Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-22
BY SENATOR DOUGLAS

BY SENATOR DOUGLAS
A legislator or high admins
trative ofncial Is exposed to
more temptations In the course
Of q month than the average
citizen faces In his lifetime. He
Is being constantly appealed 10.
He must OF necessity listen
with an open mind TO the pro-
ponents and opponents Of every
measure. The right Of petition
Is expressly guaranteed by the
Constitution.
Go Beyond This
But many groups 60 beyond
this. They seek to get the pub
lie Official under obligation so
that out of gratitude and a
sense Of reciprocity he will de-
eide in their favor. To effect
this, many under the guise of
fellowship will seek to Of
fer him food. drink and enter
tainment. AS testimonials Of
their esteem and friendship
they will offer him presents,
which will increase in size If
the public ofilcial develops the
habit Of accepting them. While
crude offers Of money will sell
dom be made, hints Of future
profitable connections are often
held out.
II one adds. to all this. the
fact that ones friends some
times turn out to ones worst
tempters and that all this takes
place under strain and the re-
quirements Of speed. it is a
wonder to me that public Of
flcials on the whole do so well.
Not only is the general level
Of political behavior far higher
than the average citizens. but
am also convinced that it is
higher, on the whole, than the
ethics Of selling and many other
features Of business life such as
expense accounts.
A Few Simple Rules
After nearly 20 years of ex-
perience in political life, I ven-
ture to suggest few simple
rules I think will be helpful
both to public officials and
those who now seek to seduce
them. I do this without any
sense Of self-righteousness or
any reflection upon others.
1. Do not accept expensive
presents. 1t is helpful to have
a more or less definite and
modest limit at which one
draws the line. Any limit may
seem mechanical and slightly
ridiculous. but it saves time
and strain in making decisions
and prevents one from going
too far. I personally set the
limit at $3.50, and do not
accept any present worth more
than that. When asked why /
chose this figure, I jokingly re-
piled that I do not believe you
can corrupt a United States
Senator for less than $2.50I
This does not mean that I
accept every present worth less
than $3.50. For where 1t seems
to have any connection with
what / have done. I reject 1t.
2. Do not accept expensive
entertainment at the hands Of
others. Pick up the check your
share Of the time and keep
away from the cocktail and
free meal circuit. Do this tact
fully and without selfrighteous-
ness. but don't let private
groups wean you away in this
manner from public duty.
Broad Distribution
8. Divest yourself Of sources
Of income which might create
q conflict between your per-
sonal interest and the public
interest. If you are a lawyer.
don't accept fees or retainers
from parties which want legis-
lation or administrative favors.
II possible, distribute your in
vestments broadly through in
vestment trusts so that your
private income is not depen-
dent upon a few specific
sources. If you lecture, don't
accept fees from groups which
are sponsoring legislation or
seeking administrative rulings.
4. A legislator has the right
to approach administrators
when he believes rulings have
been unduly delayed or are
unjust. But he should not die
tate or threaten, and it is wise
to keep out of tax and criminal
cases, unless gross injustice is
being done. Similarly admins
traitors should not try to pres
sure legislators. Each should
stay within the bounds of rea-
son and good taste and what
he would be willing to have
AMMAN UOy1 tho rarovd -