Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-19
RULES on STEALING


and when we can't"
Gov Kelly is not inclined to
comply. and il is doubtful that
/ nc will open the subject for legis
Ilative action during the special
session IN February.
The governor feels that IL a
-AapHakef- is willing 10 -bffhed,
no statute is going 70 have any
effect And. anyway there are
sufficient laws on the subject Of
lhievery already, applying both TO
the high places and the low
An interesting and educational
essay on the subject was submit
ted to Kelly. Saturday by State
Treasurer d. Hale Brake, for
merly a very active lobbyist, who,
/ ironically was appointed by the
governor 10 conduct a one-man
investigation.
BANKERS LOBBYIST
Brake was a member of the
Senate for a number OF years.
and dpsing his last two terms he
was tha hard-slugging lobbyist for
the Michigan Bankers ASsOcia-
ton. which hoped to enact law
TO prevent the spread of branch
\ banking. II is this bill which
prompted the present grand jury
investigation of legislative hon
esty. and Kelly felt that Brake
would he A wonderful source Of
I information.
For the state treasurer while
/ sponsoring this bill as "A member
of the Senate. made no secret of
his hopes of being made general
counsel of the bankers associa-
-tion. At a handsome salary. If II
became a law. The veto Of for
mcr Gov. Van Wagner was a
disastrous blow 10 him.
In an interview with newspaper
reporters. the unhumorouS, wrin-
kle-br0wcd state treasurer de-
clared that all lobbyists should
be licensed and that members of
the Legislature should he pro-
hiblted from representing any
private interest, even though they
are attorneys with a license to
accept fees"
But in his written report 10
tn governor today, Brake hedged
and said that lobbyists arc an
asset and that the forthcoming
special session should withhold all
action until the grand Jury lines
up those members who have been
caught stealing.
SILENT on FEES
Brake said nothing about his
plan 10 stop lawyer-members. like
he used TO be. from accepting
fees from clients who have bills
pending
THE honest lobbyist II use
ful 10 the Legislature and 10
the public" State Treasurer
Brake wrote 10 Kelly. 1.-THE
Legislature needs the facts and
figures he can give. To try to
prohibit lobbying would hurt,
not help"
Brake riChtfully pointed out
that the most active and most
powerful lobbies in recent years
have represented the public in.
tercSt The school lobby, he said.
has been the most persistent, and
the county road lobby has not
been far behind. each OF them
reaching for unprecedented mil
lions from the public treasury.
HELP FOR FRIENDS
"Ofering n legislator 20 miles
Of road construction or LIQUOR
licenses for his friends can he
rs effective In DETECTING him
from his better judgment as an
outright offer of money" Brake
wrote, wisely and truthfully.
'In recent years the execu-
tive office itself has used meth
DDS not contemplated nv the
constitution" he wrote. appar-
emily pointing finger at the
governor himself.
Brake concluded with the oh.
Servatlon that. while the ma
l,rity Of legislators are honest
and ethical. there are some who
are neither.
He said n would not hurt pro-
cedure If lobbyists are registered
with the secretary Of state. but
that nothing can be accomplished
by attempting 10 prohibit them
from buying votes.
There are already laws prohib-
ting this practice. he pointed ont.
and another would not add any
thing 10 the statutes.
CAN POCKET A FEE
The truth is that non-lawyer
members Of the House and Senate
always have been enviouS of their
associates who are members oil
the bar A bar degree. in many
instances. has been license tol
pocket money and keep out oil
jail. inaSmuch as such payment
can be called a fee"
But without a law degree. Al
member who takes a buck or two
can be prosecuted under the stat
utes prohibiting bribery.
Brake, wisely. avoided this fine
line OF demarcation in his report
TO Gov Kelly
As IS usual IN this biennial con-
troVcrSy over lobbyists. nothing
will happen aside from explo-
SionS from Tho grand jury, due TOT
start after Jan. 1.