Evening star., 1949-02-15
AFL Mistake Is Seen
In Suggesting Unions
Pay State Legislators
Bold Move Appears
To Be Indirect Way to
Call Attention to Abuse
By David Laurence

by DaDtd Laurence
On its face, 1t looks as If the
AFL made mistake in suggest
ing that members Of State legisla-
lures should have their salaries
augmented out of labor-union
treasures, but 1t is far more
plausible to assume that this was
but an indirect way to call at
tention to an abuse.
Most people do not realize that
State legislators get small sums
for their services-sometimes as
little as $500 year. Only indi-
viduals who have other sources
Of income-usually from busi-
ness or profession-can afford tc
to become candidates for the
State legislatures.
While figures and data are not
available, 1t would not be sur
prising to discover that many OF
the State legislators are lawyers
who receive fees from manu-
facturers and other business en-
terprises for regular services out
side the legislature. There could
be, In such instances, no direct
connection and every legislator
would have to decide within his
own conscience whether the
money he got from business en-
terprise, or from clients If he were
q lawyer, did or did not influence
his vote.
Suggestion Called Bold.
The labor unions also have
had members in legislative bodies
who previously received fees for
defending labor unions in their
lawsuits. Indeed. there probably
are members of Congress who
before entering upon their work
here engaged in law practice in
behalf of labor unions. just as
there are members who have rep
resented employers in their liti-
cation.
The suggestion. however, that
the State federations Of labor
should openly augment the SAL
aries Of legislators is a bold one.
1t will be criticized-as indeed
Senator Donnell of Missouri al
ready has criticized the proposal
as a form of indirect bribery. 1t
could encourage other pressure
groups to use the precedent as an
excuse to make direct payments
to legislators in the several
States.
The low pay given to State
legislators in certain instances
has been the cause of some scan
dals. Various interests. eager to
see some measure voted on after
q prolonged session. have been
known to pay hotel bills to make
sure that members would stay on
at a State capitol. In other in
stances, the same sort Of interests
might wait till the latter part
Of session when legislators, un-
able to meet the expense of a
prolonged session. would go away,
thus involuntarily leaving the
field free to other interests.
Would Accentuate Abuse.
The AFL undoubtedly has been
studying these situations and has
come UP with its own plan of
augmenting salaries as q practi-
cable way to offset advantages
which employer interests may
have. The trouble with this, how
ever. is that it merely would ac-
centuate an abuse that should be
corrected.
With all the money being spent
by State governments nowadays,
1t seems strange that there isn't
a substantial fund to pay for the
services and expenses of members
Of the State legislatures. Certainly
If the position were to pay at least
$4,000 for a legislative session, with
an allowance for room and board
during that time, there would be
an entirely different sort of can
didate seeking the office.
More women would go into the
contests for State legislature. and
this In itself would be one way to
assure higher standard of ethics.
For the entrance of women into
public office has, with rare ex-
ceptions. raised the standard.
Affected BY Taxes.
There is a different problem
with respect to all legislators now
adays. Hardly a subject comes be-
fore Congress. for instance. that
doesn't touch the pocketbook of
the member in some way. Where
the effect is general. there can be
no valid objection. The citizen
and the legislator are equally af-
fected by taxes.
Where. however, the question of
ethics arises is in those instances
in which a legislator with an own
ership of stock or a partnership
in a particular type of business
does not disqualify himself from
voting on legislation directly re-
lated TO that business or profess
sion.
Again and again members par
tcipats In the work OF commit
ices In Congress. Tor instance.
while receiving fees either from
law firms back home or from lee
salres or speeches before organiza-
Hons which are active in pressing
Tor certain kinds of legislation.
The problem of adequate pay for
Federal legislators has been solved
but the State legislatures are In
need OF reform.
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