, 1952-04-03
Corruption i'm Government

Corruption i'm Government
A good many people must be wondering Wnat mas
happened to the campaign to thoroughly uneartn' pup
licize, and punish corruption within the government. II
corruption issue dominated the headlines not long ago.
and Congressional and Administration spokesmenWere UNI
eQuivocal in saying that the stearnest KIND OF corrective
measures would be taken, and that no malefactor would
be big enough or well-connected enough to avoid the con-
sequences. =
Now, for the most part, the corruption story has NOV
ed to the back pages, and it's clear that very little is being
done. The interesting case of Newbold Morris helps to ex-
plain why.
Mr.. Morris, a successful New York lawyer who de-
scrbed himself as a Lincoln Republican,, was appointed
by President Truman to search out corruption and cor
ruptionists on a let-the observation-disclosures basis.
The President asked the Senate to give Mr.. Morris the
power to subpoena witnesses and the discretion to grant
immunity to people who helped him IN his Investigations.
But a good many senator's including members of the SEN
ate investigating committee, are far from SATISFIED with
Mr.. Morris in the role of cleanup man. Some said that he
had been associated with organizations with a red tlnge-
which Mr.. Morris vigorously denied. Then it was dlsclos-
ed that his law firm was involved in the famous Oil tank
er deal, in which a group Of well-known men ran a small
investment into a considerable fortune in a very brief
period of time. Mr.. Morris got himself into all kinds OF
hot water with the committee when he charged that he
was being smeared and unfairly treated. A very warm
words passed back and forth.
In any event, the committee refused to give Mr.. Nor
rs subpoena powers. The committee then voted to author
ize the President to appoint an investigator who would
De SUBJECT TO senate approval, dIu Sdlu CLdt d liza
would be granted the desired powers. This certainly in
ferred that Mr.. Morris was not wanted.
In many circles it is believed that the Senate itself
will have to do most of the investigating if real results are
to be obtained. The revelations the country has had SC
far have largely come from senate inquiries, such as that
headed by Mr.. Kefauver. In all the great scandal-revela,
tons of the past, the Senate has been the dominant factor
Some of the most ~ruthlessly efficient Investigators who
ever lived were senators, such as the late Thomas Walsh
It doesn't seem possible that the current corruption
issue will be allowed to sink into lethargy.Too much has
been exposed, and too much more has been rumored OF
revealed in some part. It's an extremely. ticklish subject
particularly in an election year, but every reporter finds
that the American people are shocked and angry, want
real government housekeeping and mean to have it
There seems little. question that there is a national revul
sion not only against outright graft and dishonesty, bu
against influence-peddling dealings which are just with
in the shadowy borderline of legality, and tax finaglins
at a time when the ordinary run of men and women arr
having to squeeze the nickels to make both ends meet
If this kind of public feeling persist, it will have to b.
satisfied, much as politicians may want to forget thu
whole mess and bury it beyond sight and memory.
Moxv;e- MrExn+k Ewnor+r confers with the cabinet memhe,