TOUGHER ETHICS LAWS.(Main)

There will always will be some to tempt public office holders, just as there will always be some public office holders who will succumb to corruption. But lately obvious conflicts of interest and corruption scandals have reached something of a peak and many have recognized the need to at least toughen some of the rules that govern public officials' behavior. This newspaper reported this past summer on several key state legislators who had received thousands, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars, from businesses whose industries they regulated. Other legislators, meanwhile, promoted legislation that aided, among others, their own business practices.

No single reform, indeed, no set of reforms will ever prevent corruption. But the state can move to make corruption less tempting and, for those especially weak, more difficult.

To this end, the City-State Commission on Integrity in Government jointly appointed by Mayor Ed Koch and Gov. Cuomo to examine, among other things, the corruption scandal in New York City, have recommended several reforms that take at least a small step toward restoring confidence in our government. The main provisions provide for the:

* Creating of a body to enforce conflict-of- interest rules.

* Prohibiting public officials from representing clients before state agencies except in an official capacity.

* Banning lobbying by legislators.

* Banning public officials having a financial interest in any business doing business with the state.

* Requiring all public officials, candidates for office and government employees with policy-making authority to file annual financial disclosure forms.

These laws, in the words of the chairman of the commission, might both work to change the atmosphere that makes graft socially acceptable and make corruption itself more difficult. And that in itself will be a considerable advance over current practice.

But these reforms, if approved by the Legislature, will only begin to address the problem. Also needed are limits on the political contributions that can be made by Political Action Committees. The state might even consider limited public financing of campaigns to reduce the influence of lobbies.

It's difficult problem. And it warrants much more attention than it has been given by the City-State Commission.