Evening star., 1949-08-17
Lobbying Laws Clause
Held Needed 10 Cover
Executive Branch
Registration Required
Only for Those Seeking
Action by Congress
Bv David Laurence

freezers" and the five per cent"
disclosures really point up to is
the need for an amendment to
present lobbying laws so as to
cover the executive branch of the
Government.
At present lobbyists must reg
lister, but the law refers only to
those who seek to secure the pas
sage or defeat of legislation in
Congress. Much legislation origi-
mates in the executive depart
ments and the White House.
The executive agencies Of the
Government spend now about
$45, ,000, ,000, 900 a year-the Largest
amount in peacetime history and,
in fact. larger than in any year
Of World War I.
Spending these vast amounts
involves considerable discretion on
the part of the officials in the
executive agencies, and they
ought to be protected against the
Vaccinations of those persons
who clandestinely and improperly
seek to influence their action.
Room for Activities.
There is room for legitimate &C
tivities by representatives in
Washington who specialize in I'm
raveling the red tape of Govern
ment for persons engaged in bust
ness transactions, but there is
every reason why these persons
should register.
President Truman should be
among the first to advocate such
legislation because he has been
rather vocal in recent months
about the need for putting teeth
into the lobbying laws. The House
Of Representatives has just voted
to investigate lobbying activities
but only as they relate to Capt.
tol Hill. The new committee
could be empowered to go into
all forms of lobbying. especially
as they affect the White House
and the Government departments
Lots of people are constantly
trying, directly or indirectly, to
influence action at the White
House. Some people in the past
have used the name of the
white House" in calling persons
outside of Washington. Some
times the phone rings and a voice
says: This is the White House
calling" After that, when the
voice is identified, it is often as
sumed that whoever speaks is do
ing so with White House author
ity.
Has Right to Speak.
General Vaughan presumably
has the right to speak for the
White House. If the words mill
tary aide" had been dropped from
his title and he had acted simply
as one of the many civilian as
sistants at the White House, it is
doubtful whether much fuss
would have been stirred up about
his activities. AS one of the
Presidents assistants, he has had
the right to telephone to or con-
fer with anybody about anything
happening in the Government.
The impropriety, If any, on
General Vaughan's part was in
going beyond the functions of a
military aide, though again and
again in the past military aides
have acted virtually as super
secretaries.
The acceptance of gifts in itself
cannot be held to be improper
unless in some way the gift can
be proved to have been related to
some governmental action taken
II, indeed. it can be proved that
1t was a bribe, then the laws al
ready on the statute books can
take care of such cases.
When the lobbyist is given ar
audience and permitted tt
present his case in a government
office. there is no improperly ir
listening to such lobbyists. The
necessity, however. for full dis.
closure and registration is JUS
as great in the executive end o1
the government as in Congress
At present lobbyists in ane
around Congress must not only
register monthly the moneys re.
ceived but must reveal all ex.
penses they incur in the course
of their lobbying.
Goes on Year Round.
Lobbying In Washington goes
on extensively during sessions o1
Congress, but it is relatively in.
consequential in amount com.
pared to the lobbying done In
and around the executive agen-
cies of the government all the
year round. If one is covered
the other ought to be also.
Strictly speaking, there is less
reason for pursuing the lobbyists
than for protecting the public
interest against improper use OF
money or influence.
The deep freeze" incident
could in itself be inconsequential
If, however. it is indicative of the
use of large gifts of money or
things to influence the action OF
officials in the executive branch
of the government, it is of vital
concern to the American people
Only a thorough inquiry into
lobbying at the executive end o1
the government now can reveal
the truth. The House of Rep
resentatives has an, excellent op.
portunity to broaden it's inquiry
and enact remedial legislation.
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