Salt Lake Telegram | 1941-01-18 | Page 6 | Ban on Official Lobbying

Ban on Official Lobbying GOVERNOR MAW'S precedent shattering order or-der to ail state officers and employes to refrain from lobbying before the present ses-. ses-. sion of the legislature in behalf of departmen- tal appropriations or legislation is commendable. commend-able. We hope he can make it stick for all these state employes, Including not only those under the immediate Jurisdiction of the governor but those connected with the state's myriad commissions com-missions and departments which have a more or less independent status. The picture painted by Governor Maw in his annual message of the lobbying activities of these various divisions of state government before be-fore past legislatures was shocking to laymen. The idea that these public servants working for the state should wine and dine the state's lawmakers, maneuvering and high-pressuring them Into voting money and power to the governmental gov-ernmental divisions, Is annoying. It simply means that the taxpaying public is paying its own employes to mulct more money from the taxpayers' pockets and seize greater powers ovr the people. It's a ridiculous situation and it should not be tolerated. We hope that Governor Maw can make his order stick and end the practice In Utah. If he can he will be performing a very valuable service for the people of this state.