Evening star., 1933-07-09

N LIE TeCeIlCly dpPOlIlIcQ licdo
wv of the Tennessee Valley Au-
thority, turned over to the
Secretary of State, a few
days ago. list Of all personal property
owned by himself and immediate family
to serve as a matter of public record
during his tenure in office. editorial
writer's pointed to this innovation in
public life and emphasized the tradi-
tional prestige of the United States as
the land of novelty. broken records and
political preceoents.
In letter accompanying the list, DR..
Morgan declared that, in view of the
responsibility which his new office
placed upon him for certain public
money and public property. he wished
the Secretary of State and the Attor-
ney General to keep record Of ''all
real and personal property and other
assets" owned by him. his wife and
children, as of June !. 1888, adding
that it was his intention to file COM
parable statement at the REIMBURSEMENT
of his Office
This time. however. the innovation
was not an original one. Students Of
Latin American affairs will remember
that the action CT the American official
was preceded. over two years ago, by
the unexpected announcement of the
! then cited Chief Executive Of Guate-
mala. and by the famous Guatemalan
law of prcoity which followed it.
Upon learning the news of his cleo
ton to the presidency Of Guatemala.
Gen Jorge Cbico stated Il shall make
a scrupulously careful inventory of my
possessions. SO that every one may know
exactly what I have before becoming
President and may make due compari-
son when I leave that Office"
Detailed Account Given.
Soon afterward. the Guatemalan
Chief Executive startled the statesmen
and foreign diplomats assembled in
Congress to hear his inaugural message
by including in his remarks a detailed
account of all his worldly possessions.
Furthermore, President Ubico invited
his collaborators in the administration
to follow his example, and result
OF this suggestion was the celebrated
law of probity.' which the Guatemalan
Congress enacted in April, 1881.
Article one of the law makes It man.
datory for ell employees of the Guate-
nlalan government receiving in excess
OF 5000 monthly, or handling public
funds to make an affidavit setting forth
their personal possessions at the time
they take office. Real estate. securi-
ties. industrial interests and bank &C
counts of any applicant for public Of
fee must be declared before he can
be given a post. A detailed record
of all personal property owned by gov
ernment employees is thus kept by an
cfflcer of the national treasury.
The law further provides that in
addition to an inventory of all personal
assets. debts must be specified. as well
as the possessions OF the wife and
children of the employe and all prop
ertv held as trustee. guardian. etc.
Article three specifies that within Is
days Of the acquisition of property in
excess of $4,000 by an enpioye already
in Office. full particulars must be re-
corded in an affidavit filed with the
government auditor. The traditional
'nouveaux riches" Of the administra-
ton. the grafters and the treasure
hunters of politics are thus eliminated
Another article OF the law provides
that neither the individuals affected by
1t, their relatives nor intimate friends.
may contract with the State Tor work
or supplies when the provisions of the
contract are to be enforced by the inoi-
viduals in question. Still another one
declares that if person is the owner
oi, or stocAholoer in. a mercantile or
Industrial enterprise which may pro-
ouce goods Tor government consump-
tion. he must take cath at the time
of entering the government service
that the enterprise will have no rela-
ton with the government during the
term Of his employment.
Influence Sale Difficult.
These last two provisions make
particularly difficult the sale of govern
mental influences" in Guatemala. The
more so, when one considers that they
are not confined to the lcw-salaried en-
ployes but include also the highest
officials OF the administration. those
elected by popular vote or by the
National Assembly. They. too. must file
their statement Of possessions within
ID days after their Inauguration in