Scrutinizers

William E. Borah, Wesley L. Jones, Hendrik Shipstead, Thomas F. Bayard, Thaddeus H. Caraway--these five constitute the all-Senatorial group of vigilant keepers-of-their-brothers'-purses. In accordance with a resolution which Senator LaFollette carried through the Senate in the closing hours of Congress, they were chosen a committee to scrutinize the political expenditures and receipts of all parties, candidates and organizations. Last week they began their vigil.

Assembling in Washington, they agreed on a number of things. First they called on all campaign managers to furnish them, every ten days, with reports on expenditures and receipts, including the names of donors. They also asked for all plans for raising funds and names of prospective contributors-- this, however, must come voluntarily since the Committee has no power to compel this kind of information. Next they set Chicago as their permanent meeting-place and agreed that at the call of any member the Committee would assemble there.

The probabilities are that such meetings and public hearings will not take place until August or September when the campaign is well under way. As a subject for intervening meditation, the Committee chose the question of whether it has power to investigate expenditures made last Spring in primary campaigns.

As admonition to overambitious political treasurers, Senator Borah explained the Committee's future course:

"Whenever we hear of contributions which we think worth while investigating, whether from a political committee, a volunteer committee or from individuals, we shall make a thorough inquiry. This will apply to all organizations, including churches if they utilize money for campaign purposes, as well as to those who are interested in any phase of the Prohibition question.

"We will not conduct our investigations with the idea of developing evidence of the violation of any particular law, but will attempt to gather all information possible as to the expenditure of money, whether the expenditures are of moment or not. Our idea is to get the actual facts."