Evening star., 1924-04-20
GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION C.
NURTURED IN SECRECY
Gov. Silzer Declares Limelight of
Publicity Will Work
Cure.

own picking and were consid-
erably disturbed when the governor
nominated two Of the most eminent
engineers in New Jersey, one of them
being Maj Gen. Hugh Scott. former
chief of staff of the United States
Army. The Senate sent d committee
to see the governor to protest pri-
Vately against these appointments.
When the committee arrived the gov
ernor asked them to be seated and
then invited the newspaper CORE
spondents into the room. In front Of
the reporters he asked the commit
tee to state their objections, but the
senators did not care for that kind
of an audience and retired TO the
Senate, where the new commission
was promptly confirmed.
1--WE have got to get the govern
ment back to the people" says Gov.
Silzer, "and the only way that l
know that that can be done is by
keeping the people interested and in
formed in regard to what the elected
representatives are doing. Part of
the responsibility, of course, rests
with the voters themselves. They
elect a man to office and then pro
ceed to forget all about him until
the time comes around for another
election. However, l believe the
fault is more with our officials
than with the public. ! believe that
Americans as a whole are very much
interested in government affairs and
will eagerly welcome any effort that
is made to keep them informed. The
great success of such organizations
as the Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions
clubs, where speakers on public af-
fairs are always sure of a hearty
reception, is a very good indication
of that"
End Committee Rule.
l asked Coy. Silzer if he could make
a specific recommendation as TO how
the publicity in government which h.
advocated might he brought about
"Well,'' he said, "one of the first
and biggest things to be done is to
call halt to the ever-growing praC-
tice of government by committees.
Any one who knows anything about
politics knows that the proceedings
on the floor of a legislative assembly
are of little Importance compared
with what goes on behind the closed
doors of the committee rooms. That
is true in Washington and also in
every state Legislature in the country
1t is a system which has steadily de-
| veloped to a point where open ses-
sions Of Congress or of a state legis-
lature are more often than not mere
forms. The peoples representatives
get up and make speeches for the
sole purpose of their effect on their
constituents, knowing that action on
whatever subject they are discussing
has already been decided and that
nothing they say will have any effect
one way or the other.
There are too many locke doors in
the legislative halls of America.
! These doors must he broken down
so that the public may know what
| the men who sit behind them are
! doing and saying. When the repre-
| seutatiYes of n republic consider it
necessary to conceal the motives of
their actions they lay themselves
!
who wishes to do something that he
knows to be honest and above board
has no fear of publicity. When he
! is afraid to take the public into his
! confidence it is a fair presumption
that his motives and actions will not
bear scrutiny by honest men.
'An excellent example of what
mean occurred here in New jersey in
| connection with the bill for the elm
ination of night work for women.
Year after year bills to this effect had
been introduced in the Legislature and
smothered in committees. When we
took the fight out into the open the
men who were opposing these bills
were glad to run to cover and their
passage was assured
Coal Needs Light.
One national problem which Gov.
Silzer believes is very much in need
of publicity at the present time is the