The guardian., 1952-01-05
Integrity Lifted To Level Of Sacred
Honor Needed In Govt, Saws Hoover

Former President Herbert
Hoover says 81 told you so", In
a recent radio interview with Ed
ward A. Sherman, Executive
Director of the Massachusetts,
Committee for the Hoover Re
port, our former Chief Execu-
tive declared that what we have
seen exposed in the past year is
more dishonesty in officials and
departments Of government than
we have ever known in our his
tory.
He warned that unless this evil
were stamped out ito the last
official concerned" the United
States would decline and fall
like the great republics of the
past"
Speaking on the program, RE
ducing the Federal Wasteline"
broadcast by the Massachusetts,
Committee for the Hoover Re
port, Mr.. Hoover asserted that
''it is not just common honesty
we require in government but an
integrity lifted to the level OF
sacred honor"
He singled out for particular
criticism scandals in the tax
collecting agencies Of the govern
ment and said: 81 have no doubt
that if the Hoover Commissions
recommendations on Collectors
of Internal Revenue and on other
political appointees had been ac-
cepted two and one-half years
ago - when they were made -
these scandals would not have
occurred.
"The dangers of corruption in
tax collection weren't news to
the members Of the Commission"
insisted the former Chief Execu-
tive of the United States. THE
Commission condemned the pre-
sent method of selecting tax col
lectors.
"They are mainly selected by
political bosses. They are GER
tainly selected with their ap-
proval. The determination of
their fitness is pretty much based
or their ability to get votes OF
rewards for doing so.
"These exposures in Washing
ton are just getting started" ht
continued. Few of them have
yet reached the indictment stage
Already, however, the Commits
sion's recommendations are
hundred times justified"
Mr. Hoover emphasized tina
there are three things wron
with the present system: frs
obligation to local bosses; SECOND
lack of professional competenc
and. third, absence Of standard
Of integrity.
He pointed out that the Hoov'
Commission 1 recommended tn
the posts of collectors Of Intern
Revenue be filled through Il
Civil Service Commission, a Q
$ partisan. sniejudicial body, aft
r first a vigorous inquiry int9 Il
/, loyalty, chaiacter ana 4 integri
of applicants,
! "Then, it requires a vigorol
examination to determine the
competence for each specic
field, ;" Mr.. Hoover declared
Thus these appointments ar
made with a background o
merit, not on ability to get vote
or please some political bosses.
IF such checks had been made
we would not be finding so many
rotten apples in this particular
barrel"
He praised the efforts of the
/ Citizens Committee which has
for more than two years been
working for acceptance of the
proposals urged by the Hoover
/ Commission. "The Committee
has done a magnificent service" "
he said. We have for the first
time at least partially succeeded
in reforms. There is still much
to do.
But" he continued, "the work
OF the Commission proves be-
yond a shadow Of doubt that
the trend of constantly increas-
ing waste and extravaganza in
the Federal Government can be
reversed.
"All the cure calls for is
detailed plan = which was spell
ed out by the Commission - and
public insistence on its applica-
ton. II we all follow the prin-
ciple Of saying 4 won't take no
for an answer, this job will be
done"
The only living ex-President
of the United States contended
that the Hoover Commission
reforms could save the country
more than IS billion year. In
flation is not the only reason
war is expensive" he said, This
waste represents enough money
to buy approximately 10000 mo-
dern tanks, or 1850 heavy bomb
ers. Putting it another way, it
amounts to about $500 for every
family in the nation.
"Only recently the Congress
increased taxes. Perhaps it is a
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