NO “SENSATIONS "

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21745, 30 March 1936, Page 11

NO “SENSATIONS "

TOWNSEND PLAN ENQUIRY

NEARLY 1,000.000 DOLLARS PROM OLD PEOPLE

, (Received March 29, 8.46 p.m.)

WASHINGTON, March 27,

The evidence at the Congressional enquiry into the financial operations of the Townsend Plan organisation did not reveal the sensations earlier hinted at. Nevertheless the books showed that 951,000 dollars in dues and contributions from old people anxious to receive the 200 dollars a month pension had been collected during the two years’ period since January 1, • 1934. Moreover, the profits of the weekly publication of the organisation, which are reputed tp be high, were not listed.

Mr Robert Clements (national secretary-.pf the organisation) said he had received something more than 12,000 dinars a year for his services.

Committee menSter? indicated that the bank accounts"', and other resources of Mr Clements, Dr. Townsend, and other of the movement would be further irftrestigated. • ' Replying to further questions, Mr Clements revealed that his wife, as

a secretary of the organisation, received an annual salary of 1475 dollars. He also said that the organ-? isation had paid his “expenses,” these including his rent, his grocery bills, and the servants’ wages, as well as the cost of many aeroplane trips. The expenses over a three months’ period were computed at approximately 33 dollars a day.