The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-09-06
By CAROLINE BRAMMER

by CAkOLlNE BRAN MER
There is a fast growing sentimen
in this country that the electorate Il
entitled to know what the left hands
of the elected are up to. Thoughtful
people, knowing that we have no long
er any margin for error, are contem
plating how measures may be takeI
to keep their elected Representatives
in government honest. The dictator
sent congress is a worldwide scanda
and it has brought this country to the
very brink of disaster.
One way which has been proposed
is to enact legislation to pay senators
and congressman salaries compatible
with their positions and responsible
lities and also with the high cost OF
living in Washington but to require
congress and officials in policy-mak
ing positions from the president down
to report publicly on any outside In
come they are receiving.
1t is not Illegal for a member of gov
eminent to have private income, but
it is matter of vital importance to
the people to have way of checking
on whether a congressman or senator
is voting the best interests of his con-
stituents or his own pocket. 1t is also
a matter of the gravest Importance
for the people to know whether the
policy-making officials are looking
toward the health and security of the
nation or are considering how to mani
vantage This reform should be con-
sistent throughout all government,
federal, state, county and city.
Specializing Senators
Drew Pearson has charged that the
late Senator Bankhead of Alabama
and Senator Elmer Thomas of Okla
homa were specializing in cotton at the
same time their activities in congress
were affecting the price of cotton.
Nathan Robertson of The News
paper PM calls for thorough investi-
cation of this matter by committee
composed of senators whose reputa-
ton for honesty is beyond question.
Mr.. Robertson points to several other
instances
Senator Willard Tydings admission
that he receives fees from his Balti-
more law firm that represents some of
the interests for which he has fought
in congress-"
1.-THE open fight in congress two
years ago for legislation to exempt in
surance companies from the anti
trust laws by members of congress
who had connections with the insur-
ance business through their law firms
or even more directly"
"The leading part played by Sena-
tor George Radcliffe of Maryland is
fighting the Full Employment Bill
which was bitterly opposed by the in
surance industry in which he holds
job"
Mr. Robertson concludes: "The true
story of what is going on in congress
today can never be known without a
full, vigorous and complete investiga-
ton of congressional income outside
of salaries paid by the government.
The people of this country should de-
mand such an investigation"
People Should Know
1t goes without saying that there
will be an outcry such as this country
has never heard if the people should
demand such an investigation. Every
of government who has any
thing to hide would be fully supported
in opposition to such step by the
power and the money and the press
Of those in whose interests he is en-
/ don't mean the people |
In whose interests he is supposed to |
be employed. But every member of |
government who is honest should well |
come such an investigation and the d. |
vision of sentiment on the question |
would in itself be most revealing to |
he public.
Such an investigation undoubtedly |
would be pictured as the inspiration
If Moscow. Private Enterprise" and |
The American Way" would hurry to
Ion their most sacrosanct trappings
md seek the wailing wall. But if the
people believe that to survive in this
lew era necessitates, at the very mini
mum, honest government working for
he good of all the people, they will
urn a deaf ear to the phony charade
They've seen this performance too
,ften to have much interest in it,
Outside Income Should Be
Published
People concentrating ON survival