Tall in the Saddle

"You Senators and reporters--" said Senate Democratic Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson last week. "You better saddle your horses and put on your spurs if you're going to keep up with Johnson on the flag, mother, and corruption." Ever since the row about the $2,500 campaign contribution to South Dakota's Senator Francis Case (TIME. Feb. 20-27), Johnson had managed to be someplace else when there was talk of a full-scale investigation of lobbying. Now, having taken his expert soundings, he moved swiftly to the head of the investigation parade.

Johnson's idea was to expand previous plans and set up an eight-man special select committee (four Democrats, four Republicans) and he quickly convinced the Democratic Policy Committee. Almost as quickly he named his team: Tennessee's Albert Gore (probable chairman), Massachusetts' John Kennedy, Arkansas' John McClellan, New Mexico's Clinton Anderson. Minority Leader Bill Knowland readily agreed to the Johnson plan. For the Republicans Knowland named New Hampshire's Styles Bridges, Minnesota's Ed Thye, Connecticut's William Purtell and Arizona's Barry Goldwater. The Senate approved the select committee investigation by a vote of 79-1 (North Dakota's maverick Republican Bill Langer) and authorized $350,000 for the job. Said Johnson: "I believe that the members selected for the committee will do their jobs in their own way, according to their best judgment, and"--adding a broad verbal wink--"I am hopeful that the job they do will meet with the approval of all fairminded, patriotic, non-political Senators."

Still Lyndon had not done. At week's end he announced that he had been working on an elections reform bill that he hoped to get passed this year. Its principal points: 1) radio and TV stations should be allowed to grant free and equal time to major political parties but should be exempt from matching this with free time for fringe parties; 2) present unrealistic limits ($25,000 for Senators, $10,000 for Representatives) on campaign expenditures should be lifted; 3) campaign contributions up to $100 per person should be declared tax exempt. Not to be outdone, the G.O.P.'s Bill Knowland said that just such a bill suited him fine too.

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