Evening star., 1951-09-27
Text of Truman Message

these two groups in terms of the
public good. The. disclosure of
current outside income, however,
will strike at the danger of gifts
or other inducements made for
the purpose Of influencing official
action. and at the danger of out
side interests affecting public
decisions.
A disclosure of all sources of
outside income will be of obvious
help in tracking down any case of
wrongdoing. Furthermore, the
mere existence of requirement
that such disclosure be made will
act as q deterrent to improper
conduct.
If an official of an executive
agency knew that he would have
to disclose the fact that he ac-
cepted a gift or loan from a pri-
vate company with which he has
public business. or if a member
OF Congress who is on a commit
tee concerned with a certain
industry knew that he would have
to disclose the fact that he ac-
cepted a fee from a company in
that industry, I believe the
chances are that such gifts or fees
would not be accepted.
Would DispeI Doubts.
Such a disclosure procedure
will also serve to protect officials
and legislators from widespread
misunderstanding on the part of
the public. Our citizens will be
able to see for themselves that the
talk about corruption and en-
richment in public Office is grossly
exaggerated.
AS a general rule, I do not like
to see public officials. or any other
particular group. subjected to rules
and requirements which do not
apply to the rest of the population,
But, at the same time, public Of
nee is privilege. not a right. And
people who accept the privilege of
holding Office in the Government
must Of necessity expect that their
entire conduct should be open toI
inspection by the people they are
With all the questions
that are being raised today about
the probity and honesty of public
ofhcials. I think all of us should be
to place the facts about
our income on the public record.
We should be willing to do this in
the public interest, if the require
ment is applied equally and fairly
to officials of all three branches of
our Government. This is the best
protection we can give ourselves
and all OF our co-workers against
the charge of widespread graft
and favoritiSm in the public
I know of no other single step
that will do so much good so
in protecting the reputa-
tions Of our public servants and
at the same time-in producing
concrete indications of any really
questionable practices.
Prompt Action Urged.
Much the same considerations
apply also, I believe, to those peo-
pie who hold the principal posi-
tons of responsibility in our great
political parties. OF course, these
offices are not Government posi-
tons. But those who hold them
are necessarily brought into very
close contact with the Govern
ment. And our major political
parties have traditionally been sol
much a part of our whole system
Of Government. that those respon-
sible for the conduct of party busi-
ness are in fact. if not in law,
charged with real public respon-
For that reason, I would
favor including the principal ma.
tional party officials and employees
among those persons required to
file annual income statements
along the lines I have described.
The legislation have here
recommended should be passed as
soon as possible. If action cannot
be completed before adjournment
OF the present session, then I ear
nestly hope that the Congress will
finish the task as soon as it recon-
venes. We should lose no time in
placing all the facts before the
country and in clearing up those
false impressions that are injuri-
Gus to the proper functioning of
our Government.
I believe also that both the
Congress and the executive should
continue to search for other
legislative and administra-
tive alike, to reassure the Ameri-
can people about the high stand
ards of their Government and to
make sure that those high stand
ards continue to be maintained by
every individual who holds public