Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CoMM( BY CHRIS BR UTON Of The Gamecock staff "We are more than just do gooders; we get something done," Herbert Miller, a member of Common Cause's National Governing Board, told civic groups in Columbia and Charleston last week. Miller was in the state to familiarize various groups with the function and purpose of Common Cause and seek support for the controversial issue of ethics legislation. "The fertile ground for Common Cause was laid by the lack of confidence in government," Miller said in an interview last week. In 1969, John Gardner, a former secretary for Health, Education i and Welfare during the Kennedy t and Johnson administrations, t announced he was forming what he I called a "citizen's lobby." Com- i mon Cause was born and in four c years membership has climbed to s more than 333,000 members, Miller ,f said. Common Cause defines itself as I being non-partisan, not supporting or opposing candidates, but f devoting its energies to what it i calls the issues Annual membership dues f finance professional lobbyists and r a staff in Washington. "The t< -professional staff and national s members give a well-organized a effort on many issues and staying o power," he said. This year, Common Cause has a budget of nearly $6.5 million, Miller said. s Although the founders of Com- n mon Cause did not initially intend v it to become locally organized, tj more than 20 states now have formal organizations, Miller said. c TM he said South Carolina's organization was "a little small, a little less than 1,000, but two a Congressional districts are fairly well organized." With the ethics 1 issue due to be back in the C Legislature again this year plus k the fact that 1974 is an election C STUDENT NIGHT TUESDAY otter SSiR LOI 4 ha.rbroiled and %gntInf~ ' r. ed~ 5,4P KNO\ ABBOTT DI\k '9SI l mn Caus 'More than ji 'The fertile ground fur Common Cause was laid by the lack of confidence in government.' rear, he said membership in the tate should grow substantially. Miller said Common Cause oeriodically polls its membership o determine what issues should be heir major concern. In Vashington, he said the major isues for the organization will be amp ign finance reform, anti ecrecy legislation in Congress, inancial disclosure by legislatures nd the depoliticizing of the Justice )epartment. Common Cause's major reform 3cus in the state is on conflict of iterest and ethics legislation. "Legislators should disclose all inancial interests. It, is not a eflection on the legislator's in ,grity, but on the system," Miller aid. He said conflict of interest is situation which evolves from pposing motives. As an example, Miller aid when a Congressman is amed chairman of an en ironmental committee, and one of ie Congressman's largest cam aign supporters is a power Dmpany, a conflict of interest is resent. "Legislators should be rohibited from voting on certain a ctivities," he said. Miller said since some state -gislators are members of ommon Cause, they provide the ey for influencing other ongressmen to their issues. I STEAK 49 wath ba hked pu4tato. enr Irench EROSA & 31 f)f VINF STRIFET 'I H sti r Ei ? I ra ot ast do-gooders Members also contact the governor's office, but South Carolina remains one of eight states which has not passed any type of legislative reform. "Common Cause believes in the system. We believe in working within the system to bring about reform," Miller said. "People feel they have no input to influence government. This attitude invites secrecy in the government." But a A ruling against secrecy, which Miller said was fostered b Common Cause, has opened up the door of government. About 88 percent of the House bill-drafting sessions have been opened to the public. The Senate, however, still holds to its policy of 'government behind closed doors,' as it defeated an anti-secrecy bill last year, he said. During the 1972 campaign, Miller said Common Cause volunteers obtained pledges from many candidates that they would open up the Congressional sessions. "We try to get a commitment from all candidates," Miller said. Common Cause then reports to its members and the press throughout the country as to their Congressmen's stand, to insure that they live up to campaign pledges, he said. All Congressmen are also asked to make campaign finance reports and lobbyist disclosures available to the public. This would deter mine by whom, if at all, they are being influenced, Miller said. "We forced the Federal Energy Commission to'keep a public log of all visitors, lobbyists, finances 48 students Forty-eight USC students have been elected to "Who's Who in American Colleges and Univer sities," it was announced last week by Charles H. Witten, vice president for student affairs. Elected were: Joseph F. An derson Jr., Edgefield; Harold D. Baxter, Clearwater; Claudia A. Berry, Greenville; Tamara S. Cagney, Charleston; Oscar T. Cassity, Greenville; Cassandra D. Christensen, Columbia; Kathleen E. Crum, Columbia, and Bruce G. Dew, Aiken. Also: Minnie L. Dobbins, Williams; Michael J. Dunleavy, Wes1K'8 Educcti 'P.O. &ex 4618 Women's Educal non-profit agenc * Free Pregnancy 'l * Free Abortion Rel * Referrals to Socia * Problem Pregnanc * Family Planning I If you're a woman and ha Educational Services to ta The number to call is 779-I after five o'clock call 254 , we get somet Peopite fe-el theY hlre no input to influence gorernment. This attidude inrites secrecy in gorernmient.' everything. Common Cause volunteers, many students, monitored these logs, and those of the House and sub-committee meetings and reported to our members and the press," he said. "Watergate showed the terrible influence of big money in govern rhent," he said. Miller was a member of the Common Cause litigation committee which brought a law suit against the Committee to Re-elect the President, for refusing to disclose secret contributions made before April, 1972. Campaign finance reform is a priority issue for Common Cause. The organization strongly ad vocates public financing of election campaigns. which would sup posedly free candidates from pressures they might feel from special interest groups which rake large contributions. Common Cause favors mixed public and private financing of the campaigns, Miller said. Public financing for a presidential election campaign would not ex named to ' Brooklyn, N.Y.; Alexander English, Columbia; Danold R. Frampton, Orangeburg; William C. Grant, Beltsville, Md.; Donna E. Gamble, Florence: Linda A. Goldstein, Columbia; James S. Harrison Jr., Columbia: David L. Havird, Columbia, and Carl R. Hokanson, Plainfield, N.J. Also: Michael H. Honeycutt, Durham, N.C.; Joyce Y. Hurlev. Columbia; Russell N. Jeffcoat. Columbia; Scott C. Kearns, Camden; Beth A. Kouk, Mar tinsville, Va.; Ray A. Lawhead Jr., Columbia; Leigh J. Leventis, Columbia; Carole L. Lowman, Florence : Robert P. McCartha, Cebe. S.C. 29204 ional Services is a y that offers: 'esting errals Services Agencies y Counseling nformation ve a problem call Women's 1k with som.eone who cares. 355. FOR EMERGENCIES -2703. hing done.' ceed $2 million and private contributions, not over $5,000. "So a man of moderate means could run for office; now only the rich can. The candidates would not have to go to the big boys and small could go into government." He said the amount the individual would fund would be minimal and be drawn from the General Treasury. He said Common Cause has fought for campaign finance reform ever since the organization was formed. This year the Senate passed legislation for public and private funding of presidential and congressional election campaigns. The House, however, approved a similar bill for presidential primaries but rejected one' for their own races. Common Cause will be there to ask House mem bers how they stand on congressional campaign reform this year, Miller emphasized. Another project of Common Cause is to take politics out of the Justice Department. "We want to establish an independent special prosecutor at the national level to try government crimes," Miller said. As it stands now, the Justice Department must carry out con flicting duties in enforcing the law of the land without fear or favor and act as legal counsel to the executive branch, sometimes simultaneously, Miller said. Although he believes Common Cause will be working on these issues for some time. Miller said they will also become more in volved with criminal justice at both the state .and national level, tax reform and the energy use. Who's Who' Gilbert, and Cynthia L. McLeod, Sumter. Also: Katharine N. McNulty, Columbia; Fred P. Merritt, Conway; Terry D. Murphy, Lexington; Nancy E. Neville, New Providence, N.J.; Phillip F. Newsome, Columbia; William N. Outlaw, Florence; Roland S. Padgett, Columbia; Michael E. Runager, Orangeburg; Kathy K. Shular, Columbia; Frank J. Siano, Hazlet, N.J.; Paul Simoneau, Lexington; James L. Smith, Colonial Heights, Va., and Jen nings L. Stroud, West Columbia. Also: Susan D. Teese, Gaff ney; Kathy J. Vanderwood, Greenville; Barbara J. Ware, Varnville; Catherine A. Watson, Virginia Beach, Va.; Saundra R. Welch. Columbus, Ohio, and Mitchell M. Willoughby, Columbia. Crucible sponsors arts festival The Crucible is sponsoring an Arts Festival on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the Humanities Reflecting Pool from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Student art and sculpture will be displayed and music from Mc Master will be provided. The entire USC community is Invited to participate.