Rich Man, Poor Man

A Washington public-interest lobby called the Center for Public Financing of Elections recently asked all 27 U.S. Senators facing re-election this year how they propose to conduct the fund raising for their campaigns. Twenty-three Watergate-wise Senators--some of modest means, others of considerable personal wealth--said they will make full public disclosure of all campaign receipts and expenditures. Sixteen said they will limit cash donations to $100 or less. They will, of course, take larger donations made by check, but twelve reported they will accept no gift larger than $3,000, which is the limit that the Senate imposed both this year and last in a bill that awaits passage in the House.

House members have climbed onto the full-disclosure bandwagon as well. Several have set $100 limits on their cash campaign contributions. The Congress men engaging in such admirable self-imposed financial restraint, though they may vary in personal philosophy, share one important political attribute: all are incumbents. An unknown candidate for public office still needs expensive advertising to make himself known and put his case before the voters, and hence needs more money. To close that gap, a comprehensive public campaign funding bill remains a vital item on the nation's agenda.

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