The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-20
THE AGENCY SYSTEM AND THE GOVERNMENT


Congress would be husbanded for better purposes
than chasing down the characters Of Secretaries. II
il not credible that any of the high officers of govern
naent would deliberately and Intentionally lend him
self to fraud and il is still less credible that the
disappointed solicitors OF government jobs and con-
tract brokers who hang about the ante-rooms of the
departments and the hobbies of Congress, have sue
oeeded in monopozing all the honesty in Washing
ton. leaving the heads of the government none.
We do not suppose, however that there is any one
Of the heads Of. departments who does not feel re
lieved when investigation is ordered by Congress
into any transaction which is made the subject of
street-corner, bar-room, and newspaper impeach-
ment, The profession of claim agent and contract
broker has become very multitudinous one in this
city. While il contains many members of standing
and character it be denied that ii is infested
by some also who are not the most reputable per-
sons in the world for truth and integrity. 1t has
followed as necessary result .hat the black mailing
system is extensively put into reqisition that is to
say system of street lobby and newspaper innuendo,
examination and threat against officers of government,
when their action fails to square with the interests
and wishes of the persons who had lent their in
iuence to rejected claims contracts. When
hue and cry such these persons know so
well how to raise, has beset the heels of
officer Of government for months, say it is
relief to him when committee of Congress takes
the matter IN hand, and, after thorough er Pa,te
and star-chamber investigation, explores and ex-
podes the mares nest. In Investigations of this
sort the government officer is the party who re-
aaires the least sympathy and comlniseration; for
generally every step in the inquiry is but step IN
his vindication. 1t is the committee who undertake
the uncnvable Office of Smefungus, ard who
condemned to be RECALLED week after week. with the
insipd tattle and disgusting gossip of the streets
and hotels, that are the real victims in the
These congressional Investigations originate in the
matchmaking systsm which is coming much in
vogue in our day. and which has its convenient and
coueenial conduits in the Washington correspond
ence' of so large portion of the distant press The
matchmaking system itself arises from the crowded
condition of the profession having its headquarters
here known as the "lobby." and the character, or
want of character, of of its members. But
whence originates the lobby? That is the main ques
ton, after all How does it happen that the people
of the United States having claims upon Congress
under the necessity Of employing armies of agents
stationed here to transact it for them?
We venture to answer this question in plain and
direct terms We think it is owing to the fact that
Congress has ceased in great part to be Legislature
body, and has become too exclusively political
convention citizen Of a remote quarter of the
Union having claim upon Congress will not be apt
to try the experiment of prosecuting it in person
i T..o xz,.Il he
apt to cure him eectually Of the halucinaton that
an honest claim be got through by an honest
claimant at any time he may set himself about it,
without difficulty delay The private claim dock
cts of Congress speak volumes against it IS body
adapted to the transaction Of business and the des
patch of practical legislation. While these private
calendars have been growing TO their present fright
full dimensions Congress not feeling itself able give
as much US one day in the week the pressing prac
tica business presented by them il has given at least
of its time every session since that of
1854 to a single political question in single in
considerable Territory of the Union.
five are to judge from the history of Congress-
alone, apart from that of individuals should have
sufficient proof that politics and business do not get
on well ia company. But for the political relations
of the question, we suppose there would be little
difficulty in passing Pacific railroad bill But for
the political embarrassments which beset the sub
Ioct at the present session, suppose that the
tariff or loan question would very be disposed
Of 1t is the political character of Congress which
interferes 30 detrmentally with all business that
comes before it, and produces, in fact denial of
justice so far the private claims of citizens depend
upon its action.
II is this denial delay of justice that has re
duced all private solicitations before Congress to
game of chance has driven original claimants from
its doors, and has attracted to the Capitol the
troops of pushing and ingenious agents. who const-
tute the lobby" Swarming around Congress, they
overflow into the departments and what cannot be
obtained through the merits OF their cases. of
them try to obtain by ingenious appliances of intni-
dation Hence the thousand and one charges against
Secretaries. Hence Investigations by Congress-
which are many mpedments to its business, and
hence still more obstruction of practical legislation
by this new means Of partisan elimination.
-
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
We cannot avoid feeling great interest in the
.