Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-03

While there are some defenders or
the Anti-SalOon League practice OF
paving congressman for dry lectures
and speeches. much of the editorial
comment is emphatically disapproV-
ing. Discussion, which followed dis
closures in a Senate investigation with
Senator Reed of Missouri cross-ex-
amining Wayne r. Wheeler. has been
stimulated by the Introduction OF a
bill by Representative Tlnkham TO
prohibit payments to members OF
Congress for speeches on matters in
yolved in pending legislation.
whether Congress has the power
to prohibit it's members from accept
| ing from private organizations pay
ment for speeches or articles IN sup
port of or opposing proposed leglsia-
| ton may be an open question: IN the
opinion of the Chicago Daily News.
| but from the point OF view OF
morality, decency and common sense
there can be no doubt as to the pro-
priety of the bill to prohibit such
PAYMENTS. The Tinkham bill, con-
tinues the Daily News, lis based on
the reasonable theory that the accept
ance by q laWmaker OF fees from prl-
vate organizations for services con-
nected with bills or resolutions pend
the lawmakers independence and his
exercise of honest Judgment.
The Buffalo Evening News agrees
that ait is bad business to permit
members of Congress to appear as paid
advocates for any special interest
whether it be the Anti-Saloon League
or the sugar trust" The Racine
| Journal-News adds the comment:
Congress has passed corrupt prac-
tees acts, but ignores practices
that border on the line. Most as
suredly it is an offense again good
morals if members of Congress accept
payment in any form for addresses
or work in behalf of pending leglsia-
ton or that which may be pending
| in the near future"
1.-The paid politician" declares the
San Francisco Bulletin. lis honorable
only when his political services are
paid for openly and above board by
| the people If he cannot live and bring
| up a family on his congressional
salary he should feel free to engage
| in outside work, but it should be out
side work and not inside work PAD
| for by outsiders. If the purpose,
amount and source of his side money
are to be discovered only by means OF
| a congressional or similar invesusa-
ton. then he is holding out on his
electorate and deceiving it," The
Topeka Daily Capital believes that
| so far as members of Congress are
concerned. the excuse or explanation
of low salary and increased living
costs is largely disposed of. since they
raised their own pay in the last Con-
gress Public opinion will be general
| ly against their remuneration by spe-
cial interests" adds the Capital, re-
CARELESS of what these interests may
be. where they are in any degree
controversial"
ITO say that the disclosure is I'M
pleasant" says the Syracuse Herald,
lis an exceedingly polite characterize
| ton of the reality. The service Tor
which our Congressman are paid
$40 900 per annum is the making OF
law. If it were shown that one OF
them was in the employ of a private
corporation whose interests We're de-
pendent on Federal legislation. the
-evelation would insure his expulsion
from office in disgrace. Yet the Anti
Saloon League is no more or less
han a private corporation or organi-
sation, which ADMITS no public right
to control its activities. and whose
chief business is to influence both
national and State legislation"