The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-08-05
TO ELIMINATE
GRAFT CHANCES
RANDALL PREPARES MEAS
URE TO ELIMINATE LOB
BYING OF INTERESTS.
House Can Not Vote Bill Down If
1t is Passed by Judiciary
Members.

Members.
Washington, Aug 4.-"How to
eliminate graft and fiavoritism from
Congress would be an appropriate
summing up Of two very novel bills
wtach have been introduced in the
House by Texas representative
Chchce b. Randall oil Sherman-and
which i've intends to make it his spe-
lcial duty to push just as hong as he is
a member of the lawmaking body.
MIR Randall has more Influence
than the ordinary Southern represen-
tative lie is a member OF the Ways
and Means Committee and enjoys
considerable prestige in matters OF
legislation, but the indications are
THAT it will be long and cold day
before he gets through his bills TO
straiglten ont the moral kinks OF
Congress
! IF | can ever get them past the
Judiciary Committee and before the
House for u yea and nay vote they
will pass with hlhrrah," he said 81
doubt whether any member would
venture to vote against them"
Mr. RandaE's interesting bills pro-
vide, in bnief, as follows:
1T shall be unlawful for any SEN
aror. representative or Judge of 4
United States court to receive from
any railroad. steamboat, sleeping car,
dining car or express company, tele-
graph or telephone company or any
corporation or firm engaged in inter
state commerce or chartered by Con-
CESS any free transportation OF per-
son or property, any grit OF money
or thing eli value or any frank or
franking privilege
'ViolatGon OF this is Ihigsh misde-
mearor, subjecting the public official
TO a fine not to exceed 81 900 or inn
priscrment not TO exceed one year,
or both. and forever BARRING him
from holding office under the govern
merit of rlle United States.
Company is Liable.
THE company shah be punished by
a fine off not less than 500 nor more
than $1,000 flor each offense and the
officer Cur agent Directly responsible
shah be fined not more than $4,000 or
imprisoned in the peniteneiary from
six morths to two years, OR Shall be
subjected as the court may direct, to
both forms of punishment
; 80 1t shall be unlawful for any
senator or repre- sentative to directly
or indirectly hold any office or en-
ploymert or serve as attorney for any
public service corporation, or any cor
poration chartered by act of Cong
resS, or any corporation doing an in
terstate business, or any trust or any
person, firm or corporation interested
in legislation before Congress- The
violation of this act by senator or
representative Is made a high INSIDE
me.anor wclfch deprives said represen-
ta'tfve OF the privilege III holding of
fee and subjects him TO fine of 500
to $4,000 and imprisonment from one
month to ONE year"
In explanation OF his plan OF puri-
fying Congress and making it more
responsive to The popular will and
needs Mr. Randall said:
Our forefathers who founded the
government acted wisely when they
ordered that the officials of the Unit
ed States should not be permitted to |
receive gifts cur anything of value
whatsoever from foreign nations. |
They were looking TO dangers. from
without. HID they been able to hook |
into the future and see the great ag-
gregaion of special interests reach
ing out to control Congress they
would have been more concerned |
about dangers from Within and would
have written into the constitution
some sAtch safeguards as those which
| have outlined lin the bills | hnve
presented, towit: THAT no senator or
sl,nta serve as attorney
for any corpcrauron or shall receive
any gift thGng of value or privilege
from any company or corporation.
The condftion confronting us
squarely demonstrates that mo man
can serve two masters There never
was a time when the necessity for dis
in legislation was more
CLEARLY apparent. THE beneficiaries
Of special interests, intrenched in
power, openly dertde the American
people and brutally demand the
pound of flesh
Interests Would Flee.
If these balls pass the connection
of the servants OF the 'eOple with the
interests that now control us will be