Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-03
Press Warmly Discusses
Dry Fees for legislators

The Milwaukee Journal contends
that the principle is the same
whether the fees are from the Anti
Saloon League or an association or
steel makers, the National Association
of Manufacturers. or from power con-
Germs that want to get hold of Muscle
Shoals, for instance" The Sacra-
mento Union takes the more extreme
position that the Congressman who
accepts money for urging enforce
ment of law already enacted is a
cheat and a fraud; it is his sworn
duty to do everything within his
power to see that the laws are en-
forced. without extra compensation.
The Government of the United
States" according to the Yakima
Daily Republic, ought to pay its
Senators and Representatives salaries
large enough so that they can live
comfortably, and then it ought 10 re-
quire that they attend to it's bust
ness exclusively. That is the hest
way to get the business done" In
this connection the Cincinnati Times
Star asks: Suppose the United States
Steel Corporation recognized n Con
CHEESEMAN'S character and entered
into a 'comradeship' with him by
handing him a check for each speech.
Suppose the Standard Oil Co.'S moral
position on a public question was
such that Il Congressman oratorical
ability was hired by it. What would
be the public reaction" The Bangor
Commercial also argues, 1T must be
admitted that men who have received
payment from the Anti-Saloon
League for speeches made will hardly
be regarded as able to- approach the
matter of liquor legislation with an
entirely open mind"
x X X
On the other side of the question
the Greensboro Daily Record Oh
serves: Since the subjects of proni-
hition law enforcement, of modifica-
ton and repeal are now issues in
Congress. or at least pretexts for a
great deal of talk, we cannot see
wherein a Congressman is violating
even official ethics by making occa-
sional addresses on the same theme
| elsewhere than in the halls of Con-
gress, nor is he blamable for receiving
such remuneration as would reim-
burse him for the expense he incurs"
The Binghamton Press. taking n SINH
lar position. says: 1.-THE implication
is that money paid for speeches in
fuenced the votes of Congressman.
But to make that hold water 1t will
be necessary to produce Congress
man who opposed prohibition and
then Topped after getting a retainer
from the Anti-Saloon League. SO far.
the Congressman who have admitted
taking Anti-Saloon money for
speeches have been avowed support
ers of prohibition for years"
The Indianapolis News. quoting the
statement that wayne Wheeler says
that he hired members of Congress
to make dry talks" adds that ''of
course, the members were not COM
PEELED to vote as they talked" while
the Terre Haute Star remarks that
Mr.. Wheeler evidently is not n good
business man or he would know that
most Congressman would be delighted
to make speeches for the cause free
of charge"
Referring to Senator Reeds exami-
nation of the attorney for the Anti
Saloon League. the Chattanooga
News remarks that Reed himself ia
not averse to earning fees on the side
in addition to his senatorial salary
of $4,000 year" The Santa Bar.
bara News adds that the Senator IS
merely making political capital for
the wet cause; he knows as we'll as
any one that 1t is customary for
Congressman to receive pay for lee
lures on many subjects