The New York herald., 1862-01-23

be simply Impossible
DeIectable Exposition OF the Albany Lob
by-Its Robin Hoods and Littlejohns.
The Albany lobby has become recognized
public institution. It has its officers, its en-
ployes and It's bank account. It orders itS
work done publicly, gives liberal wages to its
servants, and openly draws checks for the money
when the work is done. In short, it conducts
its business like any other we'll established firm,
and has long since dropped that petty conceal
ment which formerly lent the spice of mystery
to its transactions, but seriously detracted from
its legitimate mercantile character. just how
the affairs of tho lobby are managed and who
did its business last winter, our readers may
learn from the report of the District Attorney
of the county Of Albany, which We publish in
another column.
1t seems that, as a cash basis for lobby opera
tions, somebody deposited the sum Of $4,000
in the New York State Bank. Upon this
amount, at the close Of the session, checks were
drawn in favor of the lobby operatives in
regular business way. Mr.. Frederick S: Little
john, one of the witnesses before the Grand
Jury, explains in regard to these checks that
he ''was to pay when the bills passed, and when
that was effected those he had employed wanted
their pay" and received it. Nothing could be
more proper or in better accordance with strict
commercial principles. very high authority
assures US that "every man has his price"
and we are glad to see that the lobby managers
not only adopt this idea, but also accept the
Scriptural rule that "the laborer is worthy OF
his hire" and pay promptly when their work 10
completed.
Ex-Speakers of the House. brothers of Sena-
tors, sergeants-at-arms, reporters Of the
Commercial ADVERTISER clerks Of the Senate,
journal clerks of the House, attorneys
counsellors and professional lobbyists ali
figure in this curious melanJe; and
the labors performed are of as diverse charac-
ters as the laborers themselves Thus, for ex-
ample, one man is employed solely to keep an
account at the New York State Bank and sign
checks, with the express provisos that he is to
be ignorant of the amount, number and dispo-
sition of the checks-like poor Greeley in the
Matteson business-to "keep no memorandum"
of the moneys received and expended and 10
give no evidences" to parties Of where the
money came from. An ex-Speaker was employ
ed by that monetary and respectable institu-
ton, the Chamber of Commerce, "to prevent
the removal of the Post Office site;" the Cham
Der raised "about $4,000" for the personal
expenses" of its employe, and he engaged sub
agents, and succeeded" in preventing the re-
moval of the Post Once. The Chamber Of Com
merce, therefore, did very well in the lobbying
business; and, Is it knows nothing but money.
and as money is the soul Of the lobby, we ad'
wise the Chamber to continue ts disinterested
interference with Albany legislation. In the
examination of the agent of the Chamber
of Commerce the very singular fact is ELI
cited that there was twice the amount Of money
paid to prevent that there was to effect the re-
moval of the Post Office. So, it seems, the
lobby works, and the lobby legislators profit,
both ways and are bought both for and against
bill. The advantage Of this is that q member
of the Legislature, having received pay from
both sides, may then vote as his conscience and
judgment dictate, and remains an honest man
unless one side pays more than the other.
The way in which lobby work is done and
paid for is very curious. A sergeant-at-arms
received money "to spend among the boys" and
occasionally treated the members" but did
not "talk about the bill" as that was the duty
of another laborer. This dashing sergeant re-
ceived check for twenty-five dollars, besides
his liquor bills, but "did not know what the
check was for" nor from whom it came.
resident of Troy was one of the laborers who
"talked about the BILL" and he received "forty-
five dollars for ten days work" but is ignorant
from whence the check for the money came. A
clerk of the Senate, and brother to one of the
Senators, received a check for $500 for his
Services" which were "to argue for the bill
wherever he happened to be-" He talked
to some purpose, and coined his words
into dollars, it appears; but he never dis
bursed any money to his brother or any other
man--his duty being only "to argue" This in
cessant argumentative labor becoming bore
to himself once in q while-doubtless it often
was to others-he varied his monotonous occu-
patton by sleeping with member" as Bolts
slept with Tyler, or as Alderman Brady slept
away $4,000 "between two feather BEDS" The
correspondent of the Commercial Advertiser ere
ceived $3.50 in reference to the Post Ofhce
bill" not for opposing or defending it, but sim
ply "to let it alone" This amiable reporter
states that he twas going to oppose the bill, but
changed his views" upon receipt Of the check
and his "batteries were senced." In fact,
after pocketing the $3.50, 'his facts and figures
were lost or mislaid" accidentally, of course.
The Commercials man honestly and bluntly
confesses that he did not receive money on the
Chamberlain bill, because he was not in the
ring" and that he expected to receive some
thing on the Broadway Railroad bill, but was
sadly disappointed" What can we add to such
charming naivette, except his own words, that
.he took special interest in the bill to enlarge
the Erie Jail limits, as he had friend there and
l. L.. 4. Al.