping might be worked
out whereby the necessity of