The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-04-06

Every Minister of the Gospel can
find material for Sermon in the
remarks of Senator Fulbright and
every decent American citizen can
indulge in some wishful thinking.
page 1898 of The Congressional
Record, Senator Fulbright speak
ing:) = WILLIAM j. PRIEST,
Livingston.
Mr.. President, when the Subcom-
mittee on the Reconstruction Fl
nance Corporation undertook its study
more than a year ago, l anticipated
the development of little more than
the usual issues which grow out of an
investigation of the executive branch
of the Government. | expected Just
another cost study of an agency, with
finding of facts to be made and an
orthodox legislative remedy recon-
mended.
Before we had proceeded very far
however, it became evident that we
were dealing not simply with a legal
or legislative problem but with
moral problem. The first case to
which my attention was called was
one involving the employment, by a
borrower, of an RFC employee who
had recommended the granting of the
loan. The Board of Directors of the
RFC thought this practice quite prop
en- thought it improper. So from the
beginning we were confronted with
a difference in ethical standards.
1t presents a very difficult problem.
1t is difficult because the evils to
be dealt with are so seldom amenable
to the processes of law. When con-
fronted with an evil, we Americans
are prone to say, "There ought to be |
a law" But the law does not and |
cannot apply effectively over wide
fields of mems activities. 1t cannot |
each those evils which are subtle
md impalable. Generally speaking, it
caches only the overt and the blatant
lcts of the wicked.
Much of the evil of the world is
,eyond the reach of the law. The law
annot prevent gossip. 1t cannot pre-
-ent men from bearing false witness
gainst their neighbors 1t cannot re-
train men from avarice and gluttony.
t cannot restrain man from betray-
ng his friends. In short, it cannot
,revent much of the evil to which
nen are, unfortunately. too prone.
he law being inadequate, men long
go supplemented the law courts with
ourts of equity, where the spirit of
he law, rather than its letter, is para
Mount Underlying the law are the
odes of ethics promulgated by the
reat religions and recognized by all
ivilized men as being essential to a {
umane and enlightened existence.
AS our study of the RFC progress !
ed, we were confronted more and |
lore with problems of ethical con- {
uct. What should be done about
len who do not directly and blat- a
ntly sell the favors of their offices a
Or money and so place themselves e
thin the penalties of the law? How t
D we deal with those who, under $
le guise of friendship, accept favors '
hich offend the spirit of the law "
1T do not violate its letter? Q
What of the men outside Govern |
ent who suborn those inside it?They .
e careful to see that they do not do II
lything that can be construed as d
egal. They operate through lawyers o.
men who are known as clever law
,rs; cleverness which is like the
stinct of the rat that knows how to
It the bait without getting caught.
any businessmen, ostensibly repu-
bic businessmen, employ these knav-
I lawyers to circumvent the law
d enrich themselves at Government
pense Too often the law cannot
UGH them.
Who is more at fault, the bribed
r the bribers? The bribed have
cen false to their oaths and be- W.
-ayers of their trust. But they are t 4ie
ften relatively simple men-men w oe
small fortune or no fortune at "
land they weaken before the e.
held out to them by ~ ~
lie interruptions. ~ ~
Who are the bribers, They are to
en- men who walk the earth lord sta
and secure; members of good fam fai
s; respected figures in their COM
mites; graduates of universities. -
ay are, in short. of the privileged y
lority, and | submit that it is s
unreasonable to ask Of them that g
h standard of conduct which their 81
ming ought to have engendered ID
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