The Detroit tribune., 1963-04-20
congressman =


(Confnvso From Back Page,
Not % msmbsvs q Congress who. as wssehdoss Of
the national chicken coop, do most Of the barking We al
most bark however. at anothes. The congress-
ional code strong that by genfemens agreement
cover up abuses within ranks which would
pose with rs and fury 10 suspect them in any
other branch Of government.
An occasional scandal may leak out. such the Paris
nishseIvbbng o. HarIem's Congressman Adam Clayton
Powell At the taxpayers expense But could mention
doren congressman who not only charge their
cations to The taxpayers but back bronzed m and
showing profit They merely draw spending money
than they need and pocket vnspsnt balance
The money handed over 10 Them in foreign eurren-
ees by embassies Except for lump totals
ing is asked given remember one colleague pulling
out tat roll Of francs upon his return from Paris He
turned them in idewd exchange sheaf
OF 500 bills. which he regarded bonus for the hard
ship Of visiting Paris.
WIVES ON SALARY
You may have read, about congressional payroll pad
ding At least two dozen congressman pay their wives gen.
erovs salaries out Of the taxpayers I know New Eng
land congressman who kept his wife the public payroll
for years while she inmate mental hospital
But the worst abuses have been told outside Of he
Capitol eoakrooms.
Some Of my more ingenious and less servpuovs COL
leagues have bought liquor. clothes cars refrgerators
Tv sets simply by putting the saIemen congress-
onaI payroll until fhe purchases paid off,
congressman who pay their maids handymen and baby
sfers by putting them down for government salary
colleague paid his daughters tuition by padding his pay
roll Another New England congressman boosted an as
sisfants pay from $2400 $l2$$$. return the aide
was expected to provide rentfree home with maid
vice for his boss.
OF course most congressman honest and conscen-
ous Yet they remain silent about the abuses
reason that must conceal my identity. II sign my
name to this article only would be osfraeized by my
hss&l @~~kk~.
miffee So hope you will permit me this small eowsrdiee
Above salary, each of draws yearly station
allowance Of $780, another $1,000 field office rent
al and expenses, and ndetermnafe for
hire congressman who knows how squeeze the green
ink out Of dollar bill double his salary from these
three funds
An auto company, eager to influence powerful
Southern congressman used to give him two free cars
He sold them for personal profit the company
modified the DEAL Now merely lends him the cars and
takes them back before assigning him each year.
end
In election year, candidates for Congress wrnq
every cent they get out Of the lobbyists The svorte
technique is to invite the lobbyists drop in for drinks
with candidate. They expected less loaded
financially speakns than when they arrive often handy
blank checks available for those wish TO record
their contributions But most lobbyists prefer
crisp $50 500 bills These parties usually are held on
the oT = no invitations. nothing in wrng Just phone
call - on Joe-senf-ne basis.
grand Jury charged in indictment that Congress-
man Thomas Johnson tD. Md had received $249l8 and
Congressman Frank Boykin (D. AIa) had participated
proffaby in $32500o0 land transaction for attempting
to stay fhe prosecution Of j. Kenneth Edn an exconve
involved in savings-andoan operations Both
alleged to have contacted The Justice Department in
behalf OF Edn 36 times in 8-month period both
were subsequently, retired by the voter The still
pending
For congressman who want TO up shady
actions, the Iawyer-cIent relationship offers handy de-
vice. Not long ago. businessman asked for special
service. When wanted TO know why he hadn't approached
his congressman, the Businessman claimed he had
done but had been rebuffed with the comment: you
haven't brought my law firm any business lately This
congressman ironically is committee which has
Investigated conflicts Of interest in the executive agencies