The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-03
THE LOBBYMAN CORBIN.

1AE LObB WAN CUNBlN.
>~~~-~>~~>>~~~~~->~~~~~~~-
How He Photographed Himself Twelve
Years AEo-yiis Negotiations for $4,000
to Help n Bill Through COnxress-IIs Gets
One Thousand for Advocating Measure,
but Opposes It-Rcmnrknbly Cool Confess
sions Before an Investigating Committee.
WASHINGTON, Oct 81, 1859.
Tine character OF Mr.. A. r. Corbin IT, perhaps, best
illustrated in the report Of is testimony before the
select committee or Congress appointed to inquire
into the expenditure OF money for tho purpose OF
influencing the passage OF the tarG OF 1867 by the
Thirty fourth Congress- II jim Fisk and Jay
Gould had read that document carefully 1t
Is hardly probable that they would have
believed his statements about his Inn uence
with the President. Corbln is, according to his own
showing, an expert and experienced lobbyist. He
understood how to manipulate members OF Congress,
rs wei Us parties who came before that body to SO.
cure legislation He knew how TO make comblna-
lions Of great intercst-a measure still frequently
ro5orted to-lor the purpose OF getting his own pet
scheme through. For instance he tells the COM
mittse how he joined the tariff interest with that OF
the Illinois Central Railroad bill as follows:-
The nrst efforts here, which particularly attracted
my attention, were made IN the a9tatcd session or
$780, and In connection with an attempt 10 pass the
Illinois Central Railroad bill into . law Through
efforts or my own Colonel King, OF Alabama, was
induced to insist upon the union OF the Mobile ana
Cairo With the caro- and Chicago Railroad bill, aud
Judge Douglas gave way and consented TO sucn a
union. That interest then became very formidable
one ana Was Instantly approached by the taria men
10 aid them III securing the modincation OF the tarl
After Mr.. Corbfu had become Interested In the
tariff bill he took good care to try that nobody else
besides himself should DO employed by the parties
interested. With great hypocrisy and shrewdness
he stipulated that there should De mo LOBBY
but in this he was unsuccessful, as other parties
were employed. Zero is tho woy no bargained
with Mr.. Samuel Lawrence OF the firm Of Lawrence
Stone Co..
told HIM would take hold of It II ne would con-
used, but that we should depend upon tho merits
Of the measure for lis success; and that when II
went through should pay me for my services such
not successful would not ask dollar, not dol
lar. for my expenses, or to have dollar entrusted
lie asked me what ought to have. replied any
sum they pleased TO give me; that it would be
worth million OF dollars to them and their friends;
that II they gave me $4,000 should be gratiied,
but that $4,000 would satisfy me. think that my
was within that range between $4,000 and $4,000;
but may be mistaken, for many years have elapsed.
and kept no memorandum.
il appears, however, that Corbin, after talking In
the above manner to the parties Interested In the
success OF the tariff, returned to Washington and
actually went to work lobbying against 1t. lilo con-
fesses this before the committee when he says:-
Prior to these active movements on my part Mr.
Stone, as nave said before, had desired me to aid
Them ana haa SAID 20 me tnas a. woud assist , tae IN
has testified here, but an sure that he cannot con-
tradict this did not aid them but on the contrary
took active measures with Oil these several parties
to accomplish the defeat OF the tariff bill.
After the tariff bill passed Mr.. stone writes Corbin
as follows, enclosing him $1,000
NEW YORK, March 10, 1857.
DEAR SIR-Your letter or the 10th inst. reached me
In Boston. hope you have sent strong document
to MIR. LOWS Chds, showing clearly that tho cotton
manufacturers would have Jared worse II the revision
or the tariff had been deferred to the new Congress-
Such paper would aid much in collecting the money
needed for necessary expenses incurred IN getting
the bill through. Testimony from democrats to this
point will tell, and 1t Is well to let 1t pass through
Lewis Childs. "Tho aborer Is worthy Of his hire, "
Bank Of the Metropolis, washington. for $1,000,
In accordance with my understanding with you.
You have fairly earned tho money. Please acknow-
ledge tho receipt OF ''' '9 WILLIAM 1HM STONE.
A. R. CoRBrS.
with reference to this letter Mr.. Corbln testiacs
that
a. 900 for it from one OF ITS friends; but as had
done great deal IN behalf OF the cause represented
by Mr.. Stone, AMI spent great deal OF money Ior
them, did not send IL back.
On tho sth OF January, 1885, Corbin addressed
| letter to Mr.. Lawrence, which was marked "conn-
dentialn ana dated at the Astor House, New York.
he wanted to DO engaged as a Lobbyist on tarin
| bill then, and he wanted TO mcot Mr.. Lawrence.
Concerning the meaning OF the contents OF this letter
| the committee examined Corbn at length sub
| join this part OF the testimony
O. You say In the letter that you want ITO pledg
the payment OF $4,000 or S25,00o the moment IN
bill il passed, In addition 10 the $40 600 heretofore
| agreed upon.u In what manner was the arrange
| ment made In regard to the $4,000 heretofore
| agreed uponf' A. | never promised any one any
| mOney-not any one.
| been authorized TO use $4,000 who authorized you
TO expend that money! A. That was Tor pay LOT ser
| vices l suppose. lie never gave me authority "a
cxpend money. recollect no SUCH authority on any
o. Was it your intention to charge $4,000 for your
seryces9 A. Yes, SIR. did 30. IL would nave made
| me rich II we had succeeded.
Q. You say IN the letter. "lrst, 40 not delay sec
ond 20 at olce leading parties and say $4,000 II
| cash has been pledged on solitary condition, ant
that is pay in the event OF success and tho momen
the President signs IT, and no pay Ia the event OF de
foat.u who did you refer TO by Heading parties Y
| A. when fret talked to Mr.. sam Lawrence, said
| ssIerc II you succeed " VIII DO great thing 10
| you, and In that event O few thousand dollars WI
be great thing for me-" lie replied that his estah
lisbnlent ought not TO pay all the expenses; aud
thought 80 too. and told him to go TO other par
ties Interested and get them to bear part; di
not want to 20 70 others went to house lik
I Lawrence, Stone n Co.'s, and what they PROMISED
| knew would be paid.
o. You say, IN your letter. that IL would mar IN
| satisfaction OF yourself and your numerous EN-
| poyes II you should afterwards learz that two 0
| three OF the moro liberal had to LAY for ALL VIII
were your numerous employcss A. II II Is anotht
, man than the man Who printed the pamphlet Il