Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-31
Tight Law Is Urged
On Election Funds

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a man and wife could contribute
to the 1860 campaign a total Of
$50. 900 by contributing $4,000
each on the last day of 1859
and a like amount in 1860.
Unless the law should be APP
piled to primaries, they added.
the man and wife could con-
tribute to primaries with no
restriction against such funds
being carried over into the gen.
eral campaign"
They contended the commit
tees bill also was defective be-
cause Of the absence of any
Limitation ION the movement Of
out-of-State money into sena-
torial and congressional CAM
lpaigns."
Call For Firm Ceiling
They argued there should be
realistic and enforceable limi-
tations" on campaign expendi-
lures in primaries if there is to
be adequate regulation Of the
elective process"
In taking a firm stand against
this, Senator Mcclellan ex-
lplained his position to newsmen:
II don't think the Federal
Government has any Jurisdiction
over State elections, notwith-
standing what the Supreme
Court has said and may say
again."
The Arkansas Senator intro
duced a bill to cover the COM
mittee's recommendations re-
garding lobbying. and would seek
to- get action on it at this ses-
sion Of Congress.
Introduction Undecided
He said he was undecided on
introducing the election reform
measure but thought some other
committee member might do so.
Opposition to including primaries
in such legislation has been a
stumbling block in the past.
The bill would limit indi-
vidual contributions to $4,000
for one candidate or an aggre-
gate Of $l5,O00.for all candidates
and political committees. At
present an individual may con-
tribute UP to 5000 to as many
different candidates or commit
tees as he wishes.
Another recommendation was
that a contributor might deduct
political contributions up to 500
from gross income.
THE effect of such q deduc-
Ition," the committee said,
would be beneficial in that 1t
VIII make it less necessary for
candidates to reply on large in
dividual contributions and
broaden the base Of contributors,
a highly desirable goal"
/ Seek to Drop Equal Time
i The committees proposed bill
also would eliminate the re-
Iquirement that radio and teles
vision give equal time to all
qualified candidates.
Instead. it porposed that equal
time should be granted to candi-
dates OF major parties and to
minor parties which evidence
some measure Of public support"
Therefore. 1t is recommended, !"
the committee reported, that
equal television-radio time should
be required to be accorded q can
didate Of minor party only II
that party polled 5 per cent Of
the total vote at the last regular
election for the Office In ques-
ton. or. II a new party. II pre-
sents a petition signed by a
number of qualified voters equal
to 2 per cent Of the total votes
cast at the last regular election
for the Office to which its candi-
date aspires."
J, Calls for Fiscal Agent
/ The committee also would
streamline and extend reporting
by political committees and pro-
vide for the appointment by each
candidate Of a fiscal agent re-
sponsible for making such re-
ports. Copies Of the reports
would be filed not only with the
Controller General, but also
, clerks Of the United States Dis
trict Court in the district in
which the candidate resides.
The reporting requirement.
! would not only apply to the
candidates themselves but also
to all committees. except those
. specially exempted. Also ex.
empted. would be those which DE-
not receive or spend more thar
81 900 In any one year or which
-