Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-24
johnson Maps
3-Point Curb on
Election Funds
Hopes for Action
On Spending Lows
Before Campaign
BY ]. A. O'LEARY

Senate Democratic Leader
johnson of Texas today revealed
he is working on a .three-point
plan for strengthening the cleo
ton laws and hopes to get action
at this session in time for the
1856 campaign.
Designed to eliminate the need
for big National campaign budg-
cts and large individual contri-
buttons. the plan would:
/. Seek to encourage smaller
contributions by allowing an
individual to deduct up to 500
from his income tax for a dona-
ton to his political party, or
5000 in the case of a man and
wife.
2. Let the television networks
divide between the major parties
a fixed amount of free time.
8. Require stringent reporting
of all contributions, with limita-
tons on the amounts that may
be raised.
Knowland Agrees
Senate Republican Leader
Knowland- of California agreed
with Senator johnson on the
need for changes and said he toe
would like to see something az
complished in time for the 1856
campaign. He was not ready to
commit himself on detailed pro-
posals.
Although not committing Sen
ator Knowland to his three
specific remedies. Senator John
son made it clear he is trying to
achieve bipartisan cooperation
to expedite action at this session
and said he believes he and the
Republican leader are thinking
along the same general lines.
These developments came on
the heels Of appointment of the
new eight-man bipartisan COM
mittee to investigate any i'm
proper attempts to influence
legislation through lobbying or
campaign contributions.
Senator Gore. Democrat of
Tennessee, who may be chair
man OF the new committee, had
said earlier he thinks new cleo
ton and lobbying legislation can
be recommended within a few
months without waiting to COM
plete the investigation.
Won't Affect Primaries
Senator johnson indicated
that his new program does not
include extending Federal con-
troll to cover primaries. which is
a main feature of the Hennings
clean election bill already ap-
proved by the Rules Committee
and awaiting Senate action.
Opposition to including pri-
maries has been a main STUN
bling block to getting considera-
ton of the Hennings bill. which
has been on the Senate calendar
since last June.
Senator johnson also pointed
out that his tax-exemption pro-
posal would have to originate in
the House. But the television
and campaign reporting pro-
visions could be offered as
amendments to the Hennings bill
in the near future.
The cost of network television
speeches by presidential candi-
dates has been a factor in the
mounting cost in national cleo
tons in recent years.
Would Raise Ceiling
Recognizing this, the Hennings
bill would increase to about Sl2
million the SO million ceiling
present law places on the total
outlay by either party in ma
tional campaign. This ceiling
has proved ineffective, however,
because independent committees
may be formed by supporters of
either candidate, and each such
committee may spend another So
million.
In another development today,
Senator Goldwater of Arizona
one Of the Republicans appointed
to the new investigating COM
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