Evening star., 1933-07-09
DIR. Morgan Revives Podesta System
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Dr. Arthur E. Morgan, appointed by
President Roosevelt as chairman Of the
Tennessee Valley Authority, the execu-
tive body which las in charge the de-
yelopment Of the great Muscle Shoals
project and the allied enterprises OF the
Tennessee Valley, has taken a passage
from ancient history to govern his
tenure. DR.. Morgan has just filed with
the Secretary of State complete sched-
ule of all property owned by either him.
self or members of his family. His pur-
pose is to give the Federal authorities
and the public an opportunity to check
on the condition of his estate before and
after holding public office.
DR.. Morgan wrote to Secretary OF
State Hull a letter accompanying his
schedule, reading as follows:
President Roosevelt has appointed
me to be chairman Of the board Of d.
rectors of the Tennessee Valley Au-
thority. In this position I shall have
responsibility for certain public money
and public property.
LAS a matter of public policy I am
sending you herewith for your records
statement Of all real and personal
property and other assets owned by me
and my wife and children, as of June [,
1888. I suggest that this be filed with
my oath of office. A copy Is being sent
to the Attorney General.
1T is my intention to file q COM
parable statement when relinqutsh the
above mentioned ofice"
DR.. Morgan, quite obviously, Is de-
termined that no future Teapot Dome
investigating committee will be left in
the dark concerning his personal affairs.
With SO many congressional inquiries in
the past few years having uncovered
stories Of sudden affluence enjoyed by
persons who have held positions of
trust under the Federal Government,
the Ohio savant is taking no chances
It does not seem likely however, that
he could have taken this course with
out being conscious of reviving the sys-
tenn which was followed in Rome in the
thirteenth century. After long history
Of profligacy and extravaganza, it ap-
pears that the Romans, and also the
citizens Of other cities which had been
part of the old Roman Empire or still
we're loosely attached to what remained
Of it, determined that the only way in
which they could be certain of disin-
ice would be to bring in stranger who,
during his term of office. would be di-
vested of all property interest.
How the Romans Managed.
They chose a citizen Of some foreign
place He would be some person whose
fame had reached Rome because Of his
high standing at home, but he must be
a man who had never been there and
had no Roman interests He must be
, man of good birth and Of Spotless
personal reputation. A combination of
soldier and statesman was desired
where those attributes were obtainable.
The historian Muratori, in his dis
sertations. describes the meticulous
care with which the bargain was struck.
I The podesta, az this foreign ruler was
called. was required to file full infor-
nation concerning himself. just as DR..
Morgan has voluntarily done. Oaths
were sworn by him and also by the
employing city which undertook to give
him full obedience and fealty.
A fixed stipend was determined upon,
| This could be neither increased nor
diminished during his term of office
There is a suggested survival of this
provision of the clause of our own Con-
stitution which declares that the COM
pensation of the President shall be
neither increased nor diminished dur
ing his term of Office. The same ap-
plies to Federal judges, and the pur-