Evening star., 1934-01-28
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.


opinion Of many q high Washington
officials a brand-new code Of polit-
ical morals
Bankers now are adjusting them
selves to a new code Of financial morals,
legislated for them. Business men are
getting q new set Of business morals,
imposed through the N. r. A. codes of
fair competition. But politicians, until
now, seem not to have thought seri-
ously about q new code for themselves.
President Roosevelt would change all
Of that. He has given Endorsement to
the plans OF Senators Borah. Vanden-
berg and Byrnes for political reform
legislation.
However, the difficulties of legislat-
ing moral uplift are we'll recognized in
the White House. So the President is
educating politicians in the require
ments Of a code of political morals.
1t is vital to him that this education
be thorough and effective. The rea-
son is that under a permanent new
deal politicians would hold sway over
much of the economic as well as the
political life Of the country. They
would hold vastly more power over the
affairs Of private citizens than In the
past.
Just a glance at the figures reveals
politicians.
The recovery program. aside from
processing taxes, is to cost $12 900, ,000.-
900. Eight billion of that is to be
poured out between now and July II
the program is fulfilled. Nine million
persons, farmers, civil workers, public
works employees, Civilian Conservation
Corps workers and regular Government
employees are to get checks. Another
100000 persons will be indirectly
affected by relief expenditures.
It is q colossal outgo. But 1t Is
temporary and is to be followed by a
permanent plan Of expenditures ac-
much smaller scale.
Still. the temptations offered by the
contracts and the checks and the bene-
f1t payments have been more than some
persons could stand. As result Wash
ington is having its first scandals. But
they are scandals forced out into the
open by the President and not scam
Gals that have been permitted to tester.
They represent part of the education
that Mr.. Roosevelt is giving local and
national politicians. Out of this edu-
cation may come progress toward a
new code Of political morals.
There was the case of the Democratic
national committeeman who set up
Offices in Washington and represented
clients before Government depart
ments. They merely followed a prac-
Roosevelt. when questioned, expressed
his disapproval.
As consequence there were reSig-
nations and now bills are being pressed
in Congress, with the Presidents in
dorsement. to make 1t unlawful for
party officials to represent private
clients before Government departments.
Congressmen likewise would be pre-
vented from influencing action on con-
tracts, claims or awards.
Quite q wave Of morality swept over
the politicians. But that was just one
phase of the whole situation.
Harold L. Ickes, Secretary Of the In
terror, and public works administrator,
dealt with another phase, and Harry
Hopkins, administrator Of Federal
Administration, dealt with third.
Mr.. Ickes has allotted $1,000, ,000, 900
of public works money and he thinks
the allotments have been fairly made.
But no one was subjected to more pres
sure from politicians and from persons
of supposed influence than the P. w.
A. administrator, because these awards
meant contracts and contracts meant
profits.
Finally he issued blast against law
yers and ordered certain individuals to
stay away from his building. He is
credited now with having formula Tor
graft prevention that Is to be applieo
to G. w. A. as well as to P. w. A. His
- ~ %,yp$
ton to politicians in political morality.
4
But it was even a harder task that
confronted Mr.. Hopkins, who was given
the job Of spending $850.00o. 900 In a
period Of five months.
Dependence had to be placed on
local officials because 1000, 900 jobs were
being created within 80 days. Wages
then flowed out at the rate Of $780,
0oU, 900 q week.
Most Of the millions given work were
afforded their first opportunity to earn
money that they had enjoyed In years.
Mr.. Hopkins hoped that nobody would
think Of grating or cheating at the
expense Of these unemployed.
However, his hope was not realized.
Almost from the first, local politicians
began to use the e; W. a; jobs to take
sands of letters flowed to Washington
telling Of the attempt by politicians to
build political machines with the jobs
that Washington was Offering to the un-
employed.
business men were found in many
cases to have taken advantage Of the
hurried set-up and the immediate need
for materials to overcharge or to charge
for goods that were not always de-
livered. From all parts Of the country
there began to come reports Of cheat
ing and Of political manipulation.
charges were frequent that jobs had
been sold.
Mr.. Hopkins summarily dismissed