Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-05
KEEPING OUT PERSONAL ELEMENT.

The senate has under consideration an amendment
to. the food control bill prohibiting government agents
and officials, including the members OF tho voluntary
commissions, from selling their own products to the gov
eminent.
The amendment is based on the woil-recognized
principle that 1t is, not good policy to permit q man who
acts. in q representative capacity to do business in that
capacity with himself as an Individual. Where men have
been permitted to act in this dual capacity, abuses with
out number have Followed. The directors Of q railroad,
Officially representing the great body OF stockholders, or
ganize themselves into a construction company and let to
that company important construction work at exorpirant
rates. The members Of a city council accept bids from
each other for the furnishing Of supplies for>the city, and
the taxpayers find themselves paying high prices for ev-
erything that the city uses. So 1t goes. Not always do
these abuses follow. but the practice places a ternpting
opportunity before those who wish to avail thennaelves OF
it, and the practice is generally, and usually quite prop
erly.' condemned.
Occasionally the following Of the prohibHory rule,
however, has it's own complications. In a small North
Dakota city some years ago an issue was made of the fact
that the law prohibiting the sale Of articles to the conn-
Gil by one Of it's members was being habitualy violated.
There was no denial Of the facts, which were conclusive.
Most Of the supplies needed by the CITY were purchased
from members Of its governing body. The law says spe-
officially that this shall not be done. But il happened that
the business of that little city was so organised that each
important line Of merchandise was represented either by
a single individual dealer or by a local corporation of
which most Of the business men were members. Prac-
ticallys every man in the community who was Of sufficient
prominence to be considered available for official posi-
ton was interested in one of these concerns. and in near
ly every case the concern In which he was interested was
the only one or its KIND In the town. 1t follOWe0, then,
that il the law were not to be violated persons of rela-
lively small experience and ability in business must be
chosen for all official positions, OF the city must send out
Of town for most Of it's goods. eza O.. d.
Just at the present time the federal government finds
itself in a somewhat similar condition. The men most
prominent in the business world, managers Of the largest
enterprises, have bsen invited and urged to accept posi-
tons on the various commissions and boards which have
been organized to bring to the aid Of the government the
Intelligence, the skill and the rpened experience OF the
time in order that the nation may be bettor fitted to act
in the present emergency. The response has been hearty
and enthusiastic. The men who have responded are IN
most cases the very men who. because Of the magnitude
of the interests which they represent, and their facilities
for producing or handling goods quickly and on a large
scale. would naturally be looked to for the enormous
quantities Of supplies which are needed.
Sentiment in favor of the proposed amendment is
said to DO general In the senate. In ordinary times and
under normal conditions the idea involved is probably
correct. But at this time. and under these conditions, It
would be unfortunate If the government were on the one
hand compelled to deprive itself Of the assistance and adj
vice Of the eminent men who have been called to its aid,
or, on the other, to deprive itself Of sources Of supply
moro advantageous than can be found elsewhere. 1t
seems that the government can protect itself perfectly
without suoh q prohibition by providing for the ratifica-
uon Of all contracts by actual and responsible officers Of
the government who. Of course. must not be interested in
them. II &9ssa zasa