The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-26
Miscellany.



The Massachusetts Lobby appears 70 be
an institution OF no Inconsiderable import
ance. it we can credit the following dcScrip-
tion, furnished by special Boston cores
pendent OF the Springfield Republican:
First as to the personnel of the lobby. The
chief man OF them all is E. ID. Foster OF Che
shire, a rough, tobacco-chewing Yankee, who
was cut out tor a nrst-rate horse Jockey, but
is probably spoiled now for any honest oc-
cupatlon. He goes here by the name OF Gen
eral," though whether he title was gained in
the home guards or from his skill in marshal
ing his legislative forces l do not know His
chiet assistant and fugleman is Robert G.
Nichols OF Boston, usually called Bob" for
short Chas. Porter and one Young, also If
Boston, and lesser lighLs and General
John L.. Swift and Henry A. Marsh the
latter the chief engineer and manager
OF the P. l.. l.. IS. 1t should be men
toned, and l particularly call the attention
of Collector Russell to the fact, that Nichols,
Young and Swift are officers in the custom
house, and ought TO have, if they have not
some regular duties there besides drawing
their salaries. The lobby assignation house
is at No 5, Avon Place, a quiet, ii not le-
spectacle locality, leading to Washington st.
near the Theatre Comique. The proprietor
OF the house is Charles Hayward former
ly lawyer of Springfield OF perhaps it would
be more correct 10 say the proprietor i;
Mrs. Hayward, his wife. Here the lobby
have rooms, and there the members OF the
legislature are invited to Stree and easy"
every Tuesday and Thursday evening dur
ing the session. There "Gen." Foster and
"bob" are Always to be found, one attending at
the door wni e the other ponrs out the liquors
From eight O'Clock in the evening till II
or o'clock at night, members OF the Legisla-
ture come and go. Liquors and cigars are
plenty and free, and there are facilities for a
hand at cards, tor all who like, so that it is
no wonder all get pretty jolly, and no remark
is excited when the President of the Senate
joins the model farmer from Bolton, Mr..
Howe, in jOvIal song or dance. On break
ing up, each member is reminded that sit
tie matter" is coming up tomorrow, which il
is important to have passed, and the little
matter always passes. 1t is said that $3.50
year rent is paid for the place, and SO anx-
iuus are some of the members to have it kept
up, that they even contribute to its support.
For instance, this year, Mr.. Howe of Bolton,
is put down Ior $500, and doubtless he will
get his money back in some way. This is
the place where President Clark of the agri
cultural college was wont to refresh himself
In former times alter his arduous labors in
behalf of the prohibitory law, and here is
where the Senator from Eastern Hampden,
Mr.. Alexander, has taken those degrees in
sanctity that entitled him to canonzalion at
the hands of the North Adams people, assem-
bled last week to have Publication over the
success of the tunnel. Here it is claimed
that thirty of the forty Senators, including
the President, have had their convivial head
quarters during the past session, and three
fourths of the House have been more or less
constant attendants,