The New York herald., 1922-08-10

In the Senate last Thursday the
subjoined resolution was offered by
the Hon. PAT HARRISON of Missis-
sippi, who asked unanimous consent
for it's immediate consideration.
Whereas paragraph 81 of section
IL of Jefferson's Manual provides:
"'Where the private interests of
Member are concerned in a bill or
question he is to withdraw, And
when such an interest has appeared
his voice has been disalowed.'
Resolved. That it is the sense Of
the Senate that the principle enun-
ciated in the rule is proper and wise
Resolved further. That 1t is the
sense of the Senate that Senator'S.
not only in the consideration of the
pending bill Oh. r. 7456) but on all J
other questions that may arise in the
Senate. should adhere to the rule"
The single objection fatal to i'm
mediate consideration was promptly
and blithely interposed by Senator
McCUMBER. The resolution went
over under the rule. second at
tempt to obtain immediate considera-
tion was blocked by the prompt and
grave objection OF Senator SMooT.
How soon. II ever. profiteering states
men will have the opportunity to go
on record as to their approval or dis
approval of the Jeffersonian PROPOSE
tjon that legislation procured by the
votes of members with private and
pecuniary interests at stake is i'm
proper legislation THE New YORK
HERALD is unable at the moment
to say.
Wool or sugar, potash, potatoes or
what not, the principle is the same.
No legislator with direct business
interest in a pending question, and
who by his vote can vote money out
OF other peoples pockets into his
own, should be allowed to exercise
that vote
The principle of disqualifying per-
sonal interest, as obvious in its ethi
cal soundness as is the axiom of the
common law that no man should be
a Judge in his own cause, is even
older than the Manual which THOMAS
JEFFERSON prepared for the guidance
of procedure in the Senate, over
which he presided as vice-President.
The House Rule 20. in the form
adopted in the revision of the Forty
sixth Congress, dated from the first
session OF the First Congress in 1879.
1t provided that mo Member shall
vote on any question in the event Of
which he is Immediately and partic
ularly Interested" This restriction
on profiteering statesmanship is CO.
eval with the very beginning Of our
parliamentary history.
In it's enunciation in Jefferson's
Manual, in the form which Senator
HARRISON resolution challenges cer-
tain of his colleagues to reafflrm or
reject, we have the principle OF dis
qualifying private interest stated in
a code recognized over and over
again as governing procedure not
only in the Senate but also in the
House OF Representatives. in all
cases in which the Manuals rules
are applicable and in which they are
not inconsistent with the standing
rules or orders OF the body concerned.
In order, therefore, to break the
binding force of JEFFERsoN's rule ex-
lcluding profteering votes 1t would
be necessary to adopt a standing rule
Tor order declaring that where the
tprivate interests and pecuniary prof
fits OF Member are concerned in a
tariff rate il is right for him TO go
ahead on the line OF personal interest
and vote the cash out of somebody
clse's pocket into his own.
On Monday two Republican SEN
ators. SMoor OF Utah and PHIpPs OF
colorado, admitted their private and
pecuniary interests in the sugar bust
ness; and at the same time denying
with emphasis that their legislative
course with regard to the proposed
increase in the duties on sugar was
thereby Influenced.
On Tuesday, by narrow majority
OF two votes, the Senate adopted the
+ amendment so increasing the duty
on sugar that people not financially
interested In its production and sale
viii have to pay a cent a pound more
than at present; and the roll call
4 shows that the majorty Of two for
the amendment was IMPLIED by the