The purpose of the bill is to make it a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, for any person, association, organization, committee, or corporation to publish or distribute any political statement relating to a candidate for election to any Federal office unless such statement contains the names of the persons responsible for its publication or distribution.

Section 1 prohibits publication or distribution of pamphlets, circulars, cards, dodgers, posters, advertisements, or any other statements relating to or concerning a candidate unless there is contained the name or names of the person, association, committee, or corporation responsible for the publication or distribution, and if an association, committee, or corporation is responsible for the publication or distribution there is required to be attached the names of the officers of such association, committee, or corporation.

Section 2 prescribes the punishment of not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, for a willful violation, or for aiding or abetting in a violation of the prohibition.

Section 3 defines "election" to include a general or special election and in the case of a Resident Commissioner from the Philippine Islands, an election by the Philippine Legislature. The bill is also made to apply to a primary election or convention of a political party.

The Department of Justice having considered the legislation reports an analysis in the following letter:

Hon. PAT MCCARRAN,

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, "Washington, D. C., April 7, 1944.

Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate,

1

Washington, D. C.

MY DEAR SENATOR: This is in response to your request of March 27, 1944, for my views concerning a bill (H. R. 2973) to provide that no person shall publish or distribute any political statement relating to a candidate for election to any Federal office which does not contain the name of the person responsible for its publication or distribution.

The bill under consideration would make it a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, for any person, association, organization, committee, or corporation to publish or distribute any political statement relating to a candidate for election to any Federal office unless the statement contains the names of the persons responsible for its publication or distribution. The measure would be applicable to primary elections and conventions as well as to general elections.

The legislation would implement the Federal Corrupt Practices Act (U. S. C., title 2, secs. 241-256) and would tend to facilitate the enforcement of the provisions of that act, especially those which require reports of expenditures and contributions. It would also aid in the enforcement of that provision of the Hatch Act which places a limit of $5,000 on the size of contributions which may be made in connection with Federal elections (U. S. C., title 18, sec. 61 (m)).

I find no objection to the enactment of the bill.

I have been informed by the Director of the Bureau of the Budget that there is no objection to the submission of this report.

Sincerely yours,

List of records of public hearings and compilations incorporated by reference as part of this report.

(1) Printed Senate document of hearings before special committee in Washington, D. C., June 13, 1944, containing 58 pages of testimony in re: Affairs and activities of the Congress of Industrial Organizations Political Action Committee. (2) Volumes 1 and 2 of hearings before special committee in Washington, D. C., June 12 and September 26, 1944, containing 97 pages of testimony in re: Political conditions in North Dakota.

(3) Volume 1 of hearings before subcommittee in Newark, N. J., August 19, 1944, containing 257 pages of testimony in re: Investigation of State Republican League of Union City and the Republican Citizens Committee of Jersey City.

(4) Volume 1 of hearings before subcommittee in Little Rock, Ark., September 7-9, 1944, containing 344 pages of testimony in re: Voting irregularities and excessive expenditures in primary elections, Arkansas.

(5) Volume 1 of hearings before the special committee in Washington, D. C., October 18, 1944, containing 170 pages of testimony in re: American Democratic National Committee.

(6) Volume 1 of hearings before the special committee in Washington, D. C., October 19, 1944, containing 123 pages of testimony in re: The W. Lee O'Daniel News and the 1944 campaign.

(7) Volume 1 of hearings before subcommittee in Washington, D. C., October 31, 1944, containing 129 pages of testimony in re: Ohio C. I. O. Council, and Trades Union News Publishing Co., Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.

(8) Volumes 1 and 2 of hearings before subcommittee in Indianapolis, Ind., December 18 and 19, 1944, containing 503 pages of testimony in re: Alleged fraud and registration irregularities in election of November 7, 1944, Indiana.

(9) Compilation of specimens of campaign literature used in 1944 national election campaign with explanatory notes and index thereto.

APPENDIX IV

[*Did not file]