Extensions of Rema·Rks Hon. Herbert Tenzer . Hon. Paul A
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718 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE January 17, 1967 EXTENSIONS OF REMA·RKS Ethics in the U.S. Congress authorizing the joint committee to Hon. John W. McCormack, Speaker, render advisory opinions on possible con Nominated by Representative Philip J. EXTENSION OF REMARKS flicts of interest or a future course of OF conduct contemplated by a Member of Philbin Congress. The opinions would be HON. HERBERT TENZER . rendered without identifying the parties EXTENSION OF REMARKS OF NEW YORK involved and would serve to establish OF IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES precedents for the guidance of all Mem bers. This practice is followed by our Tuesday, January 17, 1967 HON. HAROLD D. DONOHUE bar associations and has proved invalu OF MASSACHUSETTS Mr. TENZER. Mr. Speaker, I have able to members of the legal profession. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES today introduced a bill to establish a The committee would be expected to permanent Joint Committee on Ethics research and compile all precedents since Tuesday, January 17. 1967 for the guidance of Members and em the first Congress and to review, revise Mr. DONOHUE. Mr. Speaker, a week ployees of the legislative branch. and supplement these precedents and to ago Monday, in the House Democratic On February 4, 1966, I addressed the write a new set of rules and regulations caucus held on that morning of January New York University Alumni of the New for the conduct of congressional offices 9, the distinguished gentleman from the York State Bar Association on the subject and for the conduct of Members of Con Third Massachusetts Congressional Dis of ethics in the U.S. Congress. At that gress. trict nominated, for the continuing time I described the dimculties which I I urge my colleagues in the House to speakership of this House, our beloved had in obtaining guidance and advice in support and actively work for an ethics and revered colleague from Mas connection with separating myself from bill which will remove the cloud which sachusetts, the Honorable JoHN w. business activities upon my election to has been cast over this distinguished McCoRMACK. the House of Representatives. I was Chamber. We have a constitutional re In his nominating speech Representa astonished to learn that there was no sponsibility to police ourselves and we tive PHILBIN delivered one of the most one to whom I could turn for ofilcial have a moral responsibility to set an ex eloquent and well-merited tributes ever guidance. There were no clear rules ample for the American public. There uttered on such an occasion and it was a for the proper conduct of a Member nor are only 537 elected Federal ofilcials and privileged experience, for those of us on was there a readily available definition every one must follow a course of con t~is side of the aisle, to hear this impres of "conflict of interest." duct which is beyond reproach. Slve address. Of course, the nomination On March 29, 1966, I introduced H.R. The time is right to follow the course was unanimously approved and on the 14091 to establish a Joint Committee on set forth in Lamentations 3: 40: "Let us following day the Honorable JOHN W. Ethics. It is that legislation which I examine our ways and search them." If McCoRMACK, of Massachusetts, was have sponsored again today. we act now the public will have its con formally and very wisely renominated to Recent events at the opening session fidence renewed in the activties of their preside over this great legislative body as of the 90th Congress point up the need Representatives in the U.S. Congress. Speaker. for a meaningful ethics bill, one which I am sure that all of us here on both would eliminate any accusation of a sides of the aisle, agree with a~d share "double standard" in the present wholly Fino Reintl'oduces Bill To Amend Civil in the sentiments so ably expressed by inadequate procedures of the House of the gentleman from Massachusetts, Con Representatives. There should not be a Rights Law To Curb Riots gressman PHILBIN, as he summarized the double standard of ethics among Mem tremendous public service record of our bers of Congress. I would expect any EXTENSION OF REMARKS revered Speaker and reviewed the re Member who has evidence that the U.S. OF markable talents of his great mind and Government has been bilked by a citi compassionate heart, which have en zen, be he a private citizen or a holder HON. PAUL A. FINO deared him to all who have ever served of public omce, to present such evidence OF NBW YORK with him and which assure that the to the appropriate authority. And if it IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES name of Speaker McCoRMACK will be forever an inspiring byWord in the legis involved a Member of Congress to which Tuesday, January 17, 1967 committee would such a complaint be re lative history of this Nation. ferred? At the moment there is no such Mr. FINO. Mr. Speaker, today, I in A great many Members, on both sides committee which points up the need. troduced legislation to amend the civil of the aisle here, asked me to intercede The bill which I have introduced to rights law to "prohibit travel or use of with my dear and esteemed friend and day differs from most ethics bills pre any facility in interstate commerce with colleague from the Third Massachusetts viously introduced in three major re intent to incite a riot or other civil dis District for the purpose of having his spects: turbance." eloquent address included in the per First, the joint committee, composed Before summer comes once again, and manent RECORD. He graciously con of seven Senators and seven House Mem riots break out all across the land, Con sented to permit me to introduce it into bers, would be permanent, not merely an gress ought to pass a law making it a the RECORD and Congressman PHILBIN'S interim committee authorized to draft Federal crime to go between States to nomination speech follows: a proposed code of ethics and then cease incite riots. We ought to lay down the Mr. Ohairman and friends, it 1s a great law to the agitators. honor, privilege and pleasure for me this to function. The committee would con morning to nominate the Democratic can tinue for the purpose of investigating I am therefore introducing the anti riot section of the 1966 civil rights bill didate for Speaker for the 90th Congress. complaints, recommending changes in I am sure tha.t no words of mine would the code of ethics, and acting as an ad as a separate bill. I hope that Congress will pass it. It is high time we put the be adequate to portray or to describe the visory body to Members and employees strong arm of the Federal Government tremendous public record of the great Amer of the legislative branch. ican I 8.Ill so honored and pleased to nomi to work repressing instead of inciting Second, the bill requires the disclosure nate. riots. I hope that the 1966 elections Speaker McCormack is universally known of any and all financial inte~rect have convinced this administration that as one of the greatest Americans who has or indirect--in activities under the juris it is not good politics for high ofilcials ever served 1n the Congress. To talk of his diction of a regulatory agency. Most like our Vice President to urge people splendid personal qualities and his achieve other bills on this subject require only to riot for political goals--rent subsidies, ments to those who are so fam.lliar with the reporting of financial interests in for example. The people of the United them as you, would be somewhat of a fu excess of a given figure such as $10,000. States want antiriot legislation enacted. t111ty, and of course, it 1s completely un Third, the bill establishes a guidance necessary. They have made their voice heard-and John McCormack is a man of great, hu and advisory opinion procedure by heard clearly. mane sens1b111ties ·and a fine splrlt of loyalty January 17, 1967 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD- HOUSE 719 tba.t dominates his character and the very I want to discuss with you this evening than less, difficult for individuals to break essence of his being. a topic that was close to the heart of Herbert out of the pattern and enter into the main His greatness as a public servant; his es Lehman, the battle for civil rights, and par stream of American life. sential goodness as a hum.an being; his ticularly recent trends in the course of the Faced with such conditions, Negro leader amiable personal qualities; the loyalty of his bat-tle which are profoundly disturbing. ship obviously felt compelled to try to speed friendship; the sweep and import of his By way of background, let me first of all the process of change. They wanted new great accomplishments; his unselfish labors say a few words about the Negro in pre tools to attack the poverty cycle. But 1n and achievements for the nation, the world dominantly White America. their effort to accelerate the process of and the American people, comprise a glorious In a sense, it seexns truly incredible today, change, the Negro leadership found itself chapter in the history of this government. not that Negro demands for equal rights in direct conftict with much of the white The magnificent distinction, fairness and should be so vigorous, but that the Negro community. The demand for school and impartiality with which he has conducted colnmunity had accepted second-class citi housing integration and for entrance into the affairs of this House-his dignity, the zenship for so long.