The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-28

various ways Relationship is generally ~
gsrded as the most potent II q man is the bro,
ther or the brother.in.law of Senator or
member, or the cousin of some ofi1cial either
In Congress or the departments, his services
are rated higher than q mere outsider.
Then there is another class who may be re-
garded as the "henchmen" OF Government Off
cias. Their claims consist of personal services
rendered. They have manipulated O legisla-
ture so as to secure the election of their friend
for Senator. They have managed district so
as TO elect their friend TO Congress. They have
secured the appointment and confirmation of
some head OF department or head OF bureau.
Sometimes they obtain a hold upon members
or Senators and department officials by hap
pening 20 possess some secret, the exposure OF
which might ruin the public and private char
acter of the victim. Nearly every Senator,
member, and department officer has his "par'
ticular friend, or, in the parlance of the Police
Gozette, his pal" II is immaterial how the
influence is obtained; the result is the same.
IL soon gets TO be understood that Mr.. -
has "power" and Influence" with Senator
- or Representative -. He visits them
at their residences. They respond to
his 'card" with astonishing alacrity. No
debate is so important but 1t can be neglected
in order to see and consult with the members
friend" No executive session Of the Senate is
so exacting upon the attention of the Senat
but that he can leave ii If his "frend" sends in
his card. Wine is a powerful weapon of the
lobbyist. know of bill that was put through
last winter almost exclusively by champagne
Let me take your readers to hotel or drinking
saloon not far from the Capitol. In an upper
room, where only the favored few are
admitted, half a dozen bottles OF sparkling
wine are opened the table. while a fresh
basket stands in the corner. Half dozen
Senators and as many members of the House
are sitting around with goblets filled with wine
indulging in conversation which. II reported
would not look well in print. In the centre is
the lobbyist who is q good storyteller as well
as q good drinker. But drinking, like lobbying,
is professional with him. He allows his guests
to drink at least two glasses for every one he
consumes. When they are "mellow," he is pre-
pared for business, and seldom fails to accom-
plish his purpose.
Money Made by Lobbying
To those who understand the business 1t Is
comparatively easy to make money, and that
large sums are realized upon various schemes
before Congress and the departments Is GER
tain. When 1 see one of these persons, with
no visible means of support, living at the rate
of eight or ten thousand year. perhaps more,
1 frequently wonder where he gets the sinews
Of war. On inquiring of some of his friends,
find that "he has recently made forty or fifty
thousand dollars on a claim before the depart.
ments" or "in getting bill through Congress-"
1 know OF an instance where an employe of the
House, occupying 8 rather inferior position
received as his share of the 'spoils" s25 900 in
single session for a railroad bill that was
put through. The consideration was that he
"had influence with his delegation" 1t Is
astonishing how Senators and members who
come here so poor that they can scarcely afford
to keep their families at respectable board
ing-house, become absolutely wealthy In n few
years. Every person who has lived in Wash
ington knows that salary of $4,000 year may
serve to support a family, but 1t is difficult to
get rich off 1t. 1t will not buy brownstone man.
sions. magnificent equlpages, with liveried
servants, and dresses and diamonds Gd hbitunl.
Where these come from, leave your honest
readers to "gather and surmise."
JoSEPHUs.