Long before Capitol Hill’s noisiest business baiters got worked up about the WOCs* (TIME. July 18 et seq.), Commerce Secretary Sinclair Weeks was working out a code of conduct to avoid conflict, or the appearance of conflict, between Government duties and private interests. Last week Secretary Weeks handed down his six-page code, warned his 45,700 employees that failure to observe it could cost them their jobs. Under his new rules, Commerce employees may not:
— Accept any gift, loan or entertainment that tends to influence the performance of official duty.
— Engage in any transaction for profit that reflects discredit on the Department.
— Take part in any decision concerning anyone who has been his employer or client within two years.
— Speculate in stocks or bonds (investments are all right).
— Turn a profit by capitalizing an official title or position.
— Use Government time or resources, e.g., letterheads, for private pursuits.
* Washingtonese for businessmen working for the Government”without compensation.”
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