The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-01-07
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Congressional Lobbying.

Iee1nSS.-PLdtn Dealer.
Congressional Lobbying.
The disposition which has beel
manifested of late years to manipulate
the legislation of Congress by outsid
influences, and sometimes for purpos
es and through agencies not of tn,
most legitimate character, has groWl
into public scandal. 1t would moi
have been tolerated in times wher
Congress was supposed to legislate on
ly for the interests of the country. anG
when reputation for independents,
and integrity was essential to the in
f1uence of public men. Local and in.
dividual enterprises are urged under
the guise of national interests, and tn,
government is sought to be converted
into an elemosynary corporation fol
the benefit of monopolies in the shape
of railroad, steamship and manufac.
turing speculations which seek the
opportunities of erriching themselves
at the public expense.-Rings are form.
ed for the promotion of almost all OBJ
jects, whether Legitimate ), or illegit;.
mate, the lobby agents, with their sub.
sidized instrulnentalities, seemto have
become the recognized machinery for
moulding Congress to whatever legis-
fation is desired. ~ i',.', l3'i'
The time was when lobbying: was
confined to few adventures whose
highest aspirations were quite limited
ia comparison N # to, those of fhe cornao-
rants of the present. The. Alexan-
dria Gazette gives the following accu-
rate Idaguerreotype Of how, things are
managed now: '' N.'''''' 10
=, ut is generally supposed that the
trade of lobbying as it is called,
practieed in Washington, is confined
to adventures not known to the pub
lie generally, and mere temporary
hangers on at the hotels and boarding
houses, and to frequenters of the
rooms inthe capitol. This is not thecase.
The most successful pliers of the
occupation in question are characters
of different description. They are
men who have been in public life, who
were formerly, at some time or other
in Congress, or at the head of OF con-
nected with the departments and bu-
reaus of the government. They thus,
in the language of the lobby ring,
know the ropes and can more sue
cessfully pursue their avocation.
These men are paid by interested par
ties to get bills through Congress in
any aoay possible. This includes the
free use of money, or shares in the
different enterprises projected-the
various claims allowed and subsidies
granted. The tariff bills are said to
cost two persons concerned in having
their business protected immense
sums of noney.-We have Just seen
that to get Alaska through cost an IN un-
told sum, and that the fee of one man
was $4,000. These lobbyists are re-
CURED to be very diligent and consist
ent, and to fasten on to every 'suscep-
tible' member of Congress. Lobbying
is as much trade in Washington as
any other pursued. People abroad
would be astonished to know how
many are engaged in it, and how much
money is made at it by successful per-
sons. The corruption involved in the
trade is srincalculable.
With reference to the acquisition
of Alaska, we thought it a measure
which might have commen ded Itself
% Congress without the aid of undue
lgenlcles, in regard to which it is said
outside influences were enlisted in
he support ofthe newspaper writer's.
whom it was deemed proper to reward
md among them Colonel Forney. of
he Wash. Chronicle was offered bv1
he Russian minister, ON the advise of
Ion. r. J. Walker, three. thousand |
lollars in gold, he having permitted
he use of the Chronicle to Mr.. Walk
+ for discussion of the subject. Col
mel Forney, it appears, did not him
elf receive the reward, on the score
# his being an officer of the Senate
he presumption being therefore, that
therwise he would have accepted it.
fence his brother, Mr.. d. c. Forney.
Those name stands in the paper as
ublisher, did pocket the cash.
If Mr.. Walkers discussion or argu-
1ehts published in the Chronicle, had
cen bargained or paid for at the time,
is customary with other advertise
tents, this would have been well
nough but, as matters stand, the case
quite different. Whatever it pub
shed was accepted at the time as the
hronicle's honest advocacy of the fe
ltification of the Alaska treaty. Inn
le peculiar political atmosphere of
7ashington, however, the turn which
le matter took seems to be consi der !
| Gust the thing --- ''-' t
1t is said that "where the carcases n
e the eagles will be gathered togeth- b
)" ," an expression which was used to a
the descent of Ithe Roman c
lgfes upon a doomed city.-There .
ay be no eagles in Washington, but e
ere is very considerable carcass '
ere, and it seems to be literally t
varming with the maggots engen- S
rnd by political corruption.-Bal- T
,eore Sun. e
Mrs. Jones, of Dayton, woke her h
sband few nights since saying she il
d dreamed that she was blind. She il
asleep again, and the dream was d
lpafn5 Ho1. h =, oIo,,J 4 uoao n