Evening star., 1951-12-30
Douglas Ranks Ethics
As Major Task Facing
81 Congress Session
By J. A. O'LeoN


The 1852 session Of Congress,
which meets January 8, should
make the adoption Of a code of
ethics both for Federal officials
and members Of Congress one of
its major tasks. Senator Douglas.
Democrat. Of Illinois said yes
terday.
The Illinois Democrat and Sen
ator KEN, Republican, Of Mis-
souri,, in separate statements,
agreed that investigations would
continue through the new session.
Senator Douglas pointed out most
of the facts that suggested the
need for a code Of ethics were
dug out by congressional COM
mittees.
Continuation Of the defense
program and the fiscal policies
needed to finance it were listed
by Senator Douglas as the main
problems facing the new session,
with some attention to the more
urgent domestic welfare issues.
He singled out slum clearance
in big cities and civil rights as
the two great weaknesses" on
the domestic front.
New Inquiries Predicted.
Senator KEN said Current
congressional probes will be pur-
sued with vigor" and predicted
that new inquiries probably will
be launched into the conduct of
a number Of other agencies. He
suggested the conduct of the Ko-
rean war may be one Of the ques-
tions investigated.
Although the size Of President
Truman'S new budget is not
known, Senator KEN said he be-
lieves the spending program could
be reduced "by So billion with
out impairment to the military
and essential civilian services"
Senator Douglas, who has
achieved a reputation as an econ !
omizer. agreed that waste must
be "sweated" out of the budget, !
both military and on-military,
but said that this country should |
not slacken its rate of rearming.
The Illinois Senator said 1852
will be the crucial defense year,
and he would not want to see the I
rate Of forming new divisions, |
building planes or de-mothballing
ships reduced 'for the reason
that Russia may attack
Would Insure Peace.
II the defense build-up can be
continued until the fall of 1858 +
without a major war, Senator
Douglas said the free nations
should be strong enough to insure
peace.
Senator KEN said Congress will I
reject any presidential request for |
another tax boost in 1852, but I
Senator Douglas thought it would /
be necessary to raise more revenue "
to meet an impending deficit. He
said this could be done partly by I
Tightening up collection machinery |
and plugging loop-holes. If new /
taxes also are necessary, he said, |
they should exempt a minimum
standard Of living.
Senator KEN argued the Tru-
man Fair Deal' program is "in .
the trash can" He said the PreSi-
dent will present it for political
purposes" but Congress will not ,
consider it.
Douglas View Differs.
Senator Douglas took a diff
ferent view. however, on some /,
parts of the domestic welfare pro-
gram. He said the two great
weaknesses are slums and the
treatment of Negroes, Mexicans
and Indians" Although recogniz-
ing the difficulty of getting action,
Senator Douglas said Congress
should mot sleep on the job" of
considering civil rights legislation.
Senator KEN thought foreign
aid would be "drastically reduced"
and renewed his demand that this
country's allies stop trading be-
hind the Iron Curtain. He also
predicted that if the administra-
ton does not do more to hold
down initiation Congress will take
O hand" /,
The Missouri Republican con-
eluded with prediction the 1852 {
session will end about July l. un-