New Britain herald., 1929-11-04

was contrary to senatorial ethics. I; is fair 10 assume, Mir. President. that the expression senatorial ethics relates to what is considered by sen atorial practice to be right or wrong. Every profession has it's ethics. There are what is known as newspaper ethics. There arc what is known as business ethics. There are what is known as the ethics of the medical profession. This action Of mine in placing MT Eyanson on the senatorial rolls is called contrary 10 senatorial cth- ics,' Again, Mr. President, 1 plead not guilty.
 Assigned Four Clerks
 Everyone in the senate knows that to each senator. no matter what his position, whether he be chair man of a committee or the newest arrival with few duties, there are assigned four clerkships. If he is the chairman Of committee they bear the title which relates to that committee. If he is not a chairman Of a committee then they bear title as being related directly to him. If he is chairman of very important committee with a large amount of work 10 be done. moro than four Clerkships are allotted to him. In any event, MT. President. every senator has an allowance of four personal clerkships.
 "IGVcry senator knows that these Clerkships are allotted to each ser- ator for such use as he choose to make Of them, it being taken for granted that he is the best judge Of such employment and that they are given him 10 enable him the better to serve his constituents: 10 take care of his correspondence, to attend to business of his office. In a word, to enable him the better to carry out his duties as a senator from the state which sent him here.
 senator Sole Judge
 "'1t may not be generally known every senator. that the senator him self is considered the sole judge as 10 the nature of the employment 10 which these clerks should be put. and the character of the persons appointed to those positions. They are not for the general use of the senate. They arc not appointed in the general public interest. There is no restriction on who should pc appointed or how he or she be en- ployed. That is the custom of the senate. That is the nature of sen atorial ethics so far as those posi- tions are concerned.
 According to senatorial ethics 50 senator is to be criticised if ha chooses 10 place members of his family in these clerical positions. He is not 10 be accused of nepoti"m if he appoints cousins. ncphcNs, nieccs or sons Or daughters in thoan positions He is not accused of do- ing something contrary to senator ial ethics if he uses one of these positions 10 pay salary to the wife Of his chief clerk, who herself does nothing directly for the government but indirectly scr"cs the senator and his constituents by. helping 10 keep her husband well and happy and enabling him 10 give better service to the senator and his con- stituents.
 According 10 the business ethics such employment might be regard ed with askancc but it should be remembered that according to scna- torial ethics those four clerical po- sitions have always been consider cd to be part of the prerequisites of a senator 10 bc used by him in whatever manner he deems 10 be best for the interest Of his consti- tuents.
 "Tf tho four clerks are inefficient, lazy indifferent. or absent from their post Of duty his constituents will suffer and he himself will bc an- sWerable 10 his constituents in the long run. So far as l have been able 10 learn, according to senator ial ethics, no official of the govern- mcnt. no official of the senate. no committee of the senate has ever held that a senator was answerahle as Q whom he appointed or as to how the clerk was used. In view Of