Evening star., 1924-02-10
BY C. COULD LINCOLN.

</I/ ISSING goes by favor" and So it
appears, do oil leases. And flavor"
N smacks of special interests" and
special interests" is term inter-
changeable with invisible government" of
which the American people have been told so
often tales in which they have believed so
little.
But the edge of the mantle of "invisible
government" has just been lifted by the Sem
ate public lands committee in the Teapot Dome
oil lease inquiry The country stands aghast.
What's going to be done about it? Will a
third political party arise in the belief that
the people have lost faith in the two old major
parties? And. If a third party does arise, what
assurance is there that it, too. will not fall
a victim to the invisible government? For
the interests which constitute invisible gov
ernment" are Of no party. They contribute to
all paries and operate through the representa-
tives of all parties. it is charged.
1t is contended in many charters. however.
that third party-an anti-oil party. hgura-
lively speaking-would have today far more
of following among the people since the Tea
pot Dome expose with all it's ramifcations.
new party pledged against favoritism of spe-
cial interests, headed perhaps by Borah or
La Toilette.
X x x
Would Bar Wny Big Jobs.
There others who would seek by legis-
lation to prevent, at least in part, such con-
dtions have been charged and revealed in
tho now famous Teapot Dome investigation.
Let there be q law, they say prohibiting gov
ernment officials, particularly cabinet officers,
from rushing from their federal offices into the
employ of big interests in their dealings with
the United States government. The law might
be made wide enough to apply also to MEM
bers of Congress for a limited period after
their retirement, and certainly during their
period of Office.
There is a law on the statute books now,
enacted in 1872, which goes this phase of
the matter in part Section 100 of the Revised
Statutes it is called. This law specifies that
"it shall not be lawful for any person appoint
ed after the first day of June, 1872 as an off,
Ger, clerk or employe in any of the depart
ments to act as counsel, attorney or agent for
prosecuting any claim against the United
States which was pending in either of said de-
partments while he was such officer, clerk or
employe, nor in any manner, nor by any means,
to aid in the prosecution of any such claim,
within two years next after he shall have
ceased to be such officer, clerk or employe"
x X X X
Senator jones' Bill Broad.
Senator Jones of Washington, republican,
has just introduced bill, which is now be-
fore the judiciary committee, designed to pre-
vent the employment of any cabinet
officers upon their retirement from Office by
oil companies any other interests which
may have claims other business with the
United States government. He has made the
bill broad enough in it's terms to cover mem
bers of Congress, judges of federal courts,
officers of the Army and Navy also. 1t pro-
vides, in effect, that person who has been
''in the service of the United States in any
capacity" shall accept employment within five
years from his separation from the govern
ment service from any person, partnership.
association or corporation having a claim
against or dealings with the government.